Getting 'Dizzy' with this CD

You know, as clichéd (I know, it’s probably spelled wrong) as this sounds, it isn’t often that a truly GREAT album comes out. An album that will touch your soul and capture your heart, and never let go ‘til the ending guitar on “Hate This Place.” You can’t really compare this to other Goo Goo Dolls albums (except maybe the song “Name” from A Boy Named Goo), but you can contrast it. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do. So here it is, the song by song review of “Dizzy Up The Girl”

#1 DIZZY--they start their concerts out with this song, too, and it’s a cool beginning for DUTG.

Favorite Line: “I wanna kick at the machine that made you pi*s away you dreams.”

#2 SLIDE--my least favorite Johnny Rzeznik song on DUTG, but it’s still good. (Which should make a statement about how great the CD is overall.)

Favorite Line: “Could you whisper in my ear? The things you wanna feel. I’ll give you anything, to feel it coming.”

#3 BROADWAY—kick-a*s guitar kicks (am I allowed to say that?). It sort of lost its appeal when it became a radio hit, though.

Favorite Line: “You choke down all your anger. Forget your only son. You pray to statues when you’re sober up for fun.”

#4 JANUARY FRIEND—you know, after getting Superstar Car Wash about two months after I bought DUTG, I realize just how bad Robby did on this album. And January Friend is no exception, either.

Favorite Line: “Cry. Don’t cry out loud. You got to bear your cross, but never dream too loud.”

#5 BLACK BALLOON—absolutely, positively, no doubt about it, the BEST SONG ON THIS ALBUM. From the great bass lines in the beginning (Robby should stick to making music, he’s a great bass musician), to the dramatic finale of this ballad, I absolutely loved this song, and still do, at that.

Favorite Line: “I saw the world spin beneath you. And scatter like ice from the spoon, that was your womb.”

#6 BULLET PROOF—a somewhat monotonous song with a nice kick. Not the best, but certainly not the worst.

Favorite Line: “ What are we? (What you wanna be?) Everything (That you wanna be.) All I need. (Right in front of me.) I’ve known before.”

#7 AMIGONE—I thought the lyrics were actually pretty good, but the sort of “light punk” (yhea, I know, it’s an oxymoron) vibe I get from this song, I no like.

Favorite Line: “I’m not saying that it’ something wrong with life, cuz that’s a sad excuse.”

#8 ALL EYES ON ME—an underrated ballad that blends guitar, bass, drums, violin in one flowing melodic stream of greatness.

Favorite Line: “You drown in deeper oceans; inventing new religions.”

#9 FULL FOREVER—Yuck. I’m not going to even dignify this song with a mini-review. Don’t get me wrong, Robby has songs on Superstar Car Wash (Another Second Time Around) that are better then Johnny’s songs, but DUTG just didn’t showcase his underlying musicianship.

Favorite Line (ugh. Do I have to give one? Not really, but I will anyway.): “Why can’t the moon stay full forever? Wednesday’s bad, Friday ain’t much better.”

#10 ACOUSTIC #3—“The song with no name.” Actually, it does have a name, I just heard it by that title, and have called it that ever since. Beautiful guitar-and-vocal solo, accompanied by a sweet orchestra.

Favorite Line: The chorus.

#11 IRIS—the second best song on this album. I’m sure you all have heard it before. If it weren’t played on the radio so damn much, it’d be the best song on the album.

Favorite Line: “And I don’t want the world to see me; cuz I don’t think that they’d understand.”

#12 EXTRA PALE—OK, there is an acception to ever, uh, opinion. This song has some hardcore riffs that surprised me when I first heard them, but I still enjoy this song from time to time.

Favorite Line: “Extra pale, oh you’re frail now. I shouldn’t laugh about it.”

#13 HATE THIS PLACE— (woo hoo, I’m almost done!) The grand finale of DUTG, Hate This Place is great musically, and above par lyrically.

Favorite Line: “Hold on, dreamaway. You’re my sweet charade.”

In summary, the Goo Goo Dolls have finally broken into the mainstream, and they deserve every single cent they’ve earned. Dizzy Up The Girl has given them 5, count ‘em, 5 hits, all of which have gotten extended time on the radio. Iris, especially. This album still finds its way to my CD player consistently. Buy this CD, if you already haven’t. I’m sure it’ll find it’s way to yours, too.