I have never listened to the Goo Goo Dolls’ music before and I never thought I would, but when I heard they released a Christmas album, I was all in.
The rock band released their new album on Oct. 30, and it features a mixture of classic Christmas songs as well as some original, more contemporary Christmas songs. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed listening to this unique Christmas album.
Out of the 10 songs featured, six songs stuck out to me and put me in a Christmas mood.
The first song on the album is titled “Christmas All Over Again,” and right away, I felt nostalgic. It just sounds like a classic Christmas song.
A nice beat starts in the beginning and carries throughout the song. The drums and guitar are strong and give the song a good, instrumental foundation. The chorus is catchy, which helps with learning the lyrics and being enticed to keep listening. There are both fast and slow parts incorporated, and they are blended throughout the song well.
Given that the Goo Goo Dolls are a rock band, there is an apparent rock ‘n’ roll feel to this song. I could definitely imagine this song playing at the beginning of a Christmas movie.
“This is Christmas” is a slower song which I wasn’t expecting from a rock band, but it was a pleasant surprise and a nice change. It included humming in the already strong vocals, which was a unique element. The lyrics are heartfelt and have a good message. The song made me think about all of the reasons that Christmas is such an amazing holiday.
The most fun song on the album was “You Ain’t Getting Nothing.” The song tells a story from the perspective of a parent telling their child that they will not be getting any presents for Christmas because they have been misbehaving.
However, it is done in a funny and playful way. There is a jazz element and big band feel to this song, which I really enjoyed and appreciated. The featured brass section sounds cool and is complemented by the keyboard solo later on in the song. There is a choral echo effect incorporated, and I always enjoy a good choral moment.
The smooth and strong vocals featured in the Goo Goo Dolls’ version of “Let It Snow” did the classic Christmas song justice. There is a cozy and comforting feeling that’s evident when I listen to this song and listening to this version was no different. The groovy guitar solo added a cool element. I could never get tired of listening to this song year after year.
One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and this version brought on nostalgia, too. The vocals were once again smooth, strong and clear. The individual instrumental parts fit well together and flowed nicely throughout the song. I will definitely be listening to this version of the song as Christmas gets closer.
The last song on the album is titled “The Christmas Party” and I quickly learned why it was named that while listening to it. The whole song is an instrumental medley of popular, classic Christmas songs. This is without a doubt a song I would play at a Christmas party for some fun, background music. However, it still stands out on its own and is enjoyable to listen to, especially since a saxophone is featured throughout and I love listening to saxophones.
I usually don’t listen to Christmas music this early, but I have decided that if it brings me joy, why shouldn’t I?
Listening to the Goo Goo Doll’s Christmas album brought me joy with feelings of both nostalgia and unfamiliarity. I definitely underestimated the rock band’s musical abilities and I will be listening to their music this Christmas season.
4 out of 5 stars.
