Left To Right: Robby Takac, John Rzeznik & Mike Malinin

One of my greatest projects is the eventual realization of a mini-series revolving around the lives of five friends who are in a band together, and who enter a music contest. The viewer gets to see them as they learn what matters in life through music, and I have spent a truly inordinate amount of time working the soundtrack out to the point that music has become the true protagonist of the series.

One day, I caught a song called “Sympathy” on the radio. I liked it and downloaded it. The song became part of the soundtrack I assembled. And I have a rule: if I ever come across a CD containing any of the songs I have included in that soundtrack, I buy the album immediately. When I was shopping one day, I spotted the Goo Goo Dolls “Greatest Hits” CD and I purchased it. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but a rule is a rule.

I seldom recall bonding with a band like I did with them when I first listened to that CD. All I can tell you is that if I was in a band myself, it would be the spitting image of the Goo Goo Dolls both in terms of music and lyrics.

As most of you probably know, the band (which hails from Buffalo) had an energetic phase at the start of their career, a phase which was too reliant on the sounds of The Replacements. Eventually, their sound became more elaborate and more mature, culminating in the hit song “Iris” (featured in the movie “City Of Angels”), and further hits included “Slide” and “Before It’s Too Late” from the movie “Transformers”.

The band comprises guitarist John Rzeznik, bassist Robby Takac and drummer Mike Malinin. The original drummer was George Tutuska – he was ousted circa the release of their fourth album, “Superstar Car Wash”. That was the album that gave them their first flirtation with fame, too – the song “Name” was a Top 5 hit.

Although my two favorite bands are from England (The Who and XTC), it turns out that the two bands that move me the most are from the States (10,000 Maniacs and The Goo Goo Dolls). I am not sure why that is. I am not sure if I will be able to figure that out, either. All I know is that when I listen to any of them I feel like someone walks the same path I walk, and that single fact makes the journey more uplifting. And in the particular case of The Goo Goo Dolls, the journey besides them becomes not only more uplifting but also a truly emotive and reflexive one.

I am reviewing two of their compilations (“Greatest Hits” and “What I Learned From Ego, Opinion, Art & Commerce”) before scrutinizing their studio albums. I know I won’t be able to convey why their music means so much to me, because that is subjective by definition. But I am confident I can provide you with a good insight on the band and what is the most effective way of experiencing their work.