The Goo Goo Dolls were born in ’86 — the Buffalo brood’s earliest records blended punk and classic rock (à la The Replacements), and the ‘90s saw them morph into one of the decade’s top-selling bands. For their ninth studio album, Something for the Rest of Us, the gents team with a host of producers — including longtime collaborator Tim Palmer (U2, Pearl Jam) and Butch Vig (Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins) — to create a collection of warm, guitar-driven pop-rock. On the rollicking open cut, John Rzeznik sings about someone living the “Sweetest Lie,” and this sense of disenchantment is a recurring theme — echoed on the crashing ballad “Nothing Is Real” and “Home,” where Rzeznik paints a picture of a “crowded room full of empty faces.” The most touching tune, “Notbroken,” swells with emotion and tells the tale of a soldier returning from war — it’s the type of poignant yet timeless subject matter that has endured throughout The Goo Goos’ evolution. This version of Something for the Rest of Us features three bonus tracks, including an acoustic version of “Home.”