Annoyingly, “Prayer in my Pocket” and “Long Way Home” finish the album in the same way it started with their sterile radio rock. “So Alive” continues with the slightly more modern rhythm track with a swung R’n’B feel that wouldn’t be out of place on any of the younger pop artists from X-Factor or whatnot, but it’s a welcome change from the slightly repetitive trying-too-hard friendly pop/rock songs from earlier. In fact, there isn’t really a marked change in arrangement until we get to “Lucky One” with some electronic urban drum beats, though it merely supports that same underlying feel that features on all the other songs. “Free of Me” and “Reverse” ramp things up by bringing the tempo up but still manage to revert back to the generic template that the band seem to enjoy so much. “Boxes” comes next with some nicely layered instrumentation, avoiding going too full on with the choruses and allowing a lighter feel despite the amount of instrumentation. Things slow down a touch with “The Pin”, a more interesting arrangement that has strings as well as a slightly less generic feel that has a touch of Crowded House about it. It feels more sincere than the slightly by-the-numbers opening tracks that precede it. Next song “Flood” features vocals from Sydney Sierota and adds a female tenderness to the otherwise pop infused template copied from the previous tracks. “Souls in the Machine” follows next and the U2-esque guitar reverb continues along with the simple foot tapping rhythms. It’s a bit one dimensional but perfectly listenable and a fair start to the album.

Opener “Over and Over” starts things off with a radio friendly mix of acoustic and reverb filled electric guitar that will surely get their fans clapping and chanting along at live performances. “Boxes” is the Goo Goo Dolls’ eleventh studio album

Goo goo dolls prayer in my pocket