They have some wonderful songs, portraying an emotional honesty and rawness that has always drawn me in. Here are my rankings in three categories. The band members are Johnny Rzeznik [REZ-nik], guitar and vocals, Robby Takac, bass and vocals, and Mike Malinin, drums.
Notes: The only caveat to this list is that I do not know any songs from the first release because I don't have enough money to buy it just to add it to my collection. Also, songs written by Johnny that aren't GGD songs are not under consideration. So, for example, songs from the movie Treasure Planet are not eligible. I included the duets in my considerations for the list of Johnny songs. Johnny and Robby's songs are ranked separately because they are, in general, two verydifferent kinds of animal.
Favorite Songs written by Johnny Rzeznik:
To be honest, I'm ranking these largely from my gut reactions. I will say, though, that, in order to determine which are the best, and figure my gut reactions out, I asked myself if the song was the best of what Johnny's songs typically offer: emotional honesty, passionate expression, and rawness. (Album on which it appears in parentheses.)
1. Black Balloon (Dizzy up the Girl)
I can never get sick of listening to this song. It's largely assumed that this song is about the emotional turmoil of one's feelings for a girl who is addicted to illegal drugs. (I agree.) Many would put Iris in the top spot, but I feel that Black Balloon speaks more to emotional struggle... Johnny's really good at tapping into emotional struggle and how it affects us.
2. It's Over (Gutterflower)
A song few know because it was never released as a single, probably because it is not very radio friendly. If you've ever had an intimate relationship end on someone else's terms, you may be able to relate to the strong shift in Johnny's vocal delivery and the guitar effects used between the verses and the choruses.
3. Truth is a Whisper (Gutterflower)
From the foreshadowingly-downplayed mood of the musical introduction, the listener can sense that he/she is about to be taken on quite the emotional ride. Such a perfect way to close an album. Imagine yourself with shoulder-length straight hair, really letting the mood of the song dictate how you would sing this song, falling down over your eyes and across your cheeks as you jam, and you will know what I mean.
4. Iris (Dizzy up the Girl)
Johhny sure can write a soundtrack song, can't he? If you don't know this song or why people love it, you probably lived under the proverbial rock in the late 90s. If you did, watch "City of Angels." Then, listen to Iris. It's a wonderful song. Case closed.
5. Notbroken (Something for the Rest of Us)
Johnny knows how to make emotions match the words that he writes. Say these words to yourself. "...if the world has worn you down/And I'll be waiting/So please come home" ...Did you do that? Good. Now, listen to Notbroken.
Just missing the cut... Naked, Name, Let Love in, Here is Gone, Two Days in February
Favorite Songs written by Robby Takac
Robby's scratchy voice turns many off, but, early in the band's career, his voice drove their punk leanings and helped them to get signed. Robby typically is very blunt... He gets right to his point, both musically and lyrically. I believe that if someone with a little bit smoother voice performed his songs, people would pay more attention as they could relate to a lot of things that he talks about with his lyrics. With that in mind, I'll just give you some lyrics as evidence of how he keeps it real.
1. Up, Up, Up
"Are you listening now?/Are you feeling that way?/Aren't you terrified?/Of breaking up, too tired to try again?/Are you happy now that you've shut yourself down?/Aren't you paralyzed by all the nonsense that's gone down?/I know you're gonna see these things someday"
2. Amigone
"Every time you point your finger/Three more point right back at you/I'm not saying that there's something wrong with life/Cuz that's a sad excuse"
3. January Friend
"Let’s pretend/My January friend/I’m wantin’ you again/I wanna touch you/Every single heart that beats pretend"
P.S. The Goos are from Buffalo, NY...
4. Slave Girl
This song is just kinda humorous to me. "Let me tell you 'bout a girl I know/I drag her around wherever I go/This little woman drives me insane/She's tied to my ankle with a ball-and-chain."
5. Out of Sight
Very old GGD song: "You really thought you had me/Thought you'd put me in my place" ...And elsewhere... "You tell me you got a wife/I heard she's fat/You got a kid/An' I got a cat"
Just missing the cut... Now I Hear, Laughing, Sex Maggot
For funsies, I'll rank the covers:
1. Never Take the Place of Your Man
This is an old Prince song. Lance Diamond's vocals somehow fit really well with the raw, hollow sound of 80's Goo guitar.
2. Down on the Corner
Pretty decent cover of CCR's classic. Again, Lance Diamond, a local radio personality at the time, provides the vocals.
(Distant) 3. Give a Little Bit
Okay, so, I'm pretty much just putting this one on here because I think that it's lame and wanted to make a little fun of it... I could be doing this for catharsis, I guess, because this work is about the only thing that the band has ever done that I don't like.
Coming soon, I'll rank the albums and give a detailed breakdown.
Special thanks to Paul Green for his encouragement.
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