GOO GOO DOLLS - Hold Me Up

Artist:  Goo Goo Dolls

Album:  Hold Me Up

Year:  1990

Genre:  Pop Punk

Just for the record, this is the second draft I’ve penned for this post.  As I reflected upon my first effort, I realized I was writing like a 14 year old that had his puny heart crushed by the first girl that gave him the time of day.  Yep, I slid ever so easily into super-jerk mode because a long time ago Goo Goo Dolls changed their music to gain success.  Jesus Christ, grow up man!  For three records, The Goos were a formidable, drunken punk band with impressive pop ability.  Then they willingly neutered themselves for mainstream fame.  I remember the day I bought Superstar Car Wash and was instantly crushed as I listened to the overwhelming college rock sound that possessed the band.  There were more vocals by John and Robbie’s vocals were much more tame.  It wasn’t fast.  It wasn’t aggressive.  I was bored and am still bored by the record.  Hey, it worked, so more power to 'em, right?  It appears I’m still bitter.  Let’s travel back to 1990 when this band meant a whole lot to me.  Although I enjoy their first two releases, the uneven Goo Goo Dolls and the very much improved, bordering on great, Jed respectively, it was their third record that made me a enormous fan of the band.  Hold Me Up takes what they were toying with on those albums and strengthened all aspects of the band to create and outstanding record front to back.  This record’s greatest strength lies in the fast, melodic songs which land in the speediest Descendent / Ramones territory.  No, faster doesn’t always mean better, even in a punk rock world, but these guys were so damn good at it!  Every song that has some speed behind it is an absolute banger.  The rest are too, they just don’t contain the youthful angst that was in their hearts.

Granted, now that I've listened to this album for nearly 35 years, I do recognize the early signs of their future musical direction that lead them to superstardom.  Tracks like “There You Are” and  “Just The Way You Are” did have a more laid back approach and a bit more finesse, but they fit in well to balance the frantic pace of the other songs.  Goo Goo Dolls had something good going in 1990.  In an era when hardcore bands couldn’t decide what they wanted to play, and the Epitaph/Fat Wreck Chords/Lookout punk revival hadn’t blossomed yet, Goo Goo Dolls were remarkably on point with their music.  Admittedly, I do check out every new release just in case there’s a chance they got in a time machine hoping they might have rediscovered their punk rock roots. I’ve been disappointed every time.  That's alright, that prickish 14 year old in me is happy listening to this record over and over again.

Listen to "On Your Side" here.