Goo Goo Dolls - Miracle Pill (September 13, 2019) Album

Didn’t see a thread for this one - will admit the first single, Miracle Pill was a clunker.

But second single, “Money, Fame & Fortune” sounds promising - has a bit of a Brian Fallon sound to it.

 

I totally agree. The second single is waaaay more promising. “Miracle Pill” isn’t bad, but it’s not any better on repeat listens.

 

Also really reminds me of the opening riff of Songs for Teenagers by Fake Problems - maybe that’s why I’m getting the Brian Fallon vibe as well from it.

 

The guitar tones and the vocal melody are both verrrrry Brian Fallon.

 

It sounds alright, it just doesn’t sound remotely like Goo Goo Dolls. As a Johnny Rzeznik side project this would be neat, but this band used to write pop rock bangers like Slide and Big Machine, not sure what happened

 

Just got halfway through the album and not one huge Goo Goo chorus. I'll probably stop now. :(

 

Sort of made it through on the way home from work tonight. Not going to be an album I revisit - just very generic, stuff you'd hear in a clothing store commercial type music.

Money, Fame & Fortune is probably the only one I'd revisit.

The Robby songs just do not work with his singing style. I love his voice, but it is not meant for pop music.

Lost totally rips off Amy Shark's I Said Hi at the trailing end of the chorus

 

I only like the final two tracks on this.

 

Did not like this very much.

 

Listen to the album all the way through in this order and I guarantee it’ll feel more cohesive as an album. It made me like the album WAY more.

1. Autumn Leaves
2. Think It Over
3. Over You
4. Lost
5. Step in Line
6. Fearless
7. Miracle Pill
8. Money, Fortune, and Fame
9. Life’s a Message
10. Indestructible
11. Lights

And yes, those first 3 tracks are some of the best songs they’ve done since Let Love In.

 

They've settled into their new pop sound nicely. It doesn't sound forced anymore.

I love Robby's gremlin voice on big glossy pop stuff. It's both hilarious and pretty endearing.

I do realize I have to give up on Rzeznik ever writing good lyrics again though.

 

Apparently all the lyrics they have been using were not written by anyone in the band. They have been getting lyrics fed to them and its a teen girl who has been doing the writing. Johnny or John?, Probably has not written since he stole George's royalties and publishing and then Capitol, thus Sony, and Warner stole what little was John's in the first place. Too many false narratives on who is actually doing the work.

 

Source?

 

Every single Johnny song on the last 3 albums has listed at least one co-writer. Not like they've been pretending to be writing everything solo.

 

I’m not buying the lyrics story. Like CShadows said and I’ve seen in many interviews, podcasts with Kyle Meredith recently the talk of working with co-writers. I think what would have been better is if the last few albums were John solo material. I’d love them to make more straight forward rock direction, not recreate but write together as a band again.

 

I've given up hoping he can return to genius. I always try to remind myself that he was already 34 when Dizzy came out and he had two killer records of songs behind him. He's in a pretty normal place quality-wise for an artist of his age and experience.

 

Damn that’s wild to me

 

He's definitely not going to write songs that good anymore. Accepting it is also something I've had to do.

 

I think it’s in there with all musicians especially those that have written truly great songs. It’s just getting to that place again, not recreating what was, but remembering what is. What is it at that moment that gives meaning and purpose.

 

Welp, listening to Superstar Car Wash again.

 

I missed the deluxe version of this one over the summer - three additional tracks are pretty good. Not sure if they were b-sides or new additions.

 

Just threw on Dizzy Up The Girl for the first time in quite sometime and this album still slaps.

 

I always forget how good of a follow up Gutterflower is.

Big Machine is such a hard hitting opener.