Goo Goo Dolls - Chaos in Bloom

American alt-rock masters Goo Goo Dolls return with their 13th studio album since bursting onto the music scene three and a half decades ago with their eponymous 1987 debut. Perhaps still best remembered for the platinum selling single Iris from 1998's 'Dizzy Up The Girl', 'Chaos In Bloom' sees the band return to form with an empowering collection of ten songs that provide a greater sense of resilience and hope than many other artists' post-pandemic releases.
 
Lead vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik produces for the first time, assisted by Gregg Wattenberg. Together, they achieve a sound, energy and pace that is exactly right. The result is probably the band's best album since 2006's 'Let Love In'.
 
Opening track and lead single 'Yeah I Like You' comes with stadium-ready chorus, and is laden with the band's immediately recognisable guitar sound. And yet, at times, it reminds very much of The Killers, and rhythmically resembles Pulp's classic 90's hit, 'Common People'. For me then, the melodically very similar, but slower and smoother, 'War', becomes one of 'Chaos In Bloom's standout tracks, along with the upbeat and punky 'Going Crazy' and the percussive grunge energy of 'Loving Life' (one of two songs where bass player Robby Takac receives songwriting credits, and also takes lead vocals).
 
A great album from start to finish – every song on it could justifiably argue a case for inclusion on a GGD 'Best Of'' compilation but, in reality, lack of radio play will probably mean that only dedicated fans are going to get to buy and hear it.
 
7.5/10