A Boy Named Goo [Import]

Goo Goo Dolls | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 9, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: MSI Music/Warner Brothers
• ASIN: B000025A8M
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (131 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #699,284 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Having undergone numerous not-so-subtle musical transformations since their first album in 1989, the Goo Goo Dolls have matured into a powerful trio that seems to instinctively know its way around a catchy tune. With vocalist Johnny's Paul Westerberg-influenced delivery and songs packed with exciting dynamics, the Goo Goo Dolls have really hit their stride. However, the stride they've hit is probably not going to appeal to most fans from their punk rock years, and some may actually think A Boy Named Goo has more in common with a harder-rocking Eddie Money than, say, the Ramones. --Adem Tepedelen

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Album + SHUT UP, dev1., April 4, 2001

By 

"zeratul11086" (MA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Boy Named Goo (Audio CD)

I wasn't expecting much when I picked up A Boy Named Goo as an impulse buy...I figured that It'd be fun to check out some of the older songs by the Goo Goo Dolls before their big revolution with DUTG. And at first, it was just what I had expected...some fun little power pop/rock. But since then it's grown on me unmeasurably and I have it in my cd player very often. Songs like "Naked" and "Flat Top" are classics...Lyrically, musically, and emotionally. "Eyes Wide Open" is probably one of the best Goo songs ever, and should definetely have left an indelible mark on the radio. I'm surprised more of these songs weren't bigger hits...Certainly, this album has sold over 4 million copies, but those were mostly due to "Name", a song that does NOT define this cd well. (It's a classic, sure, but none of the other songs sound ANYTHING like it...)

I just have a few words to say to the reviewer posing as "dev1". I don't know what kind of attention-craved sicko you are, but I think it's about time you stopped. Before everyone hits me, keep in mind that this is not music rage...I'm not mad at him for his opinions, I'm mad at him because the reviews that he is writing are completely faulty. Click on his name and you'll see literally hundreds of reviews that don't correspond at all with the product he is reviewing, and are there for...well...I really can't see why they're even there. If you read a few reviews, you'll notice several phrases recycled over and over again:

-I'm not sure exactly what to call "Insert Title Here" except "delicious." Every track contains just enough hip-hop to make me what to marry James Brown (the God Father of Three Word Songs) **(he says this to describe albums that aren't even hip hop, like GGD, and Blink)**

-He never mentions song titles, only the title of the album, and insists that his favorite songs on "Bang" (A GGD import) are Tracks 2, 5, 8, and 9, when the album only has 5 tracks to begin with. He also tells us his favorite track numbers from a Marilyn Manson VIDEO. Not to mention, dev1 or whoever you are, your reviews are completely nonsensical. Telling us all that the GGDs support cannibalism and murder to infants, or saying that Linkin Park uses vulgarities, or that SR-71 has commited unforgivable crimes against America is like trying to put 10 pounds of monkey crap in a 5 pound bag. It just doesn't fly. Get a life, and stop being so immature.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This CD Won't Be "Burning Up" Very Soon, February 20, 2000

By 

Chellerz (The Corn!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Boy Named Goo (Audio CD)

This CD is one of my favorite CDs in my collection. A Boy Named Goo is very different than their more recent Dizzy Up The Girl. It has more of a punk rock tone and beat than the many ballads and love songs of Dizzy Up The Girl. Jonny and Robby do a great job singing in A Boy Named Goo, and the lyrics have a lot of meaning to me. To me, the best songs on the CD are "Burning Up" "Name" "Naked" "Long Way Down" and "Slave Girl" but all of the songs are truthfully AWESOME! If you're looking for more mellow-dramatic love songs, check out Dizzy Up The Girl. It has some wonderful ballads like "Iris" "Slide" "Acoustic #3" "Black Balloon" and "Dizzy" but also has some good rock songs with scratchy libs with Robby singing like "January Friend" "Extra-Pale" and "Amigone" Anyway, if you're looking for a great CD, get Goo Goo Doll's, A Boy Named Goo!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I ain't the only one to say... this album rocks!, March 26, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Boy Named Goo (Audio CD)

From loud punk rock to gorgeous acoustic ballads, the Goo Goo Dolls have always delivered great music. Their albums all have their strengths and weaknesses, and the real power of this album is its variety. The tracks here are loud and edgy enough for fans of the early days, yet they're melodic and crafty enough for fans of their newer light rock hits. There is probably more balance between hard and soft on this album (and Superstar Car Wash) than there is on the upbeat and sweet Dizzy Up the Girl or the shaky wildness of Jed. The lyrics, vocals, and instrumentals are woven tightly together in this musical masterpiece to create something powerful, enjoyable, and full of energy.

I don't know if it's evident enough for someone who hasn't heard a lot of their songs, but each of their albums is different from the others. They've covered almost everything that alternative rock has to offer, and I think that a general view of the modern world is the theme they were going for here. It's hard to describe the feelings conveyed in Goo Goo Dolls albums, but the wonderful thing about all of them is that they leave you absolutely begging for more, which, honestly, most bands nowadays don't do so well. I'm not saying that people will all be begging for more of the exact same songs, but my first GGD album was Dizzy Up the Girl and that was what made me truly want to go out and find more.

Now that I have the basics covered, I'll go over each song individually. This is mainly for more detail, but if you want to see how things are strung together in the album, it's useful to check out what people have to say about each track.

1. "Long Way Down" - Almost flawless in lyrics and sound. Very polished, complete, and it conveys a perfect mesage as both an opening track and a more relatable Goo Goo Dolls song. Great way to start off the album, bringing all of it together. 5/5

2. "Burnin' Up" - A more fast-paced song sung by Robby. The instruments all merge together well here, and Robby has the undying talent of making his single voice sound like many people in unison (without the aid of machinery). This takes all of his potential and uses it more than any of the others. 4.5/5

3. "Naked" - Beautiful song, bringing both hardcore elements and a more vulnerable feel together with deep lyrics. The main vocals have an incredibly gripping feel to them, and the ones in the background bring out an equal amount of agitation and hope. 5/5

4. "Flat Top" - Starts off slow and then the speed varies. Very catchy, and this has a very strong acoustic background as well as more fast-tempo vocals and guitar solos. The strongest point of this track is its lyrics, because they capitalize the faults of society and at the same time stick to traditional Goo Goo Dolls formula. 5/5

5. "Impersonality" - An incredibly catchy Robby song, and it seems like he mirrored "Flat Top" and adapted it to his own style. As repetitive as it sounds, it's very original and has the spread-out, echoing voice that I love. The bass playing is very strong here, too, though it sounds a little whiny towards the end. 4/5

6. "Name" - Ah, yes... "Name". A lot of people have a lot of things to say about "Name", and almost all comments are positive. Their first real hit is always a treat to listen to. This song is the single slow and steady ballad, though it has its faster moments. The vocals seem to fade in and out and are hard to hear at times, but this is a gorgeous song that is one of the brightest stars that shines among a glistening sky of Goo Goo Dolls songs. 5/5

7. "Only One" - Mostly fast all the way through, with pulsing guitars and vocals overflowing with attitude. I love the slow pause in the middle that has some soft and catchy vocals, and then it goes right back to speed. 4/5

8. "Somethin' Bad" - Not the best Robby song, but still really good. Yet again, it could be mistaken for a song with more than one singer, but that's just part of its charm. I love the echoing screams in random parts throughout the song, and it has a short but great guitar solo. 4/5

9. "Ain't That Unusual" - A very spirited Johnny track, with a lot of originality in both lyrics and overall sound. It's got a lively feel that really drags you in. I think this is actually a good hint of what's to come on Gutterflower, but that's an entirely different story! 4.5/5

10. "So Long" - I like this song, and it has great vocals and originality from Robby, but I can't see a whole lot of flair here. It's great, but not as great as his other ones. 3.5/5

11. "Eyes Wide Open" - Wow. This song is an eye-opener, (pun intended) with a mix of crunching bass and acoustic guitar work. The vocals blend into the background like they do in "Name", but they are loud enough in parts that aren't the chorus that you can hear them most of the time. Lyrics are very solid, too. 4/5

12. "Disconnected" - Originally written by the Enemies, the beginning always makes me giggle with its reinactment of a frustrating phone call. It shows the love that the Goos have for covers, and it's definitely the grungiest and loudest song here. Fans of their old music will enjoy this more than they might like the others. 4/5

13. "Slave Girl" - ANGST. But seriously, this cover of the original Lime Spiders song is great for Robby's voice and is very fun to turn up. It's also impossibly catchy and impossible to forget. Not the best the Goos have done when it comes to closing songs, but it's passable in that area and amazing everywhere else. 4/5

In short, a not too dark but still very true album that's easy to listen to made this the first breakthrough album. It's easy to see both where this band came from and where they're going for any fan of rock music. They might be popular (that's not a bad thing at all), but you can still see their originality here. It's a breath of freash air and an excellent way for them to show their true colors.

Five stars.