by far the best

Goo Goo Dolls record there is. this is what got me into them. as the years have passed, my interest in the band, along with thier sound has waned. but i always go back to this. this is the band at its finest and sadly, thier poorest. why do you think they changed? Iris was no mistake my friends. they were hungry and needed money. i do understand. they were at it for years... but sadly, they had to compromise being one hell of a great band. oh well, buy this and you'll never go back to that horrid Dizzy Up the Girl garbage.

Seeing where they came from

This albumn will give you an indication of the punk roots of the Goo Goo Dolls and also show you their work towards what they have become as a band today. Much edgier than its follower, Superstar Carwash, but more melodic than its predecessor, Jed. I cant say enough about those of you who learned to love the Goo Goo dolls through their more recent radio hits. You must work your way backwards and see how this band evolved. They DO NOT make bad music and this CD is no exception.

Things to Come... I changed a few things, mainly the stars.

I'm choosing not to do a track by track review on this disc for the time being since I'm basing this review on my third listen. Anyways. Hold Me Up is a really good CD, but you've got to let it grow on you. Yeah, the production isn't the best, but "Hey"! This isn't for you raised on radio kids who dig "Iris"(I happen to be one of them, don't worry). Excuse me, who dig "Iris" and nothing else. (not me) I bought this disc as a continuation of my backwards journey through Goos history. If you're interested in buying this album, try not to wean yourself on Dizzy up the Girl, A Boy Named Goo, Gutterflower, and even Superstar Carwash. You'd be surprised. This is raw (yet poignant) music with attitude and heart, and quite frankly, a freak show of music. There's pop-ish songs that could be hits now (There You Are, Just the Way You Are, and my personal favorite, Hey), two covers, pop-punk and punk rock songs (On Your Side, Laughing, So Outta Line, and the great Out of the Red, which sounds like Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Traveling Band" --- maybe another influence, see Jed's take on "Down on the Corner"), and touching, beautiful songs, like (again) Hey, Two Days in February (garage recording!), and the instrumental Kevin's Song. Plus the joke track 22 Seconds featuring ex drummer George, the terrific Prince cover ("Never Take the Place of Your Man"--featuring the incredible Lance Diamond!! w00t.) and the grungy, Nirvana-esque You Know What I Mean. (I really liked "Million Miles Away" too... The Plimsouls? ;x)If this was released in either of two time periods, 1992 (after Nirvana's "Nevermind") or 2002, it would have sold tons more. Awesome in a lot of parts, great in others, and GOOD in a few... Buy this one now.. Prolly my second, if not favourite Goo's album, aside from Superstar Carwash. Buy Jed, too!