What's in a name? A hit single, platinum-plus album, and now, thanks to the tune "Name" and the record that contained it -- 1995's A Boy Named Goo -- a generous helping of follow-up pressure for the Goo Goo Dolls. |

But the Buffalo, N.Y.-based trio are forging ahead quite nicely at Los Angeles' Track Record studio, where singer/guitarist Johnny Rzeznik, bassist Robby Takac and drummer Mike Malinin are nearly done with their anticipated sixth album, titled Dizzy Up the Girl.

Fortunately, the Goos have afforded themselves some breathing room -- as well as proof that "Name" and A Boy Named Goo were no flukes. It came in the form of "Iris," the Goo's contribution to the chart-topping City of Angels soundtrack. The single, produced by the band's A&R representative, Rob Cavallo (who will also be at the helm for Dizzy Up the Girl), shot to No. 1 on the Modern Rock charts. It's been there for more than three months.

In light of this success, Rzeznik had lofty goals for the follow-up to A Boy Named Goo. "I wanted to make a record where I felt that the material and the way it was recorded was of a greater substance than anything we've done before," the singer says. "Part of that was choice of producers, part of it is budget -- we have a little more money to make records now. Before, we were sort of forced into an assembly line, sort of processed because of financial restrictions."

Until A Boy Named Goo, the threesome's records -- including Hold Me Up and Superstar Car Wash -- garnered critical acclaim, but sold in the ballpark of 30,000 to 80,000 copies each.

Now, with success and the subsequent shift in stature come other changes, one of the most notable being an additional member. There will now be four Goos onstage -- the band has hired a touring guitarist, breaking the three-man format that has been standard for the last 11 years.

Dizzy Up the Girl won't be out until August or September, and Rzeznik is hesitant to give up the name of the additional axeman. He also remains mum on song titles, as they're presently "working titles" destined to change.

The affable singer/guitarist will concede, though, that this is the most expansive and adventurous record the Goos have made. "You constantly have to reinvent yourself, take new steps, challenge yourself. I think each one of our records has progressed in its own way, and I don't think this album is any exception," Rzeznik concludes. "There's definitely things I've never done before that I've done on this record, and I'm really excited about that." (Katherine Turman)