Customer Reviews

God Bless The Go-Go's

5 star:		(91)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I have been a fan of The Go-Go's since "Beauty And The Beat" and I absolutely could not wait for this new album to be released. Belinda has never sounded better on anything that she's ever recorded. She has never been so clear or confident- for that matter Jane, Charlotte, Gina, and Kathy have never sounded so confident. This album sounds as if the 17 years that have passed since their last original studio album "Talk Show" never happened! "God Bless The Go-Go's" is a refreshingly organic sounding album- it's a lot less glossy sounding than their previous albums. "Unforgiven" SHOULD be the anthem of the summer of 2001. "Stuck In My Car" should definitely be the next single- it's a memorable pop song that deserves to be heard by the masses. The last song on the album is "Daisy Chain"- a song where The Go-Go's have never sounded so beautiful or heartfelt. I loved this cd the first time I heard it, and it has grown on me even more with subsequent plays. Not to be missed!

"Hello world, we're here again. Living life in Lala Land" goes the chorus of the opening track to God Bless The Go-Go's. From the opening fierce guitar bursts on "La La Land," it was clear that the 2001 reunion album by Belinda Carlisle, Charlotte Caffey, Jane Wiedlin, Kathy Valentine, and Gina Schock found them doing the hardest thing they'd ever cranked out. Living in Cloud 9, hearing what one wants to, for fear of finding the ground beneath one's feet not too solid, has never been so fun.

"Unforgiven," the single, shows there's no forgiving at all. Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day does extra guitar and vocals--thankfully he's not detectable, though he did co-write this with Caffey and Wiedlin. There is a catty quality to this song, in referring to lyrics about forgiving but not forgetting, which is then taken back. And what about this: "my thanksgiving came the day I saw it was okay to unforgive you"?

The agony of being "Stuck In My Car" in a traffic jam is highlighted by the only thing the protagonist feels she can do: "turn up the radio and scream."

"Here You Are" is a ballad overlaid with heavy production, but featuring a mellow cello. It's not bad, considering that the two best songwriters of the group, Caffey and Wiedlin did this, teaming up with Jim Vallance, Bryan Adams' 80's songwriting collaborator. And Belinda shows her voice can be lilting as it was on her solo albums.

There's a hard-edged sound on "Automatic Rainy Day," about the effects someone who comes in "dragging your permanent cloud" has on people when he enters the room. Just as rocking is the painful (physically) "Kissing Asphalt," and Asphalt is not the name of her boyfriend. "I am pavement bound at the speed of sound": ouch, that's gotta hurt.

The group-penned futuristic themed "Sonic Superslide" features a riveting guitar and a Nirvana-like sound that with different production that could've given them a place in early 90's alternative. And their punk roots come out in "Throw Me A Curve," also group-penned, singing a preference for healthy and curvy, and thus being themselves, instead of waifish Kate Moss-type thin, which is in.

"Talking Myself Down" has a blaring alternative guitar and piano and was co-written by Susanna Hoffs. Finally, "Daisy Chain," is a fond look back at themselves, from their inception in 78 and making it to the top, but not realizing that along with the fun, the lifestyle they had was causing the collapse. Summed by the chorus: "Flowers bloom, they fade too soon. What happened to our daisy chain." Indeed, Belinda sings "'I gotta save myself from this runaway train'" referring to her departure, and there's a note of regret, "we never even said goodbye Sweet Jane," referring to Wiedlin's departure. If anything, this song of accepting the past, and burying the hard feelings behind. And co=written by Wiedlin, Valentine, and Jill Sobule.

The reunion benefitted all the members. Belinda had the most successful solo career, which dried up with the underrated Woman And A Man. Ditto for Jane Wiedlin, who only managed three albums on EMI Records, Gina Schock, who came out with the one-off House Of Schock, Kathy Valentine, who formed the Delphines with Schock, and Charlotte Caffey, who with Meredith Brooks and Gia Ciambotti, formed the short-lived Graces. It's fair to say God Bless The Go-Go's is a logical followup to The Talk Show had they decided to crank things up a bit. The guitars have never been fiercer, the group never more tighter, and the sound at its most riveting, in their best album ever. And bless the Go-Go's indeed, because I can't help feeling that this long-awaited reunion also led to the reunion of one of my favourite bands, the Bangles.

The Go-Go's prematurely disbanded back in 1984 due the internal conflicts. Along the way they have made a few comeback attempts, but outside of a couple of new songs, they didn't make much music. Finally we get the first full-length album of new material from them since Talk Show. The girls do not disappoint as God Bless The Go-Go's is a collection of the pop-punk sound that made them famous. The album opens with the sprightly and breezy "La La Land" and slides into the crisp "Unforgiven". "Stuck In My Car" bounces along while "Superslide" has a tougher edge. "Automatic Rainy Day", "Throw Me A Curve" and "Here You Are" all conjure up memories of their hey day. "Daisy Chain" closes the album out on a reminiscent and sentimental note. Belinda Carlisle voice is strong through out, Jane Wiedlin provides her chirpy harmonies, Charlotte Caffey's writing is strong and Kathy Valentine & Gina Schock provide a solid rhythm section. The Go-Go's probably will not return to the top of the charts as their time for chart success has passed, but anybody who was a fan of the group should check this out as the girls show that even after 17 years, they can still rock as good as the boys.

The best-selling, post-punk-power-pop, all-female rockers are back after 17 years with a new studio album. God Bless the Go-Go's is thirteen new tracks for Go-Go's fans to ravage. The disc has a bit of a newer sound than their 80's releases, but it's every bit as grand as those albums. "Unforgiven", the first single, rocks with the help of Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day. "Apology", though, would have to be my favorite track. It's slower and has a longing to it. The harmonies are remarkable on the song. "Stuck in My Car" and "Vision of Nowness" and "Daisy Chain" all take you to another place.

There are a few tracks that don't deliver, though. "La La Land" doesn't inspire me to get on my feet and move, and the use of "LalalalalalalalaLand" annoyed me a bit. "Sonic Superslide" would have been better had the tempo been raised just a tad (hopefully a dance remix will surface).

Overall, this is a welcomed return to music for the fabulous females of pop and essencial for anybody who likes uptempo music or those interested in listening to a group that really changed the face of music.

In these days of prefab pop, God Bless the Go-Go's just may be the most welcome CD of the summer. Kicking off with the infectious "La La Land," the disc instantly suggests just how far this band has traveled in its 17 years spent (mostly) apart. "Automatic Rainy Day" is reminiscent of the group's first album, Beauty and the Beat, and "Superslide" owes a figurative tip of the hat to the B-52s, while the catchy, punk-inflected "Throw Me A Curve" urges girls to reject the pressure to be "zero size."

As always, though, the most irresistable melodic hooks flow from guitarists Charlotte Caffey and Jane Wiedlin. Their "Stuck In My Car" is a recognizable Go-Go's classic-in-waiting; and "Unforgiven," co-written by Caffey and Wiedlin with Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong, features a lyrical nod to the band's now fabled bad-girl days, plus muscular guitars and a singalong chorus. Caffey's guitar leads have never sounded more confident and powerful, but lead singer Belinda Carlisle's vocals are the real surprise; her vocal chops have grown considerably since Beauty and the Beat. And the most surprising tracks, the introspective, deeply affecting "Apology" and the unabashedly sentimental and autobiographical "Daisy Chain," emphasize the hint of melancholy that has always characterized the Go-Go's music, even in their wilder days.

The Go-Go's somehow manage to recall the best of sixties and eighties pop while imparting it with their own distinctive imprimatur; the fact that it's all written and performed by women in their 40s only adds to the joy. In fact, it's a sad commentary on the music business that the Go-Go's seem as pioneering now as they did 20 years ago, when they became the first all-female band to crack Billboard's Hot 100 album chart (and spent nearly two months at number one in the process). It's a rare pleasure to find grown-up rock music with such strong appeal across generations; God Bless the Go-Go's has the power to make a believer out of anyone.

First of all,I never laughted so hard when I saw "God Bless the Go-Go's" CD cover.The 5 band members are Pictured as Holy Cards from the 5 Virtues.Next,the Music.You can't believe its been 17years since this group last had a record out.The Go-Go's sound like there just starting out,full of hunger,energy and youth."Unforgiven," co-written by Green Days Billie Joe Armstrong,is the first single from the record,but there's so many other great cuts,"Apology" is beutifull,and I love the ending.The harmony is fantastic."Stuck in my Car," is the record thats going to bring this CD to number 1.Just playing it once,you fill like your listening to a fun,summer record .I wouldn't mind being Stuck in Traffic if this song was playing on the radio. "Kissing Asphalt" is the killer.How Charlotte Caffey came up with this song is unreal.Just seeing the name of the record and hearing the music put a smile on my face,like all the other cuts from the CD."God Bless the Go-Go's" is the greatest comeback album I've ever heard.It sounds like a band just starting out,full of hunger,energy and Youth."God Blessed us all with this fantastic Summer CD.

I'm a huge fan of the Go-Go's (in light of this review, I guess I'd better qualify that as 'early' Go-Go's). Beauty and the Beat & Vacation - those albums made high school worthwhile. I was a huge fan of the first and couldn't wait for the second - and I loved it. Talk Show was -ehh-. Then, after a long hiatus, Return to the Valley of the Go-Go's came out and I was in heaven! The unreleased early tracks, live versions, and even the post-Talk Show stuff was great! I figured that this was all that there would ever be, but I was grateful that I'd gotten to hear it all. Then I saw the TV documentaries, with their hints of getting back together - could it be?! And then it was. Oh, I was *so* ready to love this album - I bought it without reading any reviews - I didn't care! But, before listening, I tempered my enthusiasm: "don't expect too much; just be happy for some good songs, even if they're different." I was ready, so I switched it on and listened, and... I didn't like it; in fact, I rather disliked it. But, since I sometimes initially don't like albums that I grow to like/love, I tried again later. But, it just doesn't click with what I loved with the Go-Go's. In fact, while not being really bad (like much stuff that's now "popular"), it just doesn't do it for me. I *still* love the band (especially Return to the Valley - there's something about surveying their raw history that's outstanding), but - as much as it pains me (and it really does) - I just don't care for God Bless. I'm glad (really) that it seems that so many other fans enjoy it - I really wish that I could join you, but I can't. While I'm tempted to give it 3 stars on the basis that I *must* be wrong and missing something, I have to be honest, and give it an unguarded 2. There's *so* much ... popular nowadays which this album is better than, but I can't dilute my standards just on that basis. I *really* wanted to like it; I'm sorry.

Belinda, Jane, Charlotte, Kathy and Gina reunite for their best CD yet. Listening to this album, it's hard to understand why radio ignored the singles, preferring to play songs by other one-hit wonder bands instead. Highlights include Unforgiven (with Billie Jo Armstrong from Green Day providing back-up vocals), Apology, Here You Are, Throw Me a Curve, Insincere, Automatic Rainy Day, and Sonic Superslide. These songs are catchy with clever lyrics ("It's an automatic rainy day when I see you," "Wishing there was less of you? Are you really sure? Just how much less is more?"), great music and production, and a sound that more closely resembles the band when they play live. Here's hoping that another Go-Go's album will arrive soon!

The Go Go's are back and they still got the beat! Places like MTV and Much Music need to put The Go Go's new material on their high rotation playlist as they are being such racist against women and rock and it has to stop. This new one from The Go Go's is great, after all this time they still got it. The Go Go's were the first all girlband in the history of the BillBoard charts to ever hit number 1. It's time to stop trying to force the hip hop/rap ... on the public! The Go Go's are

back! God bless the beat! You're going to love this new CD once you buy it just like I do.

Of all the 80s comeback efforts to date, the Go-Go's pick up where they left off in 1984 as if the intervening years never happened. Save for the obligatory and gratuitous "Daisy Chain" (we'll let them have this one nostalgic number as group therapy to explain away their sudden implosion 17 years ago), every cut rocks. And they wrote nearly all the material, without having to rely on the usual studio hitmakers to prop them up (you know who you are!). Kathy Valentine is great on bass and Gina Shock lays down a pounding beat to frame that familiar Go-Go's sound. Belinda Carlisle's voice is fabulous on such rockers as "Stuck in My Car," "Kissing Asphalt" and "La La Land." If you've seen the band live this summer, they are a tight group and seem to be having a ball... and faithfully recreating most of the cuts here as well as all the classics from the first three albums. Even if you are too young to remember the band's first incarnation, this is summer/driving music that is timeless. You won't be disappointed.