The unvarnished title of Matthew Good's third solo album refers to the circumstances preceding the writing and recording of this 2007 set. In the summer of 2006, following a divorce and a growing period of emotional instability, Good attempted suicide via an overdose of sleeping pills and was subsequently diagnosed with bipolar disorder. All of this severe emotional trauma colors the dark and vulnerable-sounding Hospital Music, but in a way that's encouragingly lacking in self-exploitation. Rather than directly addressing his personal details in the lyrics, most of these 15 songs are oblique character studies like "Girl Wedged Under the Front of the Firebird," a brief interlude for backwards guitars and tortured lyrics with an unexpected resemblance to late-era Radiohead, and the nine-and-a-half-minute multi-part opener, "Champions of Nothing," which sets out the album's themes of betrayal (of self and others) in lyrics as impressionistic as the music. Though occasional lines seem likely to directly address elements of Good's personal life, Hospital Music is not the sort of album that requires all the gossip and back story to truly understand; indeed, the most emotionally direct song on here, "99% of Us Is Failure," is addressed to a grieving friend, and that outward orientation -- also seen on songs like the politically minded "Born Losers" and the comparatively upbeat "I'm a Window" -- keeps Hospital Music from becoming a protracted wallow. Good also includes a pair of unexpectedly brilliant covers, a complete transformation of the Dead Kennedys' "Moon Over Marin" into an unexpectedly lovely acoustic tune and a tender, honest take on Daniel Johnston's wistful "True Love Will Find You in the End," to close the set. Not easy listening by a long shot, Hospital Music repays close listening through its creation of a consistent mood of unease, leavened only slightly by Good's melodic gifts.
What? Another Matt Good song? What is wrong with Barrie, you must be asking. No Mog posts in ages and then two about the same guy?!Well, Matt Good is rather unique in my music pantheon, someone who came along right at the beginning of my teenage years, whose songwriting has matured along with me. His songs always seem relevant to me, especially since they always change their context.So here is ...
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Every couple of years this Canadian troubadour (and blogger) arrives with an album that reminds me of why his songwriting has been so important to me for over ten years now.This new album, produced after a difficult divorce, is especially frank, and contains some of his darkest songs since "The Audio of Being," an album that caused the break-up of his own band.This stuff is earnest and heart-fe...
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matthew's pain is so evident in his vocal. beautiful but painful.Roger Waters is certainly appreciative. If you like any of Roger's (Pink Floyd) stuff, this is right there with it. Roger lost his dad and Matthew, well, he's lost a lot...
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I love Matthew Good. I think my ears are actually in love with the sounds of his musical catalog. Thanks to the unexpected reappearance of a long-lost friend yesterday, I started rooting around online and discovered that Senor Good actually had a new album come out last week, but I've been too maligned by work stress to acknowledge the outside work for a few weeks or so. Of course, knowing the ...
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Every couple of years this Canadian troubadour (and blogger) arrives with an album that reminds me of why his songwriting has been so important to me for over ten years now.This new album, produced after a difficult divorce, is especially frank, and contains some of his darkest songs since "The Audio of Being," an album that caused the break-up of his own band.This stuff is earnest and heart-fe...
More >
Whoa.Already I've been in this weird 'place' where the only things that sound right are favorite albums from the 90's (Candlebox's Lucy, anyone?), Matthew Good's Hospital Music and Radiohead's In Rainbows ... but now along comes news of Crash Pryor's passing, spinning my ears into a mess that only mournful music can sooth. I'm sure I'll put an MP3 here later. I just don't know what, and I don't...
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What? Another Matt Good song? What is wrong with Barrie, you must be asking. No Mog posts in ages and then two about the same guy?!Well, Matt Good is rather unique in my music pantheon, someone who came along right at the beginning of my teenage years, whose songwriting has matured along with me. His songs always seem relevant to me, especially since they always change their context.So here is ...
More >
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 "Hospital Music")
