Out of chaos, comes clarity. This quote appears on several art boards, tattoo parlors, and in the case of Goo Goo Dolls and their 14th studio album, Chaos In Bloom, the band embraces the chaos and creates one of their most immediately gratifying late-career records. The set of songs was produced by frontman John Rzeznik (surprisingly, for the first time in the band’s career) and he does an exceptional job of re-capturing some of the early magic of Goo Goo Dolls’ legendary material, but with a more modern flair to it. “Chaos in Bloom reminded us how special this whole thing is and to cherish the relationships that we have together,” says Rzeznik about the album. “Where we’ve been, and where we’re going.” While some may have written the band off after the early success of records like A Boy Named Goo and Dizzy Up The Girl, there is still plenty to love and enjoy on this latest album. The partnership between Rzeznik and bassist/songwriter/vocalist Robby Takac appears to be blossoming again at just the right time in their collective careers.
Goo Goo Dolls sound refreshed on songs like the lead single, “Yeah, I Like You,” that bops along with veteran poise, and showcases what the band is still capable of creating when rekindling that musical magic that is undeniable. Rzeznik’s vocal delivery is cool and crisp, as he delivers great introductory remarks to the opener through his lens of observing the world around him. Lyrics like, “You’re as corrupt as any TV preacher / I don’t believe it but I’m falling deeper / Baby, sad but true / ‘Cause it’s hard to define when you cross that line / So what’s on your mind? / Yeah, I like you,” are delivered authentically and earnestly, and stay true to the ever-evolving sound of the Goo Goo Dolls.
”War” comes up next and features some great, undercutting bass lines from Takac to bring more depth to the contextual imagery brought forth in Rzeznik’s vocals. I found the second verse particularly powerful as Rzeznik explains, “Now, now I’m surrendering / Hold up these empty hands / Don’t shoot me down again / And how, how does a fool begin / Something he’ll never win? / Tell me, ’cause I don’t know.” Songs like this continue to bring into bloom the way the band conveys rich emotional responses to their music. “Save Me From Myself” is a mid-tempo song that finds the band at their most reflective as they continue to make observations on this ever-changing world. The first verse of, “Feeling like the world has turned to stone / Standing in a crowd but I’m on my own / Wake up on the floor with a dizzy head again / Trying to find a soul in these empty faces / Gotta get away from these worn out places / Pickin’ up the pieces of myself again,” showcases a frontman willing to put his best foot forward in uncertain times.
Other tracks like the acoustic-guitar based ballad “Let The Sun,” find the band pondering about their lives. Lyrical lines like, “Break our backs and break our balls / On our knees against the wall / Tell me what you’re gonna do / When there’s no one there to take your fall,” find the Goo Goo Dolls at a near breaking point before exploding into a wall of sound into the song’s crescendo at the two and a half minute mark to bring more clarity to the title of the track. “Loving Life” on the other hand, allows for Takac to take the lead vocal reins, with mostly favorable results. The chorus of, “I’ve seen the sunbeam shine a light with / All the shadows gone from sight and I / Really hope you believe in loving life (Really believe it, I really believe it) / Reaching deep with steady nerves for sure / In a quiet way we’ll shake the world / I really hope you believe in loving life / (Really believe it) I really believe it,” features some nice harmonies between the two vocalists, and makes for a nice way of breaking up the middle part of the record.
”Going Crazy” kicks off the second side of the LP with an electric-guitar charged to crank the band into a new gear. Rzeznik’s steady riffing in the verses allow for the song to slow-build in a crowd-pleasing chorus. The song reaches a steady boiling point as Rzeznik eventually cranks up his mood as he sings, “I’m going crazy, yeah, I’m stuck in a blur / Yeah, I’m going crazy, it’s a fucked up world / Help me now ’cause I can’t see what’s left of me.” The band slightly loses some momentum on the brooding “Day After Day,” that features some bellowing piano strikes before blooming into a summery chorus. The rich contrast of the two parts further speak to the depth the band went for in exploring the boundaries of their sound.
The closing trio of “Past Mistakes” (that finds Takac taking on the lead vocal duties), the second single called “You Are The Answer,” and the slow-building beauty of “Superstar” showcase a band still willing to take a few calculated risks in their sound to avoid the late-career monotony that plagues so many talented songwriters. The closing lines of, “I think the world spins ’round you / You make me feel so weightless / Teach me to fly so high like you / ‘Cause love is all around / Love is all around, ’cause you’re a superstar,” leave a great taste in the listeners’ mouth as they wonder which exciting direction the Goo Goo Dolls may maneuver into next. While lacking the star power of a powerhouse singles like “Iris” or “Broadway,” the album’s sum of its parts are its true beauty in connecting with audiences both new and old. And for now, it’s easy to believe that chaos can certainly bloom into something beautiful.