Let Love In (CD/DVD) [Special Edition]

Goo Goo Dolls | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 27, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Special Edition
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000IB0EQG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (148 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #199,681 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Stay With You [CD]

2. Let Love In [CD]

3. Feel The Silence [CD]

4. Better Days [CD]

5. Without You Here [CD]

6. Listen [CD]

7. Give A Little Bit [CD]

8. Can't Let Go [CD]

9. We'll Be There (When You're Gone) [CD]

10. Strange Love [CD]

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Stay With You [DVD]

2. Let Love In [DVD]

3. Feel The Silence [DVD]

4. Better Days [DVD]

5. Without You Here [DVD]

6. Listen [DVD]

7. Can't Let It Go [DVD]

8. We'll Be There (When You're Gone) [DVD]

9. Strange Love [DVD]

10. Black Balloon [DVD]

See all 19 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Goo Goo Dolls have long since traded the bracing, Replacements-lite abandon of their early days for an ethos of heart-on-their-sleeve emotionality wed to a solid heartland pop craftsmanship that's too easily been casually mislabeled. Superstar producer Glen Ballard (who shares many a writing credit here as well) pushes that latter sensibility to its logical extremes, ensuring a slick sonic experience that won't disappoint those who hitched themselves to the Dolls' wagon circa their mid '90s commercial breakthrough. But there remains a nagging sense that this is a band that isn't pushing itself very hard: even the hook-solid opening single "Stay With You" seems downright cautious. Coupled with Ballard's penchant for polish, Johnny Rzeznik's introspection on "Without You Here" hews close to the center line before Robbie Takac's "Listen" gives the album a much-needed jolt of energy. The album's featured cover, a faithful, contemporary AOR-friendly take on Supertramp's "Give a Little Bit," is emblematic of the Goo Goo Dolls fortunes here: They often seemed boxed in by a past that's not necessarily their own. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

CD/DVD version of Goo Goo Dolls' Let Love In.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Goo Goo Dolls deliver the delicious with first studio album in 4 years...., April 25, 2006

By 

A. G. Corwin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Let Love in (Audio CD)

Things change a lot in 4 years. Bands come and go; groups that were once on top of the world become bargain bin material in your local record store. Averaging three years between albums hasn't hurt The Goo Goo Dolls' Johnny Rzeznik, Robbie Takac, and Mike Malinin, however. Their new release, Let Love In, which I have had on constant rotation since getting the pre-release last week, is a strongly enjoyable album. Let Love In delivers the audience a deliciously comfortable slice of pure radio-friendly music.

The album kicks off with two songs sure to be big singles. Stay With You is an amped up song, its strong melodies and uplifting beats resonate wonderfully. Let Love In is musically lush; Strong acoustic guitar and great fuzzy bass tones join ethereal strings that highlight lyrics sure to make the heart ache, "the only way we'll feel again, the only way to see again, is to let love in." Feel The Silence has an addictive beat and comforting chorus. The fourth and best track on the album, Better Days,is a plea for love and tolerance in a fractured world; A somber piano melody accompanies emotional lyrics, "Tonight's the night the world begins again" and "there's something only you can give..that's faith and trust and peace while you're alive," while a full orchestra builds to an emotionally pleasing crescendo. This song will be on every radio. Without You is a bit of a pleasant surprise musically, as if U2's Edge jumped into the studio to play lead guitar on this laid back mid-tempo song.

The album's midway point gives us Robbie's first vocal with Listen, a song sure to please the Robbie fans and infuriate the Robbie haters. Give a Little Bit follows, makes its encore return from last year's single release. As cover songs go, this is one of the best in recent years, ideally blending Rzeznik's voice and 12-string guitar. Can't Let it Go is probably the closest thing to a Black Balloon on this record, "You were no angel, and I was no saint, but somehow I can't let it go." When You're Gone feels like filler track at first but becomes better and better with every listen. Strange Love is Robbie second vocal track. This is the first real departure from the Dolls normal style, offering an 80's feel with piano notes floating over a repeating chorus. This would make a great track for a movie. The closing track Become is decent enough but leaves you with a slightly off aftertaste as it can't seem to decide what kind of song it wants to be.

For you Doll fans counting at home, this album has 9 Johnny and 2 Robbie vocals. The record as a whole is fairly laid back, without any fast tempo rock tracks that earlier albums had. Glen Ballard's production on this album gives us tighter and better melodies and smoother choruses, but the songs as a whole are more atmospheric than rocked out. More instruments and effects are used, layering the songs with more depth and complexity than the three-chord punch of yesteryear. Some feel that this album is too laid back at first play, but it grows considerably better with repeated listens. Those that don't like the softer side of Goo may be unhappy with this album, as Let Love In doesn't take dramatic risks in songwriting or stray far from the Dolls recent formula of success. It is an ear friendly album sure to be on constant rotation this year and will be a crowd pleaser. Recommended.

A.G. Corwin

St.Louis, MO

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Goo Goo Dolls have grown up., May 20, 2006

By 

fullcircledave "fullcircledave" (Buffalo, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Let Love in (Audio CD)

The Goo Goo Dolls are in a tough position. If they write radio friendly power ballads, their old-school fans scream "sell-out". If Robbie takes over on the occassional lead vocal, new fans complain "why is that awful guy singing?" (Hey, once upon a time Robbie was the lead vocalist.) Not to mention a record label that considers the million selling "Gutterflower" a failure and is pressuring the band to repeat the phenomenal success of "Dizzy Up the Girl". That being said, I love this new CD. I feel Johnny continues to grow as a song writer and that strength is reflected in his new material. Yes, this is a very radio-friendly album. But as an adult fan who has grown up with the Goo Goo Dolls over the years, I think it is an excellent addition to their catalog. I'm glad they gave Robbie a token two songs to sing as a nod to their old fans. If you enjoyed "Gutterflower", and "Dizzy Up the Girl", you will enjoy this album. If you're waiting for the next sequel to "Jed", sorry, but that's not going to happen. The Goo Goo Dolls have grown up, and in my opinion, matured into outstanding songwriters.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Much better than Gutterflower, May 11, 2006

By 

Leslie A. Peck (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Let Love in (Audio CD)

I've been a Goo fan for quite some time and really love their music . . . being a transplanted Buffalonian living far from home, this album really resonated for me. I thought it was better than Gutterflower lyrically and musically - and enjoyed the more thoughtful side of the "Goos".

I remember reading that the song "We'll Be Here" was written about the closing of the Bethlehem Steel Plant in Buffalo - something which spelled the death knell for the life of the city. I don't know if it's true - but the song is incredible. The phrase, "And now everyone is gone, to a place that won't be home" should strike a chord with everyone who has had to leave Buffalo for economic reasons . . . it does with me.

Great job guys!