Goo Goo Dolls: Hold Me Up (Metal Blade/Fun After All/1990)

Goo Goo Dolls are most famous for their hits "Name", "Iris" and "Slide". However, several years before all of these name-making hits, the band were a ratty, bratty, thrashy punk band. They'd first released Goo Goo Dolls (Mercenary/1987) and Jed (Metal Blade/1989), but really hit their stride on their third album, the first to be distributed by Warner Brothers, Hold Me Up. It was on this album that guitarist Johnny Rzeznik (aka Johnny Goo), sings lead on four (and co-lead on "Hey") of the songs on the album. Bassist Robby Takac (aka Robby Goo) was the lead lead singer on the band's first two albums (okay, Johnny sang two of the songs on Jed), however, Johnny undeniably assumed the role of front man/lead singer by the time of the band's fifth album (and multiple-platinum release) A Boy Named Goo. 

I first discovered this band in late 1990 with the video/single for "There You Are" on MTV's 120 Minutes. I saw the band live before I'd heard the album, and was completely blown-away. The album did not disappoint when I did in fact hear it. The influence of The Replacements, Cheap Trick, Hüsker Dü and The Ramones are evident throughout the album. The singles, "There You Are" and "Just The Way You Are" are highlights. The two covers (Prince's "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man" and The Plimsouls' "A Million Miles Away") are exceptionally rocking. Takac is responsible for a few of the albums' exceptional tracks; the intense Ramonesesque opener "Laughing", the amphetamine-rockabilly of "Out Of The Red" and minor-key-yet-optimistic "So Outta Line". The stalker song "Hey" could be a contender for best song on the album. The instrumental "Kevin's Song" is oddly the album's centerpiece and is kind of wonderful. The mid-tempo "You Know What I Mean" and the acoustic (the bands first acoustic song, a taste of the future) "Two Days In February" both appeared on the Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare soundtrack- as did the non-album single "I'm Awake Now".


If you think you know the Goo Goo Dolls and haven't heard this (or their early work), I highly suggest giving it a serious listen. It still holds up (no pun intended) as a great pop/punk album.
Great, tight playing and very fine material. Also Superstar Car Wash (the album that followed Hold Me Up) is definitely work a listen.

Here's the video review:

Special thanks to: Stephen Gersztoff.

No Alternative (2013/1993 Legacy/Arista Records)

No Alternative is a compilation album that was released in the Autumn of 1993 by Arista Records and was funded by the Red Hot Organization. The Red Hot Organization is a non-profit organization that has released over a dozen album and raised over 10 million dollars towards AIDS-research. No Alternative is a various artists compilation of several leading lights of the mid 90's alternative pop movement. This was the age of  MTV's 120 Minutes and Alternative Nation, when clueless major labels signed any and everything vaguely “alternative”. This made for an interesting time as bands who weren't given the time of day (before Nevermind by Nirvana introduced Modern Rock and Alternative to those who'd otherwise had never been exposed to it) were suddenly given the keys to the kingdom.

In tandem to the record's release, MTV produced and hour-long No Alternative special which was later released on home video. To celebrate it's twentieth anniversary, it was reissued on 180 gram vinyl and was issued on RECORD STORE DAY in 2013. Like other alternative comps of the day (i.e. DGC Rarities Volume One, Born To Choose and the Singles OMPS) No Alternative was something of a staple of the Alternative Music Lover's collection and thus has something of a 90's relic status.

The inherent problem with compilations like these, is that no one artist ends of bringing their best material to the table. There are several live versions of songs and covers as well. Stars of the day include Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins and an unlisted track by Nirvana. Established acts like Bob Mould, Sonic Youth, Beastie Boys, Jonathan Richman and the legendary Patti Smith. Bands on the cusp of their stardom like Matthew Sweet, Goo Goo Dolls, Sarah McLachlan and Soul Asylum. And indie stars like Pavement, Uncle Tupelo, Buffalo Tom and The Breeders.

Obviously there's going to be plenty of hit-and-miss per individual listener. But my personal favorite tracks are “Superdeformed” by Matthew Sweet featuring the fantastic Ivan Julian of the Voidoids and the Outsets on lead guitar and the legendary Nicky Hopkins on piano, “For All To See” by Buffalo Tom, “Can't Fight It” by Bob Mould (recorded just before his stint with Sugar) and “Unseen Power Of The Picket Fence” by Pavement. That's not to say that the Goo Goo Dolls cover of The Rolling Stones' “Bitch” isn't amusing as it features the late Buffalo lounge singer The Incredible Lance Diamond on lead vocals or Sonic Youth's take on their early track “Burning Spear” isn't worth an precarious listen or the Beastie Boys live take of “It's The New Style” isn't flat-out great.

That's for you to decide.

Here's The Video Review:

Dedicated to: The Incredible Lance Diamond