The Goo Goo Dolls have just released their latest EP, “Summer Anthem.” I'll be 100% honest the first song released as part of their “Summer Anthem” tour, “Nothing Lasts Forever” had me worried, had John Rzeznik finally run out of lyrics? This is a reflection of my first 24 hrs. with the album.

Whilst the album has a different feel to recent albums, it gives me “Something for the Rest of Us” vibes in that this may not have been the full album they wanted to put out due to being pushed out on tour following the renewed interest in “Iris”, but it is music they wanted to write and release, it strikes me as very personal for where they are now in their lives. Also, whoever came up with the artwork, needs to be given the exact items in the image and try to make them work!

I can't find a bad track, it's trademark Goo, happy, hopeful but look under the surface and you can see what brought them here, they're still holding onto the ground for dear life even after nearly 40 years of the band.

“Ocean” is a total rock out, it’s serious steering wheel drums, keyboard and head nodding in the car with this one! It's quite an intense track for more recent Goo Goo Dolls albums, it's not quite “Gutterflower” level, but getting there.

One day I will sit down and analyse “Nothing Lasts Forever”, there are a lot of shared lyrics from “Money, Fame and Fortune”, but if you listen closely there are other tracks as well. In a recent NPR interview John said in question to whether it was his retirement song, “I wish it was, but it was just more about the transient nature of our relationships and life.”

“Slightly Broken” is feels very modern, but “so” John since “Let Love In”, the man still sounds like he's completely in love and grateful for the family he now has.

“Misery” gives me Don Henley “Boys of Summer” vibes, it's not quite the right description, but I think it's the right era, it's mellow summer all over!

The obligatory Robby Takac track “Such A Mystery”, is the happiest sounding track on the album, would love to see this played live, it's very “Prayer in my Pocket” mixed with “Strange Love.”

“Run All Night” was released initially in 2023, fantastic track and something to live by, make the most of the time you have, very poignant for me as this was the year my brother passed away at 47.

“Not Goodbye (Close my Eyes)” had me in tears the first time I heard it, I can't tell if it's releasing memories, the loss of someone, hope or if I'm reading between the lines too much, which is easy to do with John's lyrics as he tends to be quite biographical.

Sitting here hopeful for a UK/Europe tour soon as I found the Goo Goo Dolls just as they finished their last UK tour in 2023, but was lucky enough to see them in New Zealand with Matchbox Twenty in 2024, but still feel like I've known them for decades.

[Disclaimer: No affiliation to the Goo Goo Dolls or Warner Music, just a bean counter in the UK who loves music]

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