The Goo Goo Dolls • Let Love In

C

In their latest studio offering, The Goo Goo Dolls officially disown their punk-rock roots to further court the commercial ballad. With a title like Let Love In, this should come as no surprise. Soccer moms will embrace this work and videos from this album will surely linger in VH1's Top Twenty for some time to come. But that isn't necessarily a good thing. The Goo Goo Dolls have delivered some solid ballads in the past, but their accompanying albums were peppered with up-tempo rockers and a few experimental detours. Let Love In, however, is like listening to their hit "Iris" on repeat—there is little variation in the material (even with standout single "Better Days"). In the post-grunge world of radio rock, the Goo Goo Dolls were one of the few guilty pleasures worth embracing (even if just secretly). But with what little edge removed from their already polished surface, there isn't much left to celebrate.