Goo Goo Dolls -- Gutterflowers
"There's no way we could rest on our
laurels," asserts vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik
on the collective mindset the band brought to the writing
and recording of their fourth major label release. "No
matter how successful we were going into this record, we all
felt we were starting from scratch, as if we were making a
record for the first time. Sure, you learn from experience,
but the important thing is to keep it fresh, to stay alive
to the possibilities and potential of the music. You can never
take that for granted."
So much for Aspiration. And, while it's true that success
too often breeds complacency, for the Goo Goo Dolls it's only
served to bring them closer to the fundamentals of their fifteen-year
partnership. "We never really bought in to the whole
rock star myth," John continues, before adding with a
laugh, "Well, we might have 'rented in' for a weekend
here and there, but in the end it always comes back to the
music. For us, success - real success - is one song at a time."
The assured and accessible lyrics of Gutterflower are matched,
note for note, with music that both celebrates the band's
stylistic diversity and conclusively consolidates their cohesive
ensemble sound. From their trademark blood-and-thunder alchemy
to glorious acoustic outings to a soundscape wholly their
own, the Goo Goo Dolls, on Gutterflower, have expanded their
expressive range in dazzling new directions.
Next up, naturally, is an extensive touring itinerary. "This
is one of my favorite times of the whole process," John
reveals. "The album is finished. There's nothing more
you can do, even if you wanted to. It's time to start thinking
about stepping from the studio onto the stage and making that
the best experience it can be. We're ready."
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