God Bless the Go-Go's

God Bless the Go-Go's
Studio album by
the Go-Go's
ReleasedMay 15, 2001 (2001-05-15)
Recorded2000–2001
StudioSound City and Sound Image,
except "Here You Are" at Moodus Noise and Sunset Sound
(Los Angeles, California)
Genre
Length45:08
LabelBeyond
Producer
The Go-Go's chronology
VH1 Behind the Music: Go-Go's Collection
(2000) 		God Bless the Go-Go's
(2001)
Alternative cover
Deluxe edition cover
Deluxe edition cover
Singles from God Bless the Go-Go's
  1. "Unforgiven"
    Released: March 19, 2001
  2. "Apology"
    Released: July 23, 2001

God Bless the Go-Go's is the fourth and final studio album by American rock band the Go-Go's, released on May 15, 2001 by Beyond Music. It was the band's first studio album after a lengthy hiatus, and was released 17 years after their previous album Talk Show (1984).

While many of the band's earlier hits had been written within the band, the Go-Go's worked with other artists for God Bless the Go-Go's; songwriters that contributed to the album included Billie Joe Armstrong, Jill Sobule and Susanna Hoffs, among other musicians.

Release

God Bless the Go-Go's was released on May 15, 2001 by the Beyond Music label.[1] The album peaked at number 57 on the US Billboard 200.[2] "Unforgiven" served as the album's lead single,[1] and was released to radio on March 19, 2001,[3] followed by a second single, "Apology", on July 23, 2001.[4]

For the album's 20th anniversary, God Bless the Go-Go's was reissued on May 14, 2021 by Eagle Records. The original album was released on vinyl for the first time, while a deluxe edition, featuring two bonus tracks and new cover art, was released on CD and digitally.[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic68/100[6]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Blender[8]
Classic Pop[9]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[10]
Los Angeles Times[11]
Q[12]
Record Collector[13]
Rolling Stone[14]
Spin6/10[15]
Uncut[16]

God Bless the Go-Go's received a score of 68 out of 100 from Metacritic based on generally favorable reviews from critics.[6] Los Angeles Times critic Marc Weingarten found that "for a band that has been dormant for so long, the musical pieces all fit together surprisingly snugly",[11] while in Billboard, Michael Paoletta praised the album as a "deliriously buoyant" record of "unadulterated adult-made pop".[17] "Sharply written, energetically performed, and slickly produced," judged Keith Phipps of The A.V. Club, "it actually sounds like the album Go-Go's fans have waited 17 years to hear."[18]

Rolling Stone reviewer Arion Berger commented, "The album doesn't attempt to update the band's sound with hip-hop moves or electronic frippery, for which God should bless 'em, indeed. The girls' hold on the current pop world remains so strong that Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong co-writes a song ('Unforgiven') in impeccable Go-Go's drag."[14] AllMusic's Peter Fawthrop was more ambivalent, writing that "the group took the familiar route with tracks that sound every bit as Go-Go's as their previous records. Every bit as Go-Go's, that is, as their non-hits and less remarkable material. While the Go-Go's sound is intact, there is not a 'We Got the Beat' or a 'Head over Heels' to be found. It is feasible that in this age of pop rebirth, the Go-Go's decided it was now or never."[7]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."La La Land"
3:01
2."Unforgiven"
3:23
3."Apology"
  • Valentine
  • Heatherton
3:57
4."Stuck in My Car"
3:36
5."Vision of Nowness"
2:55
6."Here You Are"
4:01
7."Automatic Rainy Day"
3:17
8."Kissing Asphalt"Caffey2:49
9."Insincere"
  • Caffey
  • Wiedlin
3:45
10."Sonic Superslide"
3:33
11."Throw Me a Curve"
  • Caffey
  • Carlisle
  • Schock
  • Valentine
  • Wiedlin
3:11
12."Talking Myself Down"
3:55
13."Daisy Chain"
3:45
Japanese edition bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."King of Confusion"
  • Caffey
  • Valentine
  • Bill Bartell
3:07
UK edition bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."I Think I Need Sleep"
3:30

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[19]

Band members

Additional musicians

Production

Design

  • Ginger Canzoneri – cover art direction
  • Eric Roinestad – cover design
  • DeDe Kelez – second cover design
  • Susan McEowen – production art
  • Maryanne Bilham, Chris Cuffaro – photography
  • Jennifer McManus – styling
  • Robin Slater, John Stapleton – makeup
  • Ned Neidhardt – hair

Charts

Chart (2001–2021) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[20] 40
UK Albums Sales (OCC)[21] 46
US Billboard 200[2] 57

References

  1. ^ a b Newman, Melinda (February 17, 2001). "After 15 Years, Go-Go's Have New Album; Jackie Jackson Launches Jesco Records". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 7. p. 12. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Go-Go's Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 22, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  3. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1393. March 16, 2001. p. 173. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  4. ^ "Impact Dates" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 2345. July 13, 2001. p. 43. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  5. ^ "The Original Album Version Of God Bless The Go-Go's Makes Its Vinyl Debut In Celebration Of Its 20th Anniversary". Universal Music Enterprises. February 5, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "God Bless The Go-Go's by The Go-Go's Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Fawthrop, Peter. "God Bless the Go-Go's – The Go-Go's". AllMusic. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  8. ^ Lindsay, Britt (June–July 2001). "The Go-Gos: God Bless the Go-Gos". Blender. Vol. 1, no. 1. p. 110. Archived from the original on February 21, 2004. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  9. ^ Wallace, Wyndham (May–June 2021). "Belinda Carlisle / The Go-Go's: Belinda / God Bless the Go-Go's". Classic Pop. No. 69. p. 90.
  10. ^ Sullivan, James (May 18, 2001). "Go-Go's: God Bless the Go-Go's (Beyond)". Entertainment Weekly. No. 596. p. 80. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  11. ^ a b Weingarten, Marc (May 13, 2001). "The Go-Go's, 'God Bless the Go-Go's,' Beyond". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 25, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  12. ^ Gittins, Ian (2001). "The Go-Go's: God Bless the Go-Go's". Q. No. 184, Awards/01. p. 135.
  13. ^ Wilson, Lois (May 2021). "The Go-Go's: God Bless the Go-Go's". Record Collector. No. 518. p. 106.
  14. ^ a b Berger, Arion (July 19, 2001). "Go-Go's: God Bless the Go-Go's". Rolling Stone. No. 873. p. 52. Archived from the original on February 14, 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  15. ^ Wolk, Douglas (June 2001). "Depeche Mode: Exciter / Echo & the Bunnymen: Flowers / The Go-Go's: God Bless the Go-Go's". Spin. Vol. 17, no. 6. p. 155. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  16. ^ Hughes, Rob (December 2001). "The Go-Go's: God Bless the Go-Go's". Uncut. No. 55. p. 120.
  17. ^ Paoletta, Michael (May 19, 2001). "The Go-Go's: God Bless the Go-Go's". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 20. p. 18. Archived from the original on June 8, 2001. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  18. ^ Phipps, Keith (April 19, 2002). "The Go-Go's: God Bless The Go-Go's". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  19. ^ God Bless the Go-Go's (liner notes). The Go-Go's. Beyond Music. 2001. 63985-78182-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  21. ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart". Official Charts Company. May 21, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
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