Goo Goo Dolls “Gutterflower” Warner Bros.
It’s been four years since “Dizzy Up the
Girl,” and what unproductive years they’ve been for the
Goo Goo Dolls. Any of the tracks on the pop rockers’ latest
release, “Gutterflower,” could have easily fit into any
other Goo Goo Dolls album. The band apparently doesn’t
believe in progression, development or even being interesting. None
of that really matters, apparently, as long as the group’s
songs are still popular with that undiscriminating group known as
pop music fans. What’s sad is that this album isn’t
even as good as “Dizzy.” While that CD was at least
tolerable, “Gutterflower” has several songs that are
downright bad. Not just uninspired or mediocre, mind you, but bad.
“What Do You Need?” is particularly painful, as is
“What A Scene.” “Tucked Away” runs into
some serious problems when the listener pays attention to the
lyrics. There are no real highlights on this album. The best songs
are more equivalent to “Dizzy’s”
“Broadway” or similar second-tier tracks rather than
hits like “Slide” or “Iris.” Stick with
“Dizzy Up the Girl.” “Gutterflower” is like
a fourth-generation copy that kind of resembles the original but
isn’t nearly as good. Mary Williams
Tweet “Southern Hummingbird” Electra
A frail name like Tweet doesn’t reflect the potential of
the newest songstress to be introduced into the world of R&B.
In her debut, Charlene “Tweet” Keys took on the
daunting task of writing or co-writing all of the songs on her
album, “Southern Hummingbird.” Her songs and lyrics
show impressive originality, although more than a few phrases could
have used some changes and a thesaurus. Also striking is her talent
on the acoustic guitar, which allows for a deeper connection and
understanding of the music. Her sweet, soft voice serenades in slow
jams, which make up most of the album. However, most of these songs
drag with their depressing lyrics, as Tweet recounts distressing
events of life like a diary. Although able to boast a unique voice,
she falls behind the vocal skills of artists like Alicia Keys and
lacks the soul of India.Arie, artists whose albums are well worth
the money. Her catchiest, most interesting song is the one
co-written and also sung by Missy Elliott about, yes, masturbation.
“Oops (Oh My)” has been playing on radio stations all
over the country prior to her April unveiling. The lyrics and beats
symbolically show the confidence Tweet has in herself when Missy
Elliott comes to her aid. However, this song is misguiding as it
differs extremely from the rest of her songs; Missy didn’t
have time to rescue the others. Far from being a diva, in both
skills and soul, Tweet still makes an impressive debut. Fans may
want to buy this CD because there may not be a second. Sophia
Whang
Quarashi “Jinx” Columbia Records
Quarashi, the latest band out of Iceland, is not pushing
boundaries or rules. They are, in a word, “pop.” In two
words, they are “radio friendly.” This doesn’t mean
that no one will enjoy it. It just means that it will be another
Linkin Park, System of the Damned incarnation that will be sure to
please people who enjoyed those two. Impressively mixing hip-hop,
electronica, punk and rap, the resulting product can be called
“rap rock,” with its edgy, indiscernible vocals.
Indeed, some of it is Icelandic or Spanish, but most of it is
English. A few of the harmonies are interesting and some of the
tunes are soulful. Overall, however, there is nothing that captures
the imagination. It drags when it should shock. The tracks all seem
to meld into one continuous stream of music that sounds unique and
monotonous at the same time, a sure sign of mediocrity. But, of
course, no one would expect them to come out with something avant
garde or even interesting, just something to fill the non-void of
rap rock bands. Quarashi may have missed the boat, or perhaps a CD
like this may be more like a ship that never comes to port, sailing
into obscurity except for a few fans it picks up along the way.
Enjoy this softy, but don’t expect longevity. Howard Ho