Goo Goo Dolls
The Audience Is This Way
The era of the live album as a cultural landmark is long-gone. These days they’re more likely to be novelty releases to bulk out Record Store Day schedules.
The Audience Is This Way
started life as just that, and it shows. Comprised of 10 tracks taken from the latter half of the Goo Goo Dolls’ 32-year career, it’s neither essential nor exciting. Stripped of their studio gloss, tracks like of Slide, Home and Iris sound papery and humdrum, dragging where they once soared.
Eighteen years in, and we’re still waiting for a classic 21st-century live album. Looks like we’ll have to wait a while longer yet.