Aspire. Attain. Surpass.
Biography • 2002 • Unknown source
Aspire. Attain. Surpass.
The three words that aptly sum up the Goo Goo Dolls career to date-
aspiration, attainment and the ability to surpass all expectations- are
also the essential elements in the creation of Gutterflower, the trio's
brilliant new offering on Warner Bros. Records, featuring their stunning
new single "Here Is Gone."
"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."
That's the way it's always been for the Goo Goo Dolls. From their
earliest days on the rough-and-tumble Northeast music scene through
years of playing according to bassist Robby Takac - "every one night
stand in American, twice," through their obligatory stint in the indie
records realm, the band have combined an unerring instinct for original
and authentic music with a hardcore work ethic that is nothing short of
inspirational.
It was that mix of talent and sweat equity that paid off with the 1998
release of Dizzy Up The Girl, a breakthrough in every sense of the word,
with worldwide sales approaching six million and counting and a string
of smash singles including the epochal "Iris," as well as "Slide,"
"Black Balloon" and the title track. Together, Dizzy's hits have racked
up an historic one million radio spins to date. Two solid years of
international touring followed the album's release and, while the band
and its fans could be forgiven for concluding that the Goo Goo Dolls had
finally "arrived," it was that restless urge to turn the next creative
corner that kept the trio cranking.
Which brings us to Attainment. After a well-deserved six-month hiatus,
the group reconvened to compile a long overdue career retrospective.
With the revealing title of What I Learned About Ego, Opinion, Art &
Commerce, the 22-track collection was, says Robby, "A way for people to
get caught up on what came before 'Iris.' We've been at this a long
time and we're proud of what we've done. This was our way of
acknowledging that history."
It was in the fall of 2001 that John and Robby, along with drummer Mike
Malinin and producer Rob Cavallo (the man behind the boards for Dizzy Up
The Girl) began assembling the elements of a new album. "Of course our
success was a factor going in," asserts John. "How could it not be? We
worked our asses off to get to this place, and we didn't want to
disappoint ourselves or our fans. But more than that, we wanted to see
where the music would take us. We'd been living in a fishbowl for three
years, and it felt good to get back to basics."
"Basics" in this case included recording with an array of vintage
instruments in the confines of Hollywood's legendary Capitol Records
Studios. "The place had a real vibe," John continues. "I even put up
some velvet drapes and a memorial bar in honor of Sinatra and all the
others who had recorded there. Along with using the old equipment, it
helped us keep in touch with the sound we were after. With digital
technology you're always fighting against something antiseptic. We
needed that edge to keep it real."
"The whole process took about four months," continues Robby, "which is
about normal for us. The pressure was definitely on, but that didn't
change our approach. We had an incredible team, especially Rob Cavallo,
who totally understands what we're about and our engineers Allen Sides
and Ken Allerdyce. In the studio, the difference between success and
failure can come down to how many inches there are between microphones.
We depended on them totally to make those calls."
With all the elements in place, it remained for the Goo Goo Dolls to
grapple with the greatest challenge of their career - to create music
that would both build on and surpass the extraordinary accomplishments
that preceded it. And it's in this final category that Gutterflower
represents a full-on, flat-out triumph. Simply put, the twelve tracks
that comprise this potent and persuasive tour de force not only exceed
every available expectation, but also create a whole new standard for
the energy and emotional impact that has always been the hallmark of
genuine rock & roll.
It always starts, of course, with the songs. On Gutterflower both John
and Robby seemed to have taken a leap from an already impressive perch,
fashioning music and lyrics into a resonant and revealing listening
experience far greater than the sum of its parts. On that rarest of
occurrences - an album with no throwaway tracks - it's impossible single
out any one selection for special attention except to say here is a
collection of songs that manages to convey universal insights in highly
personal terms.
"I think, if there's a theme to these songs, it about being honest with
yourself and with others, and seeking out those who will return the
favor," John ventures. "Our experiences over the past three years have
taught us to appreciate friendship, love and loyalty…those basic human
values. When we're writing about characters we've encountered and scenes
we've survived, it's that need for connection that comes through and
hopefully everyone can relate to that. Otherwise, you're just talking to
yourself."
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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