Music - I Do That Too
July 19, 2008, Matthew Good I’ve got most of it in the can, the important bits anyway. Just two more to go I figure. To be honest I could get away with eight on this one, the running time is already 48 minutes, but the hassling I’d get wouldn’t be worth it. I’m going to call it Vancouver, which is understandable because it’s about this city. I might get in some trouble for it, mind you, because it’s certainly not something that could be used as a promotional tool by the tourism board.
I’ve watched this city change so drastically over the last 16 years that it’s almost unrecognizable in most ways, so I suppose it’s time I wrote a record about it. While we’ve seen a considerable growth spurt and a noticeable increase in wealth, Vancouver has lost something that used to make it a very special place – its edge.
I realize to most the typical vision of Vancouver is a place where things are laid back, people spend their time rollerblading the Sea Wall stopping here and there to smoke pot, and so on and so forth. But the truth is that this city once possessed a lot of edge. It played a significant role in the 80’s hardcore scene, producing bands that would go on to influence artists all over the world, such as Skinny Puppy, No Means No, DOA, Slow, and a laundry list of others. In truth, a great many Vancouver bands that would never gain popularity beyond the West Coast influenced what would later erupt in Seattle and then be marketed to the world.
Unfortunately, Vancouver has lost that edge. It is now the playground that many have always stereotypically envisioned it to be, a sterile place devoid of the sort of substance that makes a city truly great. Only down here on the Lower Eastside can be found the ghosts of the past. But even then, they’re all dance clubs and DJ ridden bars now.
Where bands used to rehearse in rat-infested warehouses, five star restaurants and high-end lounges now reign; the memory of what was created in those buildings long forgotten their walls. To those of us that remember, it produces a significant sadness. For those of us that came up playing in this town, we find ourselves completely disconnected from what is currently transpiring musically because there simply isn’t anywhere to go and see what new bands are up to. Some might argue that that isn’t the case, but access to original live music in this town on a nightly basis is, for the most part, a memory.
That’s not to say that the record I’ve been demoing focuses greatly on that particular aspect. In truth, it’s steeped in present personal reflections of where I find myself within the context of the city more than anything. But it all plays a part, even if just inspirationally.
This entry is, of course, rather premature. The soonest I can see the record actually being released is not until next summer, but it was on my mind, so away I went.
For those of you who have been keeping tabs on demos that have been previewed in the past, here’s a brief track listing of those songs I have finalized and have made the cut…
1. The Vancouver National Anthem (7:05)
2. The Boy Who Could Explode (7:14)
3. Us Remains Impossible (5:08)
4. On Nights Like Tonight (4:13)
5. Volcanoes (5:09)
6. A Silent Army In The Trees (5:47)
7. Fought To Fight It (4:26)
8. Empty’s Theme Park (9:07)
*Songs times are obviously subject to change.
This little symbol lets you @ another comment
Well put. Looking forward to the record.
Wow, I’m already excited for this. I’m especially glad to see that “A Silent Army in the Trees” will be making the cut. Not to mention the fact that, as a Vancouverite as well, I’m sure this will be an interesting record to follow in terms of its overall reception. As you said, I don’t doubt that it’ll receive a mixed reaction.
I always wanted to move to Vancouver.. but that entry made me think it over because it was that layed back atmosphere that always seemed to call me.
Damn. Now i’m gonna be all giddy till next summer.
Will be released with or without a label? It’d be exciting to see you go at it on your own terms — a la Trent reznor.
Oh and the track list is super exciting.
Oh, I am intriqued by The Boy Who Could Explode.. What’s dat one about?
Yes, I lived in the West End for close to a year in 1998. It was one of the most depressing times to live in the city, nuttin was goin on. I paid $730 a month and was never there I was at my boyfriend’s (who is now my husband) every night, on the other side of town. I never walked the Sea-Wall, except once when it was a crazy sunny and windy March afternoon and I needed to cry. I literally watched the wind pull the tears right out of my eyes…. Something was never right about me living there.. it wasn’t for me.. in 1977-1980 my uncle lived in the circle twin towers on Cardero, I think it was… now that was a fun time to live in the city….. 6 years old not a care in the world.
One a different note: The other day I heard Odds “Truth untold” and Pure “Anna is a speed freak” back to back on the Fox… couldn’t help but wonder where those guys are now… like seriously wonder if they are out there ready to make a come back…
Until then, you just keep on rockin it good, Good!!!!!
You do that too, and you do it best.
Soooo exciting! On Nights like Tonight was my favorite demos. I still have it stuck in my head from the first listen, months ago, and you are still singing it in my head. “On nights like tonight when no one’s around I put on the record, the record I found” So beautiful. Thank you for keeping us on our toes, we’ll all be waiting impatiently, but that’s always a good kind of anticipation.
Next summer…perfect timing. I had been saving Avalanche for a rainy day and about 3 weeks ago it poured. Between that and my love of this years Hospital Music I should be set for the next year, just in time.
Chels, have you ever heard the term ‘NO Fun Zone’? It was invented in this city….
Sarah-Renee, nice to see you!!!! Hope you are doing well… Sorry I didn’t get to meet you in front of the Orpheum…. crazy night.. Hope you enjoyed your time in the city and made it here and back ok.
t
Yeah… But it still seemed better than where I live. lol Though that isn’t hard.
T-Lee I had a BLAST! I actually ended up at the Starbucks across the street with my book for the majority of the day. Had a homeless guy in a kilt draw my picture, I got to sit and talk with him for a bit. Then I wandered a while, sucked up my anxiety and went to the meet-up and actually made some friends! I have to say Granville at 2am is quite the place! Sorry I didn’t get to see you too but I hope you had fun as well!
I don’t even have words for how excited I am about this album and its old school styles…it will be a bit like your City of Glass done in music…but a year we have to wait?!?!?! That is sad news indeed.
P.S. You just triggered some pretty wicked Skinny Puppy and DOA show memories for me, thanks!
:-)
Wooooo.
Right, how could I not have replied about Skinny Puppy…. I used to go the Bumpers back in the 80’s, which then became ‘The Zone”.. Was just a wannabe though… never had albums of their’s, wouldn’t recognize a song, but my husband has an album of their’s in the basement…… Think I was too into Motley to have an open mind about anything other than hair metal…. sad..
Sarah-Renee, we were at the Kingston. I saw Dan LIlly walking around, while in deep convo with a friend I hadn’t seen in almost a year… I didn’t see where you guys were, until right when we were leaving. I saw Duane taking your guys’ pick / video for Matt, and I stood in behind waving (inside)… I might be on the video, who knows. lol…. thought I would see you guys outside, but I guess ‘Happy Birthday” takes a while to sing, so we wandered to the Orpheum, then I saw Dan outside with his lovely wife…. I guess you guys all went inside.
I would have come to say hi, but I was hanging with my buddy who just got engaged and who wasn’t going to the concert, who lives in town and who I will not see again for a long long time.. sorry I was snobby. I felt bad.
The suspense is already killing me. Can’t wait for next summer to come around.
I was actually just thinking about this earlier when listening to HM, as I know this month is a year ago that it came out. Hard to imagine it’s already been 12 months and it’s still as amazing as the first listen.
To take a guess, this looks to be a pretty deep compositional record, so it’ll be great to hear.
All I’m saying is that you should be asking a lot of those “great Vancouver bands” to stop by and add to the album. A vocal addition here, a guitar riff there… just saying it’d be a cool idea.
I must admit that your lengthy songs always happen to end up being my favorites…
I also admire how your music has recognizably become more mature as the years go on…
I’m very much looking forward to this next album.
Thanks for the update Matthew.
T-Lee- Duane ended up sitting next to me for a portion of the night so that was fun! I got to watch everybody mow down on the nachos, they looked so good! I actually ended up about 4 seats down from Dan and his lovely wife at the concert. Got to shake his hand and wish him a happy anniversary and everything. I’m sure there will be other concerts and trips to Vancouver, we’ll have to meet up then! Unless there’s a major development I go alone, so I’m all for meeting new friends! What’s important is that we all had fun, it really ended up being a night to remember.
amazing. silent army is incredible. thank you
:o)))))
I was 6 rows in front of Dan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is funny!!!!!!
This is exciting news. Will definitely be looking forward to it!
Upon reading your entry, you do give me several good points to think about in my preparation to relocate to the west coast - and to be quite honest, part of me still doesn’t care.
I really, really cannot stand to live in Ontario anymore. Beyond the fact that I live specifically in Sarnia (which is the furthest thing from just about anything imaginable), the economy’s tanking, and there’s so very little room for me to grow as a human being. To move to another near by city like London or Kitchener would just be the same old, same old. Even Toronto, which I will always love, has lost it’s luster.
I’ve thought about living in England with my cousins, but after finally getting a taste of both coasts within 6 months of each other, I’ve realized that I would be too homesick for Canada, and it was solidified when I actually got to Manchester. It did feel like home which is nice. The way of life is one that is very, very familiar to me, regardless of the fact I grew up 3000 miles away. The only problem is, the fact that it felt so familiar also gave it a hometown kind of feel - and I’m trying my hardest to get away from my hometown. Of the five or six cities I visited the entire time I was in Europe, the only one I could ever see myself living in was Liverpool, and even Liverpool, although completely opposite in every way, shape and form, physically looks like Sarnia to me! (Yes, I’m crazy, but I’ve got my points.)
Visiting Halifax and Victoria, both places were nice and have quailites I am looking for in a new location. Both have at least the minimal the level of cultural diversity I crave, both are near a massive body of water and, most imporant of all, they’re not in Ontario. However, my experience in Halifax was not one for the ages (it was February and I fought with my best friend all weekend), and Victoria, home to the awesomeness that is Big Bad John’s and a Chinatown that is home to one of the best used record stores I’ve ever been in, reminded me of too much of a combination of London and Stratford.
The moment I stepped foot in downtown Vancouver, the only Ontario vibe I got off the place was that it felt like a slower pased Toronto and because I love Toronto with all my heart, that made it OK. I felt so much at home. I don’t know why - especially when you think I didn’t know what Robson St was all about until I got home - but it did. Even blow-out fight with my mom during the trip didn’t shake it. I don’t care about any kind of an “edge” it may have had at one point, it’s still a thousand steps up from the oversized retirement community I’m stuck in now and I’ll certainly learn a thing or two about life living out there. As for the cost of living, well the moment I step foot outside of Sarnia, it’s going up anyway so what’s the difference?
Bottom line is, it’s going to take a lot more than that to change my mind about moving out there. :p
PS: If you are really worried about the album consisting of only eight songs, just think of this: Two of Pink Floyd’s finest only had five songs a piece, one of which being Animals - a concept album dedicated to the corruption of power. ;)
I can’t wait! :)
I really hear what you’re saying.
This place has changed (deteriorated) too. Richmond was a nice little town where everyone knew everyone else. I grew up with a farm on every corner and, back then, we ate nothing but organic. Fresh fish. Fresh air. Ah, the good ol’ days. What the hell happened? Not so much an edge here, just a real nice place before all hell broke loose.
I also remember some of the music scene…we used to hit the Surf Club (Richmond), The Fraser Arms (usually had a local live band) and my brother in law was in a local punk band that played in some underground club in Van (can’t remember the name). Spent many nights climbing in and out of there.
I’m really excited about this next album….tracks 3,4,5 in particular (I remember them well). Also #8…I missed it when you had it up, but remember Ket saying that she couldn’t get it out of her head.
Emily….Animals is my favorite PF album. Listen to it (in its entirety) often.
Hurray!!
Combining this news with your earlier decision not to post whole songs anymore has gotten me very excited. Personally, I like the element of surprise a lot.
It kinda reminds me of Hospital Music when you released the track listing and times. I remember being a little concerned when I read that Champions of Nothing was over 9 minutes. Boy, worrying was quite foolish of me…
[quote comment="58945"]Victoria, home to of the best used record stores I’ve ever been in,[/quote]
Damn right Emily… TURNTABLE rocks my socks right off!
That’s going to be awesome. I only managed to catch three of those when you put them up. I can’t wait.
And T-Lee: Odds split up a few years ago and just got back together a few months ago as The New Odds. Their new album “Cheerleader” is pretty good.
Wow. I really like this idea you’ve got here =)
I’m looking very forward to your new album.
And on that note, a question; That track you previewed in flick video hasn’t made the cut, has it?
I am curious as to what befell its ultimate fate.
PS: Is “Dusk” new? It reminds me quite a bit of “October” by U2.
This is exciting news. I think a lot of people were wondering what the progress was on the new album now that tour (aside from a few shows) is over. I don’t think it matters much to us when the album is released as long as you put into it what you feel it takes to make it sound the way you want it. Of course, it goes without saying that you take a nice breather after all the shows are done.
I was hoping to catch that one show in Buffalo, but alas, I might be traveling again to another banana republic. I hope it’s not like that when you your for this next album.
@christinels: Dusk, I believe, was a track that Matt made available briefly last year. I don’t really know how old it is, but something tells me the tune was done some time ago. T-Lee?? Would you know?
The Subhuman’s at the Buddha… everyone played the Buddha… I heard some of the best and worse music of my life there in the early 80’s… I ignored the urine smell…. I remember one particular show I went to at the Commodore Ballroom with DOA, the Scissors, the Subhumans… punk going up-town is what we called it… trying to legitimize for mainstream… there were so many bouncers, not needed… the people were there for the music…. there was a long list of acts… I think that was the night I saw the Dead Kennedy’s… my first taste of a mosh pit… a real mosh pit.. it was not a place for girls who were NOT 6ft tall and 200 pounds… the men were very protective of the girls…. I never got hurt when I did not want to… it was amazing to feel the raw energy rising up from the crowd… grateful for the water splash… I did not like to get pissed on so I stayed away from the edge of the stage at some shows.. when a band had a history that is… but I did not mind… in that setting it was not vulgar, it was art.. raw art that rocked.. was true, no flashy light show… no artificial synthetic bullshit…. fuckin real pain laid out on the stage and the crowd connected to both the band and each other in a way I have never felt at other shows.
OBTW “The New Odds” new album “Cheerleaders” is in stores now!
The live band scene here in London has suffered the same fate - there are good bands here to be sure but the level of attention doesn’t seem the same as it was in the 80’s.
Live music was a huge part of this town back then - with bands such as The Demics pushing our music scene to new heights. I remember the bands - The Forgotten Rebels, Sheep Look Up, Suffer Machine, The Thin Red Line, 63 Monroe, One, Messenjah - hell even the Tragically Hip played London several times a year back then.
The weekends crowd has changed - most it would seem would rather go drinking or stand in line to get a drink in the most popular bar. Even our dingy little bars like The Brunswick and The Richmond have lost the allure they once to possessed.
All things must change. Thats why we have memories.
Peace
Yankee stadium is closing this year too. Times change. Sometimes places do to.
But they’re still letting gritty hopefuls take their turn on stage at The Horseshoe, The El mocambo and The Bovine Sex Club!
Fifteen years since I spent time in Vancouver, but sad to hear the live music scene has been replaced by D.J’S
I cannot wait for the next record to be released!
So will this be an Indie release? or has your current record deal been extended? just curious.. not that it matters at all.
Sounds like we’re all in for another treat in about a year. The demos I managed to catch sounded amazing, so I’m really psyched. And hey, if it’s released next summer, maybe we can get a few previews again late spring. That doesn’t sound too far away.
Very excited for the album :) I only caught a few demos online, my fave of which was On Nights like Tonight.
Were you wanting to release an LP for the album, too? I’ve been trying to get my hands on an Avalanche LP forever, lol and I wouldn’t want to miss out on another release this time around.
Best of luck for more writing!
It’s all demographics these days. The young money decides what cool (and profitable) is and us old folks sigh and long for the good old days. My daughter once told me that she wished she would have been around to see the 70’s and I told her “you would have really liked them but then you’d be 50 now like me”.
Holy macaroons, I’m quite stoked.
I agree that Vancouver has lost it’s edge, and yes, most of it is musically. Long gone are the great live shows in small, intimate venues, and the punk booze cans for an aftershow bevvie.
Now everyone’s a dj, and these clubs line Granville st, and are taking over any decent music venue space left it seems. Even though I dj myself, the scene I am in is very small, and the style I like here is represented by few. Most dj’s and musicians I know have left the ‘Couv in search of a better music scene.
Once outside Vancouver, it isn’t that hard to find.
Looking forward to the new album.
I cant wait to hear the new album.
Can anyone tell me where I can hear some of these demos. I did not know of these being availible.
Kiera-Anne?? Would love to hear the complete version of that….the 2min clip on youtube isn’t enough haha. Great song!
Awesome. Can’t wait!
Who would hassle over 48 minutes? If it meant another album on the way sooner? Sheesh, can’t please some people. Someone commented here awhile back that MG fans are a finicky bunch–they were right, although some would likely prefer the word “discerning”. I would say “spoiled rotten” ;)
Very excited–can’t wait.
Loved the Bluesfest show, btw. Just when I think we’ve seen your best, you take it up a notch, and my family falls more in love with you. Couldn’t convince them to stay and watch the blues stage afterwards for more than a few minutes–you are a tough act to follow. Refer to above “spoiled rotten” comment.
What amazing times we live in, whereby fans can follow the minute-by-minute creation of their favourite artists’ next release when only a few years ago a band holed up in a secluded location to toil away on a product that no one would know about untill it hit the streets.
I appreciate you sharing all this with us Matt, don’t get me wrong. I just wonder sometimes if you keep anything for yourself. I’m sure that you do, and I’m sure (as we all know from the honesty of your posts) that you tend to agonize over what you do/don’t let out. Seems to me that’s the toughest line to walk really.
I’m not even sure what I’m trying to say really - except that growing up when I had to scrounge to get info on my favourite acts, it seems a bit weird to have almost transparent access now. Does it demystify the process some? Maybe. While I do enjoy reading about the process and inspiration of your tunes (as well as other (artists), I think part of me will always long for (seek out?) that experience of hearing a record for the first time and having it profoundly effect you - I think partially because it’s totally unexpected.
That first rush when you hear something new - that ‘Holy shit, what the hell is this’ moment. That’s what hooked me from the beginning. A buddy saying ‘Dude, you’ve gotta hear this….’
Then the magic happens.
Thanks for sharing this Matt… I’ll be looking forward to picking this up, hopefully the day it comes out. If you release it next summer or fall, chances are I might be in Vancouver. Weird…
You tease.
[quote comment="58950"][quote comment="58945"]Victoria, home to of the best used record stores I’ve ever been in,[/quote]
Damn right Emily… TURNTABLE rocks my socks right off![/quote]
Vinyl will always be the superior medium whether anybody likes it or not. It’s too bad the majority of people are used to giving the strangest of looks when they realize that there’s still an awesome community of people (young and old) who still enjoy the warmth and the sound quality that is the LP record. I mean, what good fan of everything classic rock doesn’t enjoy finding a hole-in-the-wall used record store smack dab in downtown Brugge, Belgium, finding the shop owner is American, and purchasing a German pressing of everyone’s favourite, Animals?
(Of course, the kicker for the total geek-ass classic rock fan: taking the train both going to and coming back from Brugge included an un-obstructed view of the Batersea Powerstation in London. :))
Oh, how I love music.
Hmmm can’t wait!
Next summer? As in, a year from now? Okay, no, it’s healthy for me to exercise my patience… all good things to those who wait. (I’m accepting kudos for refraining from capitalizing the ‘G’ there.)
(So, so, so, so, SO delighted to see Empty’s Theme Park still around. That one stuck with me something fierce.)
(Damn, a whole year ’til I hear it again? Isn’t there some sort of Fan Appreciation Day where we could work something out? Okay, no, no, I can be patient, honest. Really. Sigh.)
I know this might sound like a broken record by now..
but wouldn’t it be cool to make an album about Vancouver, whilst using the Vancouver Symphony Orchestrea….
While We Were Hunting is one of my favourite MG songs.. the ending kills me.
[quote comment="58973"]Who would hassle over 48 minutes? If it meant another album on the way sooner? Sheesh, can’t please some people. Someone commented here awhile back that MG fans are a finicky bunch–they were right, although some would likely prefer the word “discerning”. I would say “spoiled rotten” ;)
Very excited–can’t wait.
Loved the Bluesfest show, btw. Just when I think we’ve seen your best, you take it up a notch, and my family falls more in love with you. Couldn’t convince them to stay and watch the blues stage afterwards for more than a few minutes–you are a tough act to follow. Refer to above “spoiled rotten” comment.[/quote]
Actually I think Matt might have been referring to getting hassled by the record company if he handed over an album of only 8 songs, as he’s written before about record company arguements around “albums needing a hit” and having to go back and write a couple more “radio friendly” songs to include on the albums before the record company would release it. Although, I’m sure you could be correct about some fans taking issue with a record with only 8 songs, however I find it funny that people/fans feel that they should dictate to an artist what kind of art they should release. That said, I’m sure some of us fans would buy a Matt Good album with only 1 song if he released it haha.
I patiently await your new music and until then, will enjoy your past cds.
With regard to the lovely City of Vancouver, my partner was born there [Grouse Mtn] but like me raised in Mtl. and then we enjoyed our 20’s while living in Toronto. He has spoken of returning to Vancouver for a visit [and then came the kids:-)] which would be awesome b/c I’ve always been curious about the west coast “laid back way-of-life” and how environmental and health aware people seem to be. The problem: I’m afraid I would absolutely LOVE Vancouver and never want to return.
Fortunately, I LOVE Toronto as well and consider that to be my home and so I have a real comfort zone there. So I’m just wondering what your take on TO compared to BC is?
[quote comment="58984"][quote comment="58973"]Who would hassle over 48 minutes? If it meant another album on the way sooner? Sheesh, can’t please some people. Someone commented here awhile back that MG fans are a finicky bunch–they were right, although some would likely prefer the word “discerning”. I would say “spoiled rotten” ;) [/quote]
Actually I think Matt might have been referring to getting hassled by the record company if he handed over an album of only 8 songs, as he’s written before about record company arguements around “albums needing a hit” and having to go back and write a couple more “radio friendly” songs to include on the albums before the record company would release it.[/quote]
Rybay: haha on me, you’re likely right. I was assuming that since there’s no record company (far as I know), there can be no hassling from a record company, and it must be only the fans that need pleasing.
As for MG fans buying an album with one song on it, well, we already did that with Born Loser ;)
Now, there’s an idea in there. How about releasing each song as a single as it is produced, and, when you have enough, releasing the entire album? Are there enough of us impatient fanatics that would buy them all individually then buy the album to actually make this approach feasible?
[quote comment="58986"][quote comment="58984"][quote comment="58973"]Who would hassle over 48 minutes? If it meant another album on the way sooner? Sheesh, can’t please some people. Someone commented here awhile back that MG fans are a finicky bunch–they were right, although some would likely prefer the word “discerning”. I would say “spoiled rotten” ;) [/quote]
Actually I think Matt might have been referring to getting hassled by the record company if he handed over an album of only 8 songs, as he’s written before about record company arguements around “albums needing a hit” and having to go back and write a couple more “radio friendly” songs to include on the albums before the record company would release it.[/quote]
Rybay: haha on me, you’re likely right. I was assuming that since there’s no record company (far as I know), there can be no hassling from a record company, and it must be only the fans that need pleasing.
As for MG fans buying an album with one song on it, well, we already did that with Born Loser ;)
Now, there’s an idea in there. How about releasing each song as a single as it is produced, and, when you have enough, releasing the entire album? Are there enough of us impatient fanatics that would buy them all individually then buy the album to actually make this approach feasible?[/quote]
Ya I believe its called Itunes ;) That would be an interesting idea though! I thought the same thing about the “lack of” a record company but I’m sure with the sales success of Hospital Music, Matt will have some good offers coming his way (if he hasn’t signed a deal already).
Kinda sucks when a place is cool and then corporate somebodies take over to get their share and then its just not the same. Looking forward to the new music.
I hope this is going to be released way down under, too.
Can’t wait Matt! I am positive this album will exceed expectations. As each album has it’s own heart beat and flavour this one surely will too! :D
Thanks guys for the update on The New Odds….. Goes to show how much I get out.. literally…
I only get radio in the car… Coquitlam still hasn’t invested in radio for homes.. That or just my house does not get radio in clear.. it’s extremely frustrating.
That is so exciting to hear about the new album by them, any good reviews? Can’t wait!!!!
Eva, not sure, will dig… the friend who sent me Dusk and Agoraphobe in one go, on MSN doesn’t appear to be online.. Will ask him later.
Dan, Erik was at the airport asking if you’re working… I see that you are not… Secondary has only gotta rock when you’re there… poor hubby… always gets secondary. fffffffffffff
Matt, you just made my day!
cant wait for this, its sure to be spectacular <3
“The Boy Who Could Explode” - I hope this is a polished version of the song you demoed several months ago online, that was a great work. Especially enjoyed the part where it seems you’re going into the “go explode” chorus, the strings are crescendoing, but instead the melody quiets down into an introspective “what are you thinking?” chorus which is terrific combination of introspection and condemnation - yeah, I listened to that song a lot when it was up.
Great titles,
“Vancouver” is aa great cd title and speaking of tourisim?????How about a video for “The Vancouver National Anthem” ? It could be like a tourisim comercial but showing all parts of Vancouver the the rich & the poor. That would be an awsome return to the video scene……just a thought. :)
From what I can remember from the posted demos, this is going to be another good album.
At least you aren’t stuck in Slurrey. I know I could move, but I am addicted to the cheap rent and ability to walk to work. Always dodging being run over by a street racer though.
Yeah, the album title would be fun and controversial since the albums theme doesn’t glorify Vancouver. However, you could make the title metaphorical of Vancouver’s name to save all the hacks (board of trade and so forth) from plunging down on you….something like “The Lions” or “Granville Station” …just a though…
‘Us Remains Impossible’ sounds like it has a lot of potential. ‘Empty’s theme park’… fascinating ideas. Keep up the good work.
I had some friends form the UK over in the spring…they’d been traveling the world for a full year,seeing places like China, Japan, Brazil, Australia, NZ etc…all over…so they come to Canada and on their way over to visit me in Victoria they do the Vancouver stop and I was sad to hear it was their least favorite place thus far.
Naturally I felt like a dick b/c Id been going on about how cool Vancouver was when I lived there in 1990-1993…
It is a different place now.
It is not somewhere they will ever go again and this saddens me b/c Vancouver was always the centerpiece of my existence. I grew up hearing my grandparents talk about living there…my mom and her siblings growing up there…then as a kid visiting there…as a teen hitchhiking there….experiencing the *edge* as you call it…I loved being able to see Art Bergman riding his bike down the street…or going to some shit hole bar and seeing Dog Eat Dog…
Now I don’t even like going over for concerts…downtown looks like a different city….Granville got CLEANED UP (eye roll) and lost its charm and coolness….and a few blocks down I don’t even feel I have the right to be on that turf, with the downtrodden all being shoved away and me wearing my overpriced runners feeling like an absolute fraud, like I have somehow let this happen b/c I wasn’t there to speak out against it….and now it feels like its too late. Money took over.
A damn shame is what it is.
I am looking fwd to the Vancouver album….
Your 7-9 minute songs are always my favorite. Glad to see a few of them and hope they are not cut down too much.
laughed so hard i almost spit up on myself
vincent, in buffalo
http://louisebrooks.com
Awesome, can’t wait. The long, epic tracks are my favourite.
Like 72 other people said, I’m looking forward to it!
Looking forward to it, Matt! I’ve heard most of these songs (back when you were still posting demos), though of course they were nothing near their final forms.
Let’s make it another #1 =)
-Scott
Vancouver may not have that ‘edge’ anymore, but it also isn’t the musically desolate place made out by the blog post. . . looking forward to the record though.
Skinny Puppy? Really? I hid under couch cushions in college trying to avoid hearing the majority of their music. Ok, I was probably high, but they scared me a bit back then. My two cents says bring back the edge. Not to say you should copy it, that ship has sailed. Add your own edge; it will catch on. Certainly there are others that feel like you do. You fight for others’ environments, hit up your own.
As for your next release, whatever you choose, I’m happy. It gives me something to look forward to. Unless it’s a Skinny Puppy tribute. Then we may need to talk…
Good. So what are we at now… 365 days to go? Let the countdown begin…….
Matt,
Will ” Can’t Get Shot In The Back If You Don’t Run” make it on this album?
RE: Dusk.
Matt streamed Dusk on the site for a bit shortly after or shortly before White Light Rock and Roll Review was released. So that puts it at… *pulls WLRRR off the shelf* over four years old. It’s about as old as Can’t Get Shot In The Back If You Don’t Run, I can’t remember which one he put up first.
…And yes, I talk english good.
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my…I go away to Germany for the weekend and come back to this!!! :0) Can’t wait!!!
Dusk gets my vote as Most Haunting MG Song.
Like everyone else I can’t wait!!!!
As I am in the states.. I will have to wait a bit longer I presume…. hopefully it will be just like Hospital Music and I can snatch it up on itunes!!
I’m really looking forward to the new album; I was puzzled after purchasing WLRRR as I felt it was not the album Matt wanted to release but more of a push from the record label to get a new product out that was more “radio friendly.” Hospital Music is a great record. I didn’t get it immediately on first listen, as I did with Avalanche, but upon subsequent listens it got better each time. In fact, if it weren’t for “Near Fantastica” being on Avalanche, I’d say Hospital Music is my favourite record to date with lyrics that are very personal to Matt but that can be understood by almost anyone.
Well, the perfect album would be the live record (if it’s still happening) of the Massey Hall show. I prefer the live versions of most of the tracks and the Pedal Steel on songs like “Bad Lands” and “Apparitions” add a lot, and then songs like “Black Helicopter” and “I’m A Window” sound more enriched as well.
Matt: could you do us one favour if you decide to release this album on your own - could you please release it in some sort of LOSSLESS version (flac, apple audio lossless, whatever). As much as I like the idea of iTunes, I still prefer to have something of BETTER QUALITY that I can then convert to MP3 for my own listening pleasure. If you could release it in 24-Bit Audio as well that’d be a plus - similar to what Trent Reznor did with the latest Nine Inch Nails album. I can then downconvert to 16-Bit on my own. My only fear with iTunes, etc., is that we’re bastardizing audio for those who still care.
And yes, I’d pay you the money directly for a “soft-copy” of the album at 24-Bit resolution. Yes, I’d miss the physical CD, however, the CD is an antiquated means of delivering true audio in 2008, anyhow.
Forgot to mention: Similarly, the problems that you mention about Vancouver becoming “soulless” (for lack of a better definition) is more-or-less the same thing that can be said about Toronto during the same time-frame.
BTW, screw worrying about what a record label and their needs might be and give us the album YOU want us to hear as you want us to hear it. You’re in the driver’s seat on this one and if it’s 8 songs and 48 minutes, so-be-it. I’d rather have 48 minutes of great music than 65 minutes with two or three songs I have to continually “skip.”
Looking forward to the new album - by whatever distribution method(s) you choose.
Thanks for the answers in regards to “Dusk.”
Quoting Matt on new tracks:
“it’s certainly not something that could be used as a promotional tool by the tourism board.”
You mean like Born in the USA or Little Pink Houses? Nobody actually listened to those songs either but the pundits got hold of them and used them anyway!
Thanks for the teaser! I am looking forward to it already. Any news on how you’ll release it? Any offers from Universal?
[quote comment="59079"]I’m really looking forward to the new album; I was puzzled after purchasing WLRRR as I felt it was not the album Matt wanted to release but more of a push from the record label to get a new product out that was more “radio friendly.” Hospital Music is a great record. I didn’t get it immediately on first listen, as I did with Avalanche, but upon subsequent listens it got better each time. In fact, if it weren’t for “Near Fantastica” being on Avalanche, I’d say Hospital Music is my favourite record to date with lyrics that are very personal to Matt but that can be understood by almost anyone.
.
.
.
[/quote]
I guess I’m in the minority - someone who loves WLRRR. I think We’re So Heavy, Blues Skies…, Empty Road, and It’s Been A While… are some of the best MG songs on any album, and I like every other song on the WLRRR, too. I’ve never understood why fans didn’t like it and it’s stripped down sound, but to each their own preferences I think…
I have almost every MG song possible (including the early demos), and I think WLRRR fits nicely, and even makes it into my top 4 list!
I’m still holding out for a final version of Tidal Wave
Geeez would you quit bitching about the production of WLRRR?
It is what it is
As for Vancouver The Album, it seems to harken back to times where eight fully realized tracks was more than enough,
Zeppelin IV was pretty rad.
Looking forward to it
Does this mean as a tribute to the old edginess of Vancouver, you’re going to make this record sound a tad on the “edgier” side?
being as calgary has taken a horrible turn for the worse in the last five years, i can’t wait to hear this album, it will be good mood music.
kudos matt
Matthew Good = Canada, yeah I said it..
I’m looking forward to listening to “Vancouver” (sic) from the southern hemisphere.
That said, recently I’ve been thinking fondly of Robsonstrasse, now long gone.
This probably won’t be seen but..
A friend and I were talking about this very topic a few years ago. He plays acoustic music in bars/pubs/cafes in Windsor and Detroit.
“It ain’t what it used to be” is what he often says when reflecting upon how the music has changed to clubs/DJ’s instead of live music.
Sure, you can find it, but it won’t be abundant like it used to be. “Jeans and a guitar is all you needed to get laid in the ’90’s, and those days are long gone” Dusty.
And to think concerts used to be affordable too! U2, Van Halen, Elton John, Billy Joel, etc… they are all 150 per ticket! It’s insane!
I think it is not gone, just changed, it is now more selective. Going to a local band performance now has more meaning. Finding a nice jazz place has lots of meaning. When it is abundant, we lose the connection.
It just sucks for those wanting to live a dream of being a performer, as you have far less venues to choose from and thus the competition is high.
I’ve been looking forward to new songwriting from you. Hearing the title makes me anticipate the album even more.
[quote comment="59120"]I guess I’m in the minority - someone who loves WLRRR. I think We’re So Heavy, Blues Skies…, Empty Road, and It’s Been A While… are some of the best MG songs on any album, and I like every other song on the WLRRR, too. I’ve never understood why fans didn’t like it and it’s stripped down sound, but to each their own preferences I think…
I have almost every MG song possible (including the early demos), and I think WLRRR fits nicely, and even makes it into my top 4 list![/quote]
I dunno, I liked WLRRR more than any “band” album, however, it’s a sad third overall in the solo work for me. I loved Empty Road when he was first playing it on the Avalanche tour. Blue Skies is amazing and I actually rediscovered it when he performed it in Oshawa back in June. I listened to an old show I had (from the WLRRR tour) and I just didn’t care for that arrangement or performance; maybe it was the show I was at - Orangeville - which was filled with teeny boppers and Matt was never into really into it (unlike Oshawa this time ’round).
Do you have a copy of the promo version for Near Fantastica that’s at a bit rate greater than the 160 on the old website? That’d make my day. :D
[...] private listening session of the demos for the next record. Demos include: 1. The Vancouver National Anthem, 2. The Boy Who Could Explode, 3. Us Remains Impossible (5:08), [...]