'GUTTERFLOWER'
(12-track LP/ 2002/ 'WARNER BROS. RECORDS')
I've got a stark confession to make: I honestly think The Goos are my favourite band of all-time! No, seriously - I do.
And it was 2 of their soft-rock anthems that were made famous by the movies they featured in that first got me interested in this American 3-piece: 'Long Way Down' ('Twister') and 'Iris' ('City of Angels').
Quick-sharp I snapped up their 'A Boy Named Goo' and 'Dizzy Up The Girl' albums (both for just 2 quid each in Kathmandu� though they are both bootlegs, admittedly), and this 'Gutterflower' stormer goes to further prove that I am indeed obsessed with this band that effortlessly cracks off winning love-lust-life-death anthems without fail every single time they pick up their instruments� if indeed the drummer Mike can pick up his kit without severe injury.
As always, this entire album is one long anthem of vitality, a cruising rush of sheer zest as my fave track of theirs in 'Big Machine' opens the exhilarating proceedings. The fact that most of their songs sound the same stifles their aspirations not a blot. In any case, they can swerve from the fail-safe comfort of soft-rock when they want for the heavier and grungier (yet no less catchy) 'What Do You Need' or the more mellow and tender acoustic magic of 'Sympathy' in which mainman guitarist-singer and chief songwriter John Rzeznik's vocals remind of Canadian songwriter extraordinaire Gowan.
Interestingly, bassist Robby Takac wrote 4 of these 12 songs on his tod, while John wrote the remaining 8. But not on one of those songs have they written together� but I guess such a 'coincidental' (?) desire to 'go solo' with the songwriting will make it easier to sort out the royalties for those responsible, huh?
And the wicked bass-line of 'Up Up Up' is proof enough that Robby is just as talented a songwriter as John.
By God� this is the music that I want sucking to me on my deathbed and is always EXACTLY what my ears need to hear.
Goo! (STEVE RUDD)
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