Today, i bought the latest release (Vancouver) from my favorite Canadian Artist, Matthew Good. His album is not the only one i have recently purchased. Despite my growing unappreciation for Scarlett Johansson (see two blogs ago - and no i haven't watched "The Island" Yet) i bought her collaborative effort with Pete Yorn. (PS. Pete Also contributes on one of the tracks on the new Matt Good album - which i didn't know ahead of time). But i digress. I also bought a B-Sides Collection from Iron and Wine. For a poor guy, i still buy a lot of CD's - i know it's an addiction.
I was sitting in the next room, having time to reflect on the new offering from Matt Good, and upon first listen - it didn't grab me. I mean it has all the classic Matt Goodism's musically that i like. In fact, to me, it sounded a lot like his last two albums - both of which i enjoyed. The thing that was missing for me though was an automatic favorite song. In my past experiances with Matt, it never takes me long to figure out the songs that i love best from his records. Usually a song jumps out and grabs me - and so far, after one full earphoned listen, nothing has. Obviously i am going to give it more of a chance. Matt has never failed me before, so he has earned some time to grow on me.
I think the concept is lost on me. The whole album is a reflection on Vancouver and it's apperant disintigration into a slum. I was thinking on Matt's last album it was written after a nervous breakdown, a divorce, and a suicide attempt, and the deep personal connection of his lyrics was unavoidable. So far, perhaps in putting together something more of a concept album (yet still a personal one) the immediate connection i have often found with the lyrics and music of Matt Good will take a little longer to develop.
All of this got me to thinking about a blanket generality statement from myself which i will now quote. "The best songs are those whose lyrics you don't have to read". In my experiance with Matthew Good and his former band - i've never had to read the lyrics in the album jacket to understand the meaning behind the songs. ANd i was preparing to do so with this album. I don't get it. I like how it sounds, but his lyrics haven't caught me - there hasn't been a statement made that i have gone - yeah - or there hasn't been a line that has gotten caught in my head - nothing catchy - it's sad.
So i say - the best songs are those whose lyrics you don't have to read - but instantly connect with you. Any disagreements on this shallow topic of discussion. If i had more energy - i would give myself some examples of songs excellent that had lyrics that i didn't automatically understand or percieve properly (see Barbera-Ann) - just most times with Matt I do.
Who love's pointless blogs - i do.
T-Minus 8 days. (vomits)
