Goo Goo Dolls have more than 30 years of touring, producing and releasing music behind them. Formed in Buffalo, New York back in 1986, the rock band have sold over 10 million albums to date. And on their new LP ‘Miracle Pill’, there is an epic mood of acceptance and relief running smoothly through the music.
Writing about the divide between people socially and politically, frontman Johnny Rzeznik has sculpted a critical reflection of the world and self wrapped in the band’s glossy melodies. The title track summarises the overarching message: “All of my life, all of my doubts, all of my ups keep keeping me down.”
Rzeznik’s introspective struggles that have dotted albums past remain ever-present and the album is richer for it. The signature melancholic notes of his voice are still poignant, but the marching drum beats and Robby Takac’s thumping bass feel more polished and hopeful.
Where angst and shambolic emotion once raged a more considered order of chords and choruses now exists, enshrined by the band’s ‘90s mega-hits. For those who have grown up with Goo Goo Dolls, ‘Miracle Pill’ makes perfect sense as the next stage in that evolution.
It does, however, feel disconnected from a younger demographic, and certain tracks such as Indestructible and Fearless fall flat. Flecks of the raw hurt that typified earlier albums feel convoluted in this setting, played off against the sort of predictable sheen of a Bon Jovi session. Things only come into soft focus here.
Some clichéd lyrics, teamed with overproduced instrumentals and autotuned backing vocals, are an advertiser's dream. After three decades in the industry, there is something sterile and easily-monetised about some of the choices here. At times ‘Miracle Pill’ feels engineered to be heard on a broader scale: business strategy over creativity.
Goo Goo Dolls Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Fri October 25 2019 - AUSTIN Texas - Bass Concert Hall (USA)
Sat October 26 2019 - CORPUS CHRISTI Texas - Selena Auditorium (USA)
Sun October 27 2019 - SAN ANTONIO Texas - Majestic Theatre - San Antonio (USA)
Tue October 29 2019 - TULSA Oklahoma - Brady Theater (USA)
Wed October 30 2019 - WICHITA Kansas - Orpheum Theatre - Wichita (USA)
Fri November 01 2019 - RAPID CITY South Dakota - Rushmore Plaza - Fine Arts Theatre (USA)
Sat November 02 2019 - SIOUX CITY Iowa - Orpheum Theatre - Sioux City (USA)
Sun November 03 2019 - DES MOINES Iowa - Hoyt Sherman Auditorium (USA)
Tue November 05 2019 - PEORIA Illinois - Peoria Civic Center - Theatre (USA)
Wed November 06 2019 - DAVENPORT Iowa - Adler Theatre (USA)
Fri November 08 2019 - KALAMAZOO Michigan - State Theatre - Kalamazoo (USA)
Sat November 09 2019 - APPLETON Wisconsin - Thrivent Financial Hall At Fox Cities Performing Arts Center (USA)
Sun November 10 2019 - MADISON Wisconsin - Orpheum Theatre - Madison (USA)
Tue November 12 2019 - LOUISVILLE Kentucky - Louisville Palace (USA)
Wed November 13 2019 - HUNTSVILLE Alabama - Von Braun Center Concert Hall (USA)
Fri November 15 2019 - CHATTANOOGA Tennessee - Tivoli Theatre - Chattanooga (USA)
Sat November 16 2019 - KNOXVILLE Tennessee - Tennessee Theatre (USA)
Sun November 17 2019 - CHARLESTON South Carolina - Performance Hall At Gaillard Center (USA)
Tue November 19 2019 - RICHMOND Virginia - Carpenter Theatre at Richmond CenterStage (USA)
Wed November 20 2019 - COLUMBUS Ohio - Palace Theatre Columbus (USA)
Fri November 22 2019 - HERSHEY Pennsylvania - Hershey Theatre (USA)
Sat November 23 2019 - ATLANTIC CITY New Jersey - Tropicana Showroom at Tropicana Casino - NJ (USA)
Mon November 25 2019 - TORONTO Ontario - Queen Elizabeth Theatre - Toronto (Canada)
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