But today, as the NXNE festival wraps, I am going to tell you about Matthew Good.

When American kids were wearing flannels and crowdsurfing at Pearl Jam concerts, the Matthew Good Band was creating a similar sensation in Canada. Well, in Canadian years that is. Because until the internet existed in every household, Canada remained 5 years behind the States in pop culture. What? Sorry. It did. Their debut album, released in 1995, produced several popular singles, including "Symbolistic White Walls"... Check out the video:
Like many of his American counterparts, Matthew Good struggled to deal with the band's success over the next 5 years and in 2002 he permanently dissolved the band. He launched his solo career the very next year with the album Avalanche. The new sound he intended to create was to contain more strings, and resemble folk more than the grunge that the band played. After turning down Juno award after award, his political activism poured out more and more. Not only did he proclaim that the Canadian award platform appeared to be simply a "marketing warehouse...for the United States", but much of his music directly pointed out the globalism forwarded by America. His second album was more political and more controversial.
Since then he has continued his activism, his blogging, and his stand against Canada's Juno Awards. Although he would call it more simply speaking his mind rather than being an activist. I agree, MG. Speak your mind! His mind just happens to continue to remind people that the USA basically exists to promote military motives throughout the world.

someone would love to have my first world problems - "Omissions of the Omen"
Here it is. Check out Matthew Good, check out the North by Northeast festival, and ask yourself what great music you're missing from Canada.
Matthew Good - What if I Can't See the Stars Mildred
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