Classic Rock

July’06

Let Love In

GOO GOO DOLLS
Let Love In
Warners

Not quite in the Doll-drums.

Goo Goo Dolls 2006 are a very different prospect to the trio that blasted on to the scene with their Replacements-esque ramshackle rock. The creative hub of guitarist/singer Johnny Rzeznik and bassist Robby Takac is the same, but lately the Goos have developed their polished, pop-tinged side.

Upon first listen to Let Love In, you wonder where the confrontational energy has gone, and a glance at the credits holds the key. Where the singing and writing used to be split almost 50-50 between Rzeznik and Takac, this is no longer the case. With the exception of an oddly placed cover of Supertramp's Give A Little Bit, these songs are all Rzeznik's (albeit with two Takac co-writes), and while that's not necessarily a bad thing - Stay With Me and the piano-led Better Days are notably fine radio epics - fans
will want more of Takac's spikier approach, especially after hearing his delivery of stand-out track Listen.

6/10
Sian Llewellyn