The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 10, 2002, Page 6, Image 6
CD REVIEW
Dolls’newest CD lacks hit song
“GUTTERFLOWER”
Goo Goo Dolls
BY WILLIAM MILLS
THE GAMECOCK
The Goo Goo Dolls prove
their sound is as constant as
the stars with their latest
release, “Gutterflbwer.” The
album, released Tuesday, is
the same no-gimmicks-just
rock sound the Dolls have been
making since the mid-’90s.
“Gutter Flower,” however, is
missing the hit song
capabilities of the band’s last
major release, 1998’s “Dizzy Up
The Girl.”
“Gutterflower” has nothing
to make it stand out among
this year’s other rock albums
— it’s dull. Most of its songs
ooze together in theme and
sound and have little diversity.
This creates an album that
ignites feelings neither of
happiness nor of sadness.
Basically, the album is
functionless. This Buffalo,
N.Y., rock trio is definitely
showing signs of aging.
Singer and guitarist John
Rzeznik is nearly over the hill
at 36, and his music is going
right along with him. The Goo
Goo Dolls are still writing
songs about young romance
and angling their sound
toward a younger crowd.
This focus, which made the
band popular in the late ’90s,
might cause their speedy
demise. The pop-rock music
scene isn’t kind to the elderly,
especially with all of the pretty
rock stars in their 20s waiting
for the spotlight. So, unless the
Dolls can tailor their sound to
fit the beach music crowd,
they’re going to see a rapid
decline in record sales. Few
college kids want to hear a 40
year-old man sing about puppy
love.
“Gutterflower” is the band’s
seventh studio album, and it’s
still using the same kind of
angst-ridden, heart-on-sleeve
style that it’s used since its
start in the mid-’80s. The main
difference is that the group has
lost much of its young
experimentation and vigor. It
began as a group called The
Sex Maggots, a name even
worse than its current one.
Aside from their obvious
lack of talent in choosing band
names, the Goo Goo Dolls
jumped into the right vein for
rock in the early ’90s.
Alongside groups such as Soul
Asylum and The
Replacements, they rocked
small clubs with a grungy,
rough rock style that had punk
overtones.
Staying true to their punk
roots, the Goo Goo Dolls took
on former Minor Threat
drummer Mike Malinin before
the release of “Dizzy Up The
Girl.” The album was a hit,
their singles soared up the
charts, and “Iris” grabbed a
Unless the Dolls can
tailor their sound to fit
the beach music crowd,
they’re going to see a
rapid decline in record
sales. Few college kids
want to hear a 40-year
old man sing about
puppy love.
space on the “City of Angels”
soundtrack. Between that hit
record and “Gutterflower,” the
band has released no new
material.
It’s a stretch, however, to call
the songs on this album new
material. The only big
difference between this and the
band’s old material is that it
lacks the catchy singles of
“Dizzy Up the Girl.”
Songs such as “Here is
Gone” and “Sympathy” on
“Gutterflower” show the same
acoustic-driven love songs that
we’ve come to expect from the
trio.
The album does, however,
offer a break from Rzeznik’s
pretty-boy singing style. Bassist
Robby Takac sings in a scratchy
Tom Waits style on “You Never
Know” and “Up, Up, Up.”
“Gutterflower” looses its
strength halfway through, and
the album is unlikely to keep
the group at the pop status it
reached with its last album. Age
is catching up on the Goo Goo
Dolls, and they might have to
ride this one on reputation
alone.
Comments on this story?E-mail
gamecockmixeditor@hotmail.com
~
Heading to
College This Fall?
A summer class at Midlands Technical College is the convenient, affordable way to get
a head start on your college plans or pick up that extra course to meet your Life
Scholarship requirements.
MTC has dozens of summer courses that apply toward a variety of college majors. And
MTC has transfer agreements in place with USC, Clemson and more than 20 other
four-year colleges throughout the Southeast.
Call 738-8324 for more information or visit midlandstech.com for a complete list of courses.
Learn differently.
Work differently.
Midlands
h # Technical
College
———m——i—MMm8MBMiiiMfiiigimMiiirMmiii8nifiii»iirifnniniinTiifir~ r'fi'w' t~ •
PROJECT VOTE SMART
Columbia Program Manager Needed
Project Vote Smart - a citizen's organization based in Philipsburg, Montana dedicated to serving all
Americans with accurate and unbiased information for electoral decision-making - is looking for
candidates in the Columbia area to serve as City Program Manager for its 2002 Young Voters Program.
The Columbia Program Manager will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing all promotional and
outreach activities for the Project's Stop the Spin campaign. The focus of the initiative will be to promote
use of the Project's web site and related services among 18 to 25 year olds to break through the
misinformation and manipulative tactics characteristic of most political campaigns in order to cast an
informed vote.
Candidates must have excellent people and organizational skills, high energy, goodjudgment, a motivated
attitude and the ability to represent the organization before diverse audiences. This position will provide
great networking opportunities and a rewarding experience working for a non-profit organization. A
two-week training and orientation will be at the Project's Great Divide Ranch in Montana beginning in
mid-June.
For more information about the position or the Project, see our web site at
www.vote-smart.org or contact Jackie Morse at 1-888-Vbte-Smart (1-888-868-3762) or
yvp@vote-smart.org.
STOP THE SPIN!
www.vote-smart.org
Your Direct Line to the Facts Before Election Day
GAL E NDAR
Wednesday
April 10
NON-STOP HIP-HOP LIVE: The
weekly lineup will feature a
Chuck Nice Records showcase.
9 p.m. New Brookland Tavern,
122 State St.
“LABUCHE”: This French
comedy was directed by
Daniele Thompson, and it
details the manic Christmas
season. 3 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:15
p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre, 937
Main St.
“AU”: 8 p.m. Russell House
Theater. Free.
Thursday
April 11
USC JA2Z: Swing Shift concert
of jazz and big band music. 7:30
p.m. School of Music Recital
Hall. Free.
USC ENSEMBLES: The USC
Concert Choir and the
University Chorus will perform
along witji the USC Symphony
PERB ITH FIRST
T ON EAR , MO POK
■_ PURL)
Orchestra and the Roane State
Community College Choir from
Harriman, Tenn. 7:30 p.m.
Roger Center for the Arts. $15
for adults, $12 for senior citizens
and USC faculty and staff, and
$7 for students. Tickets are
available at the Carolina
ifW Thursday,
Uncle Doctor’s,
1734 Mobile Ave.
Coliseum or or by calling 251
2222.
“LA BUCHE”: 7 p.m. and 9:15
p.m. Nickelodeon Theatre.
“ALI": 8 p.m. Russell House
Theater.
Ezra
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
Beastie Boys, Sugar Ray and Sly
and the Family Stone, Iffy has a
unique sound that’s been called
“cowboy reggae,” “soul-rock-hip
hop” and “modem soul with funky,
chilled-out dance beats.”
If Iffy’s live show is anything
like its CD, “Biota Bondo,” which
includes one bit in which
Pederson plays the zipper of his
pants, it will prove to be enter
taining, to say the least.
With tickets only $15, you can
find out for yourself. “It’s one of
the cheapest ticket prices
around,” Terry said. “In Athens,
Better Than Ezra played for $25 a
head. ... We tried to keep it as
cheap as possible for the student’s
sake.... Overall, this band has
done a ton of great work. It’s an ex
cellent buy for a student.”
Terry is optimistic about the
turnout. “Our ticket sales have
been good, and we expect a huge
jump this week after 3 Rivers.”
Terry said he will attend the
concert. “I’m looking forward to it.
It’s gonna be a good show,” he said.
“It’s been a long process... but it’s
coming together, somehow.”
Comments on this story?E-mail
gamecockmixeditor@hotmail.com
| use DANCE TEAM / /
Tryouts
• Clinic April 15th and April 17th 6:30pm at Blatt PE Center
• Final Audition April 20th at 10:30 1
For more information visit Jr
wwwuscdance.com Jr
or call Coach Michelle Fields at 781-9076
1 GRADUATES - ORDER NOW
JSftSffiTJ!S
SAVE $34.00 UAAYRE MOtEUU_YBb\
^ 'mHCPACKAdT
$59.50 —
INCLUDES as ANNOUNCEMENTS * envelopes
as THANK TON NOTES
M gold envelope siau
AO HITNKN APMSSS UNEU _
*0 SHIWNS C»»Si*B ’ M •«
COMPARE PRICES!!
a ussw («.»»■
"It's Hot Too Late!! - Yet
2 Day Doliwory"
I MASTERS AMD DOCTORS CAM SAVE TOOIM
SSTSlS*"
moastoni. “^Jouromke/stoke.
BALFQUK -1W9 BLOSSOM S1EBI
PHOItt ORDERS LCCEITIOWTH MOW*
*03-254-5330 OR ItOJ-526-0290
CONVENIENT PAKtQNG
j_QptHDAllV M0-4:30___-J
ka-ra-oke (kar'e o'ke) n. a form of
entertainment in which patrons, as
in a bar, take turns singing popular
songs into a microphone
accompanied by prerecorded music
played on a special device, with the
lyrics displayed on a screen.
KARAOKE CONTEST
► Every Wednesday - 9:30 PM
► Win CASH and prizes only at
The Village Idiot.
2009 Devine Stkect » Five Points, South Carolina > 252-T0G0