Customer Reviews

Let Love in

5 star:		(75)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

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

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.

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!

I felt compelled to add my voice to disillusioned Goo Goo Dolls fans who have watched a gradual decline from the explosive, innovative rock we once enjoyed. No previous GGD CD has been so lacking in intensity. Languid, mournful numbers from the talented Rzeznik are barely passable, a shadow of the greatness evidenced on previous CDs. The chord progressions are anything but inventive. I actually found myself enjoying Robbie Takac's raspy "Listen"--if only because it sticks to what Goo Goo Dolls have always done best: Bright Rock.

I hate myself for feeling this way. I really wanted to love this album, but the lack of depth and the triteness of the lyrics force me to cast a vote of disapproval. I'm willing to wait another 4 years, if somehow the next album can recapture the emotion and vibrance of Boy Named Goo and Dizzy Up the Girl.

As many have commented already, this is a mellow album for the most part. If you are an original fan of the Goo Goo Dolls, you'll likely despise this effort. If you found the boys around the time of "A Boy Named Goo" and "Dizzy", you might like it, especially if your favorite songs are "Name" and "Black Balloon".

Personally, I'm fairly disappointed in the direction taken on this album. My favorite image of the Goo Goo Dolls is them rocking out to "Broadway" in the pouring rain on the DVD that came with the live album. I have always enjoyed the raw, energetic, Western New York attitude of these guys and how they bring it to the pop-rock world with great results.

With "Let Love In", the attitude has been mostly killed. There are several great tracks -- "Stay With You", "Let Love In", "Can't Let It Go", and "Give A Little Bit" (which most fans already have from the Live album). As much as I liked "Better Days" when it came out, it is just another ballad the way it is presented on this album. Worse, it feels lost in the middle of two melancholly ballads that offer very little to the album. "Beautiful", the last track, would be a standout song on any previous Goo album, but as with "Better Days" it gets drowned in mediocrity due to the numerous ballads/low energy songs on this album. Even Robbie has been tamed in this effort. Whether you like his singing or not, his songs are always fun and energetic. Not on this album -- "Listen" is merely passable, "Strangelove" is really bad. I don't care who sings these songs, they just aren't good songs to begin with.

IMHO, partnering with Glen Ballard was a big mistake. Time will tell if the Goo Goo Dolls are taking the path of so many pop-rock bands from the 80's in moving to ballad-heavy music later in their careers (e.g., Journey, REO Speedwagon, Night Ranger, Styx), or if they return to their roots and get back their Buffalo attitude and energy. I sincerely hope it's the latter, and that it doesn't take another 4 years to get the Goo Goo Dolls I enjoy so much back to form.

EDIT: After about 30 listenings, "We'll Be Here (When You're Gone)" has grown on me quite a bit. I've also noticed that if I just skip songs 3 and 5, the album is much better -- 4 stars without those tracks.

When you have an artist with marginal talent (Ashlee Simpson) the mixer can ProTools the heck out of songs, compressing, decompressing, adding layer upon layer, until the listener doesn't notice that the singer can't really sing. The Goo Goo Dolls have plenty of talent as songwriters, singers and musicians. While Gutterflower was a little too dark for some fans, its production and mixing were clean.

Let Love In is a muddled mess. Guitars sound like keyboards, keyboards sound like guitars and the vocals are layered several times over, giving a fuzzy effect of several clones singing in unison. In many ways it reminds me of the mixing and production on Dizzy Up the Girl. Low and behold, both were mixed by Jack Joseph Puig. Even the Goos thought the mix on DUTG wasn't aggressive enough, that's why they remixed the DUTG songs for their 2001 compilation "What I Learned About Ego, Opinion, Art and Commerce". So I think that's the big problem with Let Love In. It was Puiged, and since Glen Ballard got paid the big bucks to produce the CD, I hold him responsible too.

The songs are great, but I would have liked more of them. "Give a Little Bit" is a cover that was on their Live in Buffalo CD/DVD and "Better Days", which was actually part of a holiday CD for Target, has become an anthem for every program about Hurricane Katrina. Two of the 9 new songs, "Listen" and "Strange Love", are sung by raspy voiced bassist Robby Takac. Even these are little more melodic than his songs on past records.

Then there are 7 new songs from too-handsome-for-his own-good frontman, John Rzeznik. Known for lyrics that are worth listening to, Rzeznik doesn't disappoint. You will play this CD over and over, just for the poetry of the lyrics. My favorites are "Can't Let It Go" and "We'll Be Here (When Your Gone)", but I think "Become" has the best chance of being the next "Iris". In fact, with 3 more full blown love songs - "Let Love In", "Without You Here" and "Stay With You", this CD is a virtual love fest compared to the post 9/11 angst of Gutterflower (not that there was anything wrong with that). If you like your Goo a little more upbeat, you'll like Let Love In.

I had completely forgotten about the Goo Goo Dolls until I saw this most recent release at my local store, I still have Dizzy up the Girl located in a favorite place in my collection, but did not particularly enjoy Gutterflower. this CD is fantastic. I love every song on it except those that are sung by Robbie Takac. I never enjoyed his voice on any of their previous albums and wonder why they even let him sing lead on 1 or 2 songs every album. I know Amazon and other reviews make it sound like this band is selling out, and the sound is to pop, or to AOR or to slickly produced and that it is missing an edge somewhere. Well excuse me, but what if I like the sound, the lyrics, the production and the feel of the CD? What if I like AOR, Adult Contemporary Radio and this is what I like listening to? Some people just don't get it. I enjoy this CD greatly. It is by far more profound and more enjoyable than anything else out there in the market right now. Do not pay attention to what is written about this band or this material, trust your ears. The only important review is what you consider to be good according to your own taste. Buy this, listen to it, and enjoy this music, you will not be dissapointed.

I don't think this is a "great" CD. It's has some good moments but on the whole I'm disappointed. It's not just the over abundance of ballads (6!), the very heavy handed production or the more generic sound, but also the lackluster (at times cliche) lyricism. I've been listening to the CD for 3 whole days and I'm almost sick of it already. There are perhaps 3 songs that I really like but none that I love.

The Goos have written better songs and constructed better albums in the past. SSCW, ABNG and DUTG are CDs that I usually play from start to finish - I never hit the skip button. They aren't perfect albums but there is something magical about them - something charming in the scruffiness of the sound and the word play of the lyrics. Maybe John, in his effort not to write "Westerbergian" lyrics, has backed away from really interesting imagery and word play. When Gutterflower came out, it seemed more uneven in quality (i.e. the nine choruses of "Na Na"s on What A Scene - give me a break!). This CD is even more so - especially since 2 of the songs have been out for a while and I'm tired of them already.

There is a lack of texture across the CD. I love having an out of the box rocker to start but the video is more interesting than the song. Tracks 2-4 (all ballads) sound really similar but they do have some really catchy hooks. The chorus of "Feel the Silence" sounds so much like Creeper Lagoon (a bay-area band) that it inspired me to get that CD out again and play it. It can't be a good sign when a song from one CD makes you want to here another band's CD. Track 5 is another ballad but it does sound different. Robby's songs are really needed to break up the sameness. I skip "Better Days" and "Give a Little Bit" all the time. "Can't Let It Go" is a lovely remake of the melody for "Always Know Where You Are" (one of John's "Treasure Planet" songs) - great hook and OK lyrics. "We'll Be Here" and "Become" are well-intentioned songs but the lyrics are unremarkable.

I'm not doubting the guys intentions and I'm not saying they should not evolve but evolving shouldn't mean losing their unique qualities. There are huge leaps from SSCW to ABNG to DUTG - 3 really different CDs that are obviously from the same band.

I really wanted to love this CD which is why I spent 3 days listening to it. I hoped it would grow on me. Perhaps my expectations are too high now. I guess I've evolved into a more critical, more demanding listener. I will continue to support the band and I hope to see them in concert this summer. They are one of the best live acts I've ever seen.

It seems in a day where most rock is completely negative and depressing those with a word about love and the woes of it in life are slaughtered for the very thought. Thats sad to me. This cd proves once more that this band grows with each new album. Stay With You and Listen are both powerrful tracks. I'd give the cd 10 stars if I could. The Goo Goo Dolls have been able to keep themselves from being placed in any one genre ex. alternative, punk, soft rock ect... and I LOVE that. I read in another review the words "pop sheen" and to me that's a joke...this isnt Panic At The Disco..LOL. This is grown men..long time artisits that have nothing to prove...nothing but free expression with no "image" to maintain. BRAVO!

This album has everything. It has upbeat rock songs like "Stay With You" & "Give A Little Bit," it has edgy songs like "We'll Be Here" & "Without You Here," it has mellow songs like "Feel the Silence," "Let Love In," & "Can't Let It Go," and it has a ballads like "Better Days" & "Become." This album is amazing and has quickly become a favorite. For those who feel they have "sold out" or this album is "uninspired" you should read the lyrics and re-listen to the song to feel the emotion Johnny puts in his songs. While I agree Robby's songs are the worst Robby's done in many albums, it still wasn't enough to take away from Johnny's amazing songs.