Moonlight_Graham

2nd disc looks like first 7 songs from "Rooms" on In A Coma, plus 2 live tracks.

"Grampa's Got Bitch-tits". A rare Hospital Music demo.

Listened to the album a few times now. My review: Sounds much like Vancouver to me. Apparently inspired by a lot by 80's/90's alternative stuff Matt likes, but it doesn't sound like Replacements/Husker Du/Afghan Whigs at all. That kind of alt-rock has a rawness/edge and simplicity to it, sounds like its recorded by a band. Arrows sounds like it's made in a lab, with tons of different layers on top of layers, sounds very "produced". But in fairness Matt obviously didn't set out to record that kind of record, given all the synth he used. This is a pretty good album, a few really good songs, but the album doesn't given me that "holy shit this is amazing" feeling like LOES did. You guys are nuts, wouldn't rank this near Matt's/MGB's best albums, I'd rank it around Vancouver and WLRRR. I really miss Matt's traditional vocal style, featuring him wailing on long, loud, higher-pitched notes (ie: Rat Who Would Be King, Rabbits, Fine Art of Falling Apart). Mutineering was the only thing that sounded like that on Arrows, and he's really gone away from that style since after Avalanche. Now on most songs he sounds more like a traditional singer/songwriter w/ lots of vibrato. Show off those beautiftul chops again Matt! Order of favorite songs: Arrows of Desire (super catchy song, passionate singing) Via Dolorosa (great tremelo picking at end of song) Guns of Carolina Mutineering So Close (awesome mini guitar solo at 1min mark) Garden of Knives (love the sonic mayhem at end of this and start of Mutineering) We're Long Gone Hey Hell Heaven Letters From Wartime Had It Coming LOES and this were Matt/MGB's 2 shortest albums, around 43 mins each. That's about the length limit that a vinyl disc can handle, so I blame LP sales for the shorter albums since the label doesn't want to ship double-LP's.

For the sit-down interview with Alan Cross for this album, I'm really dissapointed Matt didn't talk very much about the themes to his song lyrics like he did with the LOES interview. The vagueness of the lyrics of this album are driving me nuts! haha , starting at 6:30, Matt talks about the meaning of Arrows of Desire's lyrics. He says the song "is about the flight of an arrow in battle, from it leaving a bow to it killing somebody", and the inner conversation the arrow is having with itself about what it's own meaning is. He also says it's a metaphor about drone strikes in the middle-east. The title of the song comes from a line in the poem "Jerusalem" by William Blake.

Very good point. That's screws up my theory a bit. The song may have to do with just general CIA/covert ops ("gotta a little code to break"), or general secretive government bullshit that is less than legal. Possibly some reference to Wikileaks (Manning etc.) in there too.

From Matt's recent interviews he said that he only cut one song he was working on. He said he knew he'd need about 10 tracks to make the album, and that's pretty much how many he wrote minus the "lost song" he thought was "meh". Did Matt release any demos for this album? I don't remember since I avoid them until post-release to avoid spoiling the record for myself.

Wondering if you've heard Matthew talk about what certain songs/lyrics mean on the new Arrows of Desire (AoD) album? If you haven't, what do you personally think different songs or lyrics mean? -------------------- Guns of Carolina - Matt said in one interview that the song is about the recent gun debate in the US. Before I heard this I thought it was either that, or some kind of protest to foreign US intervention. There are many gun and defense manufacturers in Carolina, so maybe that is why Carolina is referred specifically? North Carolina houses Fort Bragg, the home to US Special Forces, so I thought that could have been a reference to foreign military intervention, but I'm probably wrong since the song is geared more toward domestic gun ownership. Mutineering - The only song I could figure out on my own that I'm 100% sure of. Very clearly about domestic spying by the US (and other countries) re: the NSA's PRISM program exposed by "traitor" Edward Snowden, and WIkileaks documents exposed by "traitor" Bradley Manning. Song seems to mostly be told from the perspective of the government people who are doing the dirty work (ie: "Done a little bad for should, But never for no greater good, Yeah you know you found me out") May post more later.

I agree, a definite upgrade to the last design, which seemed a bit amateur compared to previous designs. Ya me too haha. I've heard 4 of the 6 released album tracks, going to stop at 4 since I don't want the album spoiled for me.

Had It Coming = pretty blah song, a bit weak. Why does Matt sing/talk with a weird folksy accent haha? For a single, a predictable choice, since it's upbeat and a little catchy with a hook (that doesn't quite hook). Record company marketers/managers seem to pick the safe but blah 1st singles for Matt. In A Place For Lesser Men from LOES was easily one of the weaker songs on a freaking amazing album. Music execs are afraid of horns (Zero Orchestra not the first single??), afraid of songs over 3-4 minutes long, afraid of something that might sound a bit "country" because it may have a slide guitar, even if such songs are damn good. Stairway to Heaven wasn't even released as a single because it was 8 minutes long...as if people don't like listening to that song on the radio. So Matt & Alan Cross were right about Bohemian Rhapsody and the like. We're Long Gone = better. At least it has some balls and passion behind it. Garden of Knives = sounds pretty brilliant. The ending was awesome. Gives me a lot of hope for the album, like when Matt streamed Non Populus on his website before LOES was released after the underwhelming In a Place of Lesser Men single kinda bombed with fans. Arrows of Desire = Good song, catchy, moreso catchy than Had It Coming. Good choice for a single. btw, really liked the Pixies and Deftones song mad put on his radio playlist with Alan Cross. A few other good tunes too. The Wilco tune had a badass guitar solo. Fun listening to musicians and DJ's who know their rock music history.

http://www.emulator-zone.com/

Arkells are excellent. Saw them live, they're a very tight band and sound better live than on record. One thing that surprised me is that their keyboardist is the best guitar player in the band, he blew me away when he came out and played guitar on their final encore song, a cover of Bryan Adams' 'Run to You'

Only tour date in Ottawa is at Bluesfest in July, no fall Ottawa tour stop. Do you people think an Ottawa date will be added for the Fall? Aren't Bluesfest sets only 1hr 15mins long (according to the Bluesfest schedule). That bites!!

Matt, your insights into your songs are fascinating, thanks or posting. Your lyrics are more cryptic than most musicians, so myself and i'm sure other fans appreciate your explanations on the themes of your songs. I know in the past you've said you think it best not to reveal your meanings to lyrics/songs so people can maintain their own interpretations that may be important to them, but people can still keep this AND know your interpretations too. During y when LOES was released you explained some of the themes of your songs and for me it gave me far more emotional connection to your songs, so I hope you do an interview like that again when this album is released. People always have the choice to turn off the interview if they prefer to not know what your songs/lyrics are expressing. A great aspect about art is that artists are able to express their emotions to others, and then the audience can connect with the artist and share in the same emotions (through empathy or via the audience having similar experience/emotions as the artist), so sharing the meaning of some of your more cryptic lyrics achieves this I believe.

Where did u get that artwork? u have a link?

New single is pretty good. People have to remember that this is the first single, therefore it's likely the most "radio-friendly" song on the record, and not indicative of the entire album. I like the extended version. Song(s) remind me of the more pop-ish songs from WLRRR and Vancouver, with LOES piano added. Great he has a video out, but I didn't really like it until I realized where he was walking too.

Can you stop posting like a fucking idiot? thank you and good night.

Adele? I see no similarily.

I speak for everyone on this site when I say FUCK YES!

I like some of her songs but I'm not sure yet how actually talented she is. Also, most of her videos would be improved if she would just take her damn top off.

Yes. And by yes I really mean no. Fuck technology.

Full band is cool so i'll probably go if sched works out

if only I were so lucky.

Then why only release it internationally and not in Canada?

Well it was, as a demo, and I think it sounds great as it is. He also released Black Helicopter on an album evetually, and the album version compared to the demo sucked. I think the point of this is for Matt to release his best songs to the international market, not necessarily his most commercial hits (ie: singles, which are often not the best songs on an album. I mean 'Carmelina' and 'In a Place of Lesser Men'...really?) If Matt were smart, he would come onto this Bored and look at the voting tally of those lengthy "Favorite MG song" elimination polls we've had on here to see which songs real MG fans who know his entire cataloge, not just casual radio/Much Music listerners, love the best. I'm pretty sure Matt has taken a peak at these in the past though, and he has quite a few of our top picks on Old Fighter. However, some songs on Old Fighters seem more like personal picks by MG even though they aren't that popular (compared to other songs) among his dedicated fans. If this forum had its choice, "In A World Called Catastrophe", "21st Century Living", "Last Parade", and "Future Is X-Rated" very likely wouldn't make the cut among his top 14 tracks. Giant deserves to be on there IMO not because its among his greatest songs but because its a live show staple.

That's because the song sucks LOL. Jealous you were at that show!