Background Information: Matthew Good is a Canadian singer/songwriter and guitarist. He formed his band in the mid nineties in British Columbia. He and his band have been very successful in terms of Canadian music charts, radio air play and awards. He recorded albums with the Matthew Good Band name up until 2003 where the band then dissolved and then Matt Good went on to record two more albums just his own name. He has released six full length albums in total (either with his band or solo):
Last of the Ghetto Astronauts,
Underdogs,
Beautiful Midnight,
The Audio of Being,
Avalanche and
White Light Rock & Roll Review, and has also put out a few EPs including
Raygun released in 1997 and
Loser Anthems in 2001. His music consists mostly of rock/alt rock and acoustic songs with some pop and folk elements to certain songs.
This Greatest Hits/Best of collection,
In A Coma: 1995-2005, released on September 20th 2005, is a seventeen track album that spans over Matthew Good's music within the last ten years. In my opinion I think the majority of the chosen songs put on here were appropriate, as it includes his most popular songs such as
Hello Time Bomb,
Load Me Up,
Everything Is Automatic and
Apparitions.
In a Coma also contains two new tracks,which many greatest hits albums often do. The two new ones are
Oh Be Joyful, and
Pony Boy. Both are good songs with my favorite of the two being
Oh Be Joyful, which is also the single released out of the two. The factor that brings this compilation down the most is that there are no songs from Matthew Good Band's 2003 album,
The Audio of Being. Songs that should have been included from that album were the singles
Anti-Pop and
Carmelina, both songs that are well deserving to go on this and are better than some songs on this album. The best part of the album in my opinion is the
Beautiful Midnight section, with those tracks being from number six to nine.
Beautiful Midnight (released in 1999) was the Matthew Good Band?s most commercially successful record and rightfully so. The four great tracks taken from there are the rocking
Hello Time Bomb,
Load Me Up, and
The Future Is X-Rated, as well as the emotional acoustic ballad
Strange Days, all hits for the band.
The songs taken from the band's debut album,
Last of the Ghetto Astronauts (released in 1995) are
Alabama Motel Room,
Sybolistic White Walls and
Haven't Slept In Years. All three are well done and are an overall great representation of MGB's early work, mixing hard rock and soft acoustic work as well. Another great section of this compilation is the
Underdogs portion, my second favorite MGB record next to
Beautiful Midnight. Like
Beautiful Midnight, four tracks were put on this and those four being the heavy
Everything Is Automatic, the slow and emotional
Apparitions,
Rico, with an great chorus and exeptional drumming, and lastly the catchy rock song with a great bassline
Indestructible. From the two Matthew Good solo records we have three songs, which I feel is not enough as both were solid albums. From
Avalanche (released in 2003) we have two songs, the dark
Weapon and
In a World Called Catastrophe with
Weapon being the better of the two. Although
In a World Called Catastrophe was a huge hit for Matt Good, I am not a big fan of this song as it is overly poppy and can get a tad annoying at times, just my opinion though. And from 2004's
White Light Rock & Roll Review we have
Alert Status Red, the biggest hit from that album and an overall solid and catchy rock song.
Matthew Good's
In a Coma: 1995-2005 is a very well put together compilation that shows the band to their full potential, for the most part. Yes, there are some flaws and many people will say what songs should have been included and what songs shouldn't have been, but you could say that about any greatest hit or best of compilations.
In a Comacombines Many of MGB's rock tracks (Load Me Up, Everything Is Automatic, The Future Is X-Rated) and some of MGB's best acoustic tracks (Strange Days, Weapon (not entirely acoustic), Apparitions). This album is great if you are a general fan of Matt Good and just want some of his best work and well known songs all in one purchase. On the other hand, it is good for a big fan of Matthew Good who wants an overall great album. And lastly, if you are a new fan, this would be a smart purchase to get a feel of hus music, and than gradually work your way to the albums.
4/5
Recommended Tracks:
Hello Time Bomb
Everything Is Automatic
Apparitions
Load Me Up
Strange Days
Symbolistic White Walls
Oh Be Joyful
