'Livin' in a Hut,' 'Beat Me,' and 'I'm Addicted' are undeniably catchy, and the Goos' rowdy covers of 'Sunshine of Your Love' and 'Don't Fear the Reaper' are entertaining, but none of the material matches the efforts displayed on later releases such as Hold Me Up and Superstar Car Wash.
First Release exhibits a carefree attitude and a sense of humor, but little sign of what was to come. Before the Goo Goo Dolls evolved into the modern-rock superstars who would record late-'90s radio smashes, such as 'Name' and 'Slide,' they were an energetic trio of drunken nobodies, spewing forth a mixture of relentless thrash and sloppy punk.
