GOO GOO DOLLS – Dizzy Up the Girl (1998 Warner)
The Goo Goo Dolls were made for the 90s. When the big bands dropped off the charts, where were we to get our fix of melodic rock with acoustic ballads? From Buffalo, NY. The sixth Goos album, Dizzy Up the Girl, was the latest in a stream of albums that got progressively less punk and more acoustic. It was also their first album with critically acclaimed new drummer Mike Malinin, and the first since they had a huge single in “Name”. It’s no surprise they went further in that direction.
Commercial intents aside, Dizzy Up the Girl is a remarkable album. Every song helmed by singer/guitarist Johnny Rzeznik boasts an explosive chorus. The four tracks with bassist Robby Takac singing are the ones that maintain a punk aesthetic, but with a refined sense of composition.
Lead track “Dizzy” is the first of many great single-worthy choruses. In fact it was a single, though not the biggest of the bunch. That would of course be “Iris”, previously issued on the soundtrack to City of Angels. The 90s were not that much different from the 80s when it came down to it, and a power ballad is what made the Goos a household name. Better than Iris though is the single “Slide”. It charted just as high as “Iris” (#1) in the US and Canada. Unlike “Iris”, “Slide” has a driving acoustic vibe. It’s the kind of tune Extreme made their bread and butter with, like “Hole Hearted”.
Two years after “Iris”, the album was still producing singles. “Broadway” is just as good as “Slide” with more emphasis on the electric guitar. It has an earthy, down home quality. “Black Balloon”, another single, takes it back to acoustic with harmonics, and strings added by Canadian David Campbell (father of Beck). Even without the accompaniment it’s one of their biggest and best choruses.
Takac’s four tunes (“January Friend”, “Amigone”, “Full Forever”, and “Extra Pale”) are great breaks between Rzeznik’s more mainstream crooning. Robby’s rasp isn’t commercial but it’s the only real link back to their punk rock days. His songs don’t suck. “Amigone” (pronounced “Am I Gone”) sticks to the brain like chunky peanut butter.
Four of the five singles are top-loaded onto the front of the album, normally a death knell for a solid listen. Not in this case. The Goos boasted album tracks as good as their singles. “Acoustic #3” is good enough to be yet another single. “Bullet Proof”, with its driving guitar, could have been the album opener. The chorus lifts off to the atmosphere. It’s the kind of chorus you expected from the 1980s, not the 1990s. A dramatic “All Eyes On Me” could also have been a solid album opener. All they need is a closer! Nope, they got that too: “Hate This Place” winds things up nicely the way it began. “Hold on, dream away, you’re my sweet charade.”
Dizzy Up the Girl might not be up your alley, but in the 90s, choice was more limited. It was hard to find mainstream rock that didn’t suck. This one stands the test of time, with a collection of excellent guitar-based tunes that fit the mold.
4.5/5 stars
mikeladano.com 
I love this one. I picked it up last year on vinyl and have spun it a few times. Too bad they only had a couple more decent albums after that. I can’t even listen to the new stuff. I will stick with this era of the band.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree. Only a couple more good ones. In my eyes, really only one (Gutterflowers).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Goo Goo Dolls was a really great 90s band. Couldn’t get into their new album at all, but this one’s fantastic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jade I haven’t bought anything new from them in a decade… I think we have moved on from each other.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always liked the singles – good to read there’s much to enjoy on the rest of the album too
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely, see my comment to Deke about the compilation of lesser known tracks. I prefer it to their actual greatest hits CD.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This album never fails to remind me of Nintendo 64 – I got both for Christmas as a kid and listened to one as I raced Mario Kart. The two are forever entwined in my head.
LikeLiked by 1 person
YES! You and me Jay, we connect music to N64 games the same way. For me it was Goldeneye and Iron Maiden but I GET IT. I can see the game when I listen to the album…I can see the old apartment where I played it!
LikeLike
Some good stuff on it. I got this maybe from BMG Club or whatever it was called. Not bad but never followed up with any more of there stuff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I won’t steer you wrong, so I will tell you there is one CD you should own. It’s a best of called What I Learned About Art, Ego, Opinion and Commerce. It has no actual hits on it. Just lesser known songs. Tracks from the first album up to Dizzy. Pretty rocking stuff man. I will share one song. If this one doesn’t sell it, none will. WE ARE THE NORMAL! Give it a play.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ok Fella.
Cool way to do a comp so I give them credit for that
LikeLiked by 1 person
Every track was remixed as well (I never heard any of the originals) so it’s all stuff that diehards wanted. Because their early stuff is so low budget I think they needed to mix everything up to the same levels. It sounds more like a cohesive album than a compilation. It ends with a bunch of their very earliest songs like “Up Yours”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They have at least one good song on each of the newer albums. Like the songs Home, Rebel Beat and So Alive. Sure Dizzy is a better album but they are still a half decent band.
LikeLike
I’ve been into these dudes since high school. Playing along to their stuff was super relaxing when I was first starting out as a guitarist.
LikeLike
ok technically I started playing in 8th grade but you get the idea lol
LikeLike