Goo Goo Dolls covers: Acoustic cover songs – music videos by the songwriters of the Laptop Sessions video blog. Daily music blog with new indie rock acoustic songs.
Goo Goo Dolls’ Something For the Rest of Us (2010) – MAYBE SO
Something For The Rest Of Us (Goo Goo Dolls, 2010)
(August 28, 2010)
Review:
I’d like to believe I can admit when I’m wrong, so I’ll declare it here: Something For the Rest of Us is a finely crafted rock album with big vocal hooks, killer choruses, and beautiful instrumentation, though it still comes across as — if not over-produced — a bit too “epic” at times.
Wow, it’s really been two weeks since the last video? Well, if you haven’t seen it, search at the top of the Laptop Sessions acoustic cover songs music video blog for “Elderberry Wine” and you’ll see what I’ve been up to lately! It’s my second video back from a very long four-month absence.
Tonight, I bring you a video that shows you what the Laptop Sessions acoustic cover songs blog is all about. It’s a song sung by someone with a raspy voice and it’s totally an electric, rockin’ song. So, I took my non-raspy voice, sat down with my Martin acoustic guitar, and put a new twist on this tune!
It’s a song off of the Goo Goo Dolls newest album, “Something for the Rest of Us” from 2010. Let me tell you, it’s a GREAT album. I can’t stop listening to it. Every song is single-worthy. These guys have gotten so good at writing a catchy pop/rock song and it shows on this album. Honestly, I think it’s my favorite from last year. And there were a TON of albums I heard for the first time last year.
I’ve become quite the Goo Goo Dolls fan ever since I first heard some of their songs on WCJM Internet Radio shows. My friend (and former Laptop Sessions contributor) Jeff Copperthite would pick a song for each radio show we did. After a while, I noticed that I liked those songs, so I bought a couple of their older albums from the early 90’s. Now, I have all of their albums and I love them all! Well, I should say that I love all of their “rock” albums. They actually started in the late 80s as a punk band! I have one of those albums (“Jed”) and let me tell you- it ain’t great. It’s hard to believe that just a couple of years later, they came out with my personal favorite, “Superstar Car Wash”. That album is almost 20 years old now, but if you don’t have it (and like the Goo Goo Dolls), it’s really a neccesity.
Tonight’s song is “Say You’re Free”- it’s one of two Robby Takac songs that are on the new album. In fact, that’s about the standard now, as it has been for the last three albums. Back in the earlier days, Robby and Johhny would split the songs. I really liked that format- it seemed like they were trying to outdo each other. Of course, Johnny is the guy who wrote their most famous songs like “Iris”, so I suppose he’s considered the “better” songwriter. But, as we’ve learned from SO many bands here on the music blog, popularity doesn’t necessarily mean greatness. Now, I won’t sit here and say that I’m not a John Rzeznik fan- I absolutely am. But, for some reason, I absolutely love Robby’s songs, too! My favorite from him, other than the new stuff, is “Already There” from Superstar Car Wash- it’s a great tune with some really introspective lyrics. That’s a bit surprising, considering his punk roots and his incredibly raspy voice. Normally, I wouldn’t like that, but I don’t think he’s doing it on purpose. For instance, you can just tell that John Mayer sings like that on purpose, so I can’t stand it. Same with Dylan. But, people like Dennis Wilson and Robby Takac just have raspy voices for one reason or another and can’t sing any other way. That I can deal with.
I chose this song instead of the better tune, “Now I Hear” from the same album because I wanted to hear how this song would come out acoustically. I love the results and I hope it shows how great of a song it is on its own. And, I hope Robby somehow watches this someday- I want him to know that there are fans out there that love his songs and that want even more per album! I hope you enjoy tonight’s Laptop Session and I’ll be back in a couple of weeks with another great new acoustic cover song music video!
Welcome, welcome to another edition of The Laptop Sessions with me, Jim Fusco!
I have a big announcement that will come very shortly after this post, so I hope you’ll stay tuned and check it out. It’s quite a milestone!
First, let me say that I had a GREAT weekend. We had my best college friends over for the first time on Saturday night and ate, talked, played a Family Guy DVD trivia game, and watched “The Hangover”, which I loved even more the second time around.
Then on Sunday, I went to my favorite little Mexican restaurant in Wallingford with my father, then we both hiked up to Danbury for the TNA Wrestling show at WCSU. IT WAS AWESOME!! They had great matches, there were a ton of stars there, and I got to meet many of the wrestlers. Turns out that Velvet Sky and Madison Rayne are two of the nicest ones–and they play the meanest ones on TV! I also got to meet Jeff Jarrett and got my photo taken with The Phenomenal AJ Styles. I even got to hold the Championship belt!!
It was quite a weekend, so I knew it would be a tough week to make up for it. Things are very busy at work and I’ve been keeping a steady pace on my nighttime work, as well. It’s a new strategy I’m trying that’s working well so far. Thankfully I recorded this video last week- my mood would’ve been much different if not.
Which finally brings me to tonight’s video:
“Iris” is one of those songs that I kind of knew, but never knew who did it. I was surprised to find out what a big hit it was. In fact, it holds the record for consecutive weeks as the Number One played song on the radio (13) according to Billboard. It made it to the Top 10 on the charts and stands as Goo Goo Dolls’ biggest hit.
After Laptop Sessions alumnus Jeff Copperthite introduced me to this band on WCJM Free Internet Radio shows many years ago, it took me about ten years to actually break down and buy an album. I purchased “Dizzy Up the Girl”, which was their biggest album (probably because it had “Iris” on it). Actually, I didn’t realize this song was on it- not exactly the best name for a song when it doesn’t even mention that word in the lyrics. I bet it would’ve gotten to #1 if people knew the stinkin’ title!
Actually, Jeff played many tracks (especially on our personal BSYNHO shows for our wives) from the Goo Goo Dolls that were album cuts and lesser hits. So, I knew a few others, including a couple Jeff’s already posted here on the music blog. I really, really enjoyed “Dizzy Up the Girl”, so I went out and bought two more of their albums (for like four bucks apiece, too): “A Boy Named Goo” and “Superstar Car Wash”. But, I haven’t listened to them yet because I’m currently in a phase from another band we haven’t covered yet on the blog. Let’s just say I’m “dying” to record a video from them! You’ll find out soon.
Anyway, like I said, “Iris” isn’t my favorite tune from Goo Goo Dolls so far, but I couldn’t believe Jeff hadn’t done their biggest hit (I’m assuming it’s because of the high range in the chorus), so I wanted to snatch it up. It’s always great to claim a video you know will be popular.
Well, I’m running lean on time tonight, but am really enjoying the amount of sleep I’ve been getting. I mean, I worked today, cooked dinner, worked again tonight, and posted a Laptop Session. Now, I’m off to watch some more “Arrested Development” with my wife and brother, then it’s off to bed for 8 hours of sleep. Now THAT’S some Operations Planning if I do say so myself! 🙂 Anyone from work would be cracking-up at that one…
Goo Goo Dolls Acoustic Rock Cover Songs and Free mp3 Downloads
It all started with three songwriters and musicians by the names of John Rzeznik, Robby Takac, and George Tutuska who decided to name their band the Sex Maggots. According to Wikipedia, the manager at an early gig requested they change their names, as the newspaper would not print their name. Go figure. Well, they changed their name to Goo Goo Dolls and never looked back, making new rock music and acoustic music to this day. The name change certainly didn’t hurt their chances at songwriting and performing fame and fortune. Since their first album in 1987, the band has had many successful music videos, not the least of which was the very popular new music single “Iris” from their Dizzy Up the Girl album. Classified as alternative music, the Goo Goo Dolls have had much success, both in sales and music reviews, although it wasn’t until their fifth album that they finally found mainstream success. They continue to demonstrate they know how to write a song, recording new music and having released a greatest hits album. In addition to writing their own music, they have recorded cover songs, such as covers like Supertramp’s “Give a Little Bit.” The songwriters of the Laptop Sessions have only begun to record free videos from their catalog to post as YouTube videos.