Mira Aleta

Thanks so much for all of the work you do to create beautiful music for your fans, Matt! I have nothing but respect for the effort you put into each album & can't imagine how difficult life on the road must be. I get cranky when I fly to Hawaii for a 15 days of sun, sand & general slothfulness: a weeks long tour would make me downright cantankerous, yet you are the picture of civility on stage, and off. I agree with the other uber fans: I would pay top dollar for a more intimate venue. I saw you play at least 4 times during your Beautiful Midnight tour, though I don't think I have had the pleasure of hearing Running for Home since that time. I feel that is one of your most haunting songs & would love to hear it again, live. Some of the others that I always seem to miss are So Long Mrs. Smith, Change of Season, Empty Road, Fated, and all of Loser Anthems, just to cite a very few. I have already dedicated my piggy bank "Gordo" to the task of saving pennies for the epic shows of which you speak. That said, and in full acknowledgement of the fact that I have no context for what the NAC may be like to work with from an artist standpoint, the acoustics in that building are amazing! I sat in one of the upper balconies on the most recent show, and felt just as enthralled by the music as I was during Lights of Endangered Species, when I was in the 3rd row. Honestly though, I would be happy either way. Lastly, a propos of Chaotic Neutral, I am constantly struck by the happy & hopeful tone of this new album: I imagine that this means you are happy in your own life, Matt, which no one deserves more!

First off, I want to say that I am very grateful to have the opportunity to share on this forum. I've been a fan for 20 years, though this is my first post. You all make such great points about Matt's changing style, that I hope I can keep up. It seems clear that there has been a ridiculous amount of growth in Mr. Good's music over the years: from raw & acerbic in his MGB days to his present fluidity, depth & self-reflexive tone; he has proven himself capable of evolving stylistically, as well as personally. What is interesting about this shift, is that his fans seem to have grown up alongside of him: I know that I have. I love Moonlight Graham's reflections regarding Matt's lyrics requiring a bit more effort to unlock in recent albums. This has been my experience as well. I have two thoughts that come to mind around this: first, I have noted a general trend, from his early music days all the way through to present times, towards issues of social justice. From Radio Bomb & Fated, through Advertising on Police Cars & Lullaby For The New World Order, all the way to the aforementioned Arrows of Desire, Matt has always demonstrated an adherence to speaking his mind on tough issues: whether they be reflective of poverty, mental illness or international political & economic policies. Indeed this is one of the things I appreciate the most about his music, and his public persona. My second thought is more personal: I find that Matt's lyrics are appealing, at least in part, due to the fact that they are vague & unspecific. I have often wondered if he does this expressly so that each listener has the opportunity to find their own truth therein. Many of his songs have become emblematic of a certain time period in my life, so much so that when a specific set of chords are played, I am taken back in time. While I have no idea what the lyrics to Change of Season mean to Matt himself, it almost doesn't matter because that is the song that got me through an extraordinarily difficult time in my life and it will always be the song that plays in my head when I think about that phase; conversely, that song will always conjure up vivid memories for me. That song, and many thereafter, have inspired me to move forward: they have given me hope, and they have grounded me in self reflection. Is this not what art is supposed to do for the beholder (in this case the be-listener)? I also appreciate the comments regarding the shift in Matt's vocals. While it's true that he does not unleash his characteristic 'wail' as often as he once did, I find that his vocals are just as strong, though more nuanced & emotion filled in later years. I will always remember the very first time I heard the song Giant, due in large part to the epic nature of it's composition paired with his vocals, and Avalanche still gives me chills every time I hear it. That said, more recent songs such as Empty's Theme park, Via Dolorosa, Zero Orchestra & All You Sons And Daughters, all demonstrate his ability to navigate difficult vocals when he wants to. The last thought I have, is to respond to when his style changed: though there has been so much diversity that it is difficult to pinpoint. I felt a huge shift with Audio of Being. In fact, I find that album to be a huge departure from his earlier work, with the exception of Carmelina, The Fall of Man & Under The Influence. (As a side note: I have read that it was while he was recovering from throat surgery that Matt wrote this album, though this may be incorrect.) The next big shift I felt came with White Light Rock and Roll Review, though could it really be considered a shift when each subsequent album has varied so greatly one, from the next? I'll leave that one for up for future debate. One thing I can say, is that Matthew Good's music has been so varied that I have a hard time deciding which song to offer to potential fans, as there is no one song that is truly indicative of the entirety of his musical genius.