Last of the Ghetto Astronauts

Last updated
Last of the Ghetto Astronauts
Lastoftheghetto.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedDecember 8, 1995 [1]
Recorded1995
Genre
Length52:01
Label
  • Independent
  • A&M
Producer John Shepp
Matthew Good Band chronology
15 Hours On A September Thursday (Demo)
(1994)
Last of the Ghetto Astronauts
(1995)
Raygun (EP)
(1997)
Singles from Last of the Ghetto Astronauts
  1. "Alabama Motel Room"
    Released: 1995
  2. "Symbolistic White Walls"
    Released: June 1996
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]

Last of the Ghetto Astronauts is the debut album of the Matthew Good Band. [3] [4] It was released independently in 1995 on a budget of roughly $5,000 CAD. With the singles "Alabama Motel Room" and "Symbolistic White Walls", the album achieved popularity, particularly in western Canada. The album was certified Gold in Canada on January 30, 2003. [5]

Contents

The band was originally going to go with another name ("Snowaxe" and "Gandalf" have been mentioned by Matthew Good); however a radio station in Vancouver played "Alabama Motel Room" and announced the band as the Matthew Good Band, at which point it stuck.

Album covers

Last of the Ghetto Astronauts has two album covers: the original, independent cover, with cursive writing along the bottom and the band name featured prominently, and the subsequent production company release, which uses block letters and a different text layout. Both albums have the same pictures.

Track listing

All tracks written by Matthew Good, except where noted.

No.TitleLength
1."Alabama Motel Room" (Good, Lloyd, Browne)3:18
2."Symbolistic White Walls"4:30
3."She's Got a New Disguise"6:17
4."Native Son"4:52
5."Vermilion"4:49
6."Every Name Is My Name"4:00
7."Haven't Slept in Years"3:23
8."Radio Bomb"3:09
9."Fearless"5:15
10."The War Is Over" ("The War is Over" ends at 7:56; a hidden track called "Omissions of the Omen" begins at 9:03)12:33

Miscellanea

Personnel

Note: Terry Brown mixed tracks 1 & 2
Except "Alabama Motel Room", music by Good/Lloyd/Browne

Related Research Articles

<i>Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness</i> 1995 studio album by The Smashing Pumpkins

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is the third studio album and first double album by the American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, released on October 23, 1995, in the United Kingdom and on October 24 in the United States by Virgin Records. It was produced by vocalist and guitarist Billy Corgan, alongside producers Flood and Alan Moulder. The lengthy 28-track album was released as a two-disc CD and a triple LP. The album features a wide array of musical styles, including art rock, grunge, alternative pop, and heavy metal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Sweet</span> American musician (born 1964)

Sidney Matthew Sweet is an American alternative rock/power pop singer-songwriter and musician who was part of the burgeoning music scene in Athens, Georgia, during the 1980s before gaining commercial success in the 1990s as a solo artist. His companion albums, Tomorrow Forever and Tomorrow's Daughter, were followed by 2018's Wicked System of Things and 2021's Catspaw, his 15th studio effort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ugly Kid Joe</span> American rock band

Ugly Kid Joe is an American hard rock band from Isla Vista, California, formed in 1989. The band's name spoofs the glam metal band Pretty Boy Floyd's name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Good</span> Canadian musician (born 1971)

Matthew Frederick Robert Good is a Canadian musician. He was the lead singer and songwriter for the Matthew Good Band, one of the most successful alternative rock bands in Canada during the 1990s and early 2000s. Since the band disbanded in 2002, Good has pursued a solo career and established himself as a political commentator and mental health activist. Between 1996 and 2016, with sales by Matthew Good Band included, Good was the 25th best-selling Canadian artist in Canada. Good has been nominated for 21 Juno Awards during his career, winning four.

Matthew Good Band was a Canadian alternative rock band formed in Coquitlam, British Columbia in 1995. The band consisted of singer-songwriter/guitarist Matthew Good, guitarist/keyboardist Dave Genn, drummer Ian Browne and bassist Geoff Lloyd. Lloyd was replaced by Rich Priske in 1998. They became one of the most successful rock bands in Canada during the late 1990s and early 2000s, being nominated for 14 Juno Awards and winning the awards for "Best Group" and "Best Rock Album" in 2000. The band broke up after the release of their 2001 album, The Audio of Being.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoff Moore</span> American singer

Geoff Moore is an American contemporary Christian music singer. He began recording as a solo artist in 1984. In 1987, he formed Geoff Moore and The Distance, his touring band, which released eight albums generating a string of No. 1 radio hits throughout their 10+-year tenure. In 1998, Geoff retired the band from full-time touring. After a "farewell tour", Moore has continued as a solo artist, releasing eight more records between 1999 and 2015. The Next Thing was released in April 2016, making it his 25th album to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Motels</span> American New Wave band

The Motels are an American new wave band from Berkeley, California, that is best known for the singles "Only the Lonely" and "Suddenly Last Summer", each of which peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, in 1982 and 1983, respectively. In 1980, The Motels song "Total Control" reached No. 7 on the Australian chart, and their song "Danger" reached No. 15 on the French chart.

<i>Set It Off</i> (Thousand Foot Krutch album) 2000 studio album by Thousand Foot Krutch

Set It Off is the first studio album released by Canadian Christian rock band Thousand Foot Krutch. The album features a fusion of heavy nu metal and softer rap rock songs, mixed with some pop punk influence. Some of the songs were from their independent album, That's What People Do. It was originally released on April 14, 2000. A remastered version of the disc, including six extra tracks, was issued on September 7, 2004. This is the last album to feature guitarist Dave Smith, who left the band in 2002 and the only album to feature drummer Geoff Laforet, who left the band in 2001.

<i>Avalanche</i> (Matthew Good album) 2003 studio album by Matthew Good

Avalanche is the first solo album by Canadian artist Matthew Good. Released in 2003, the album marked a creative departure from his earlier work with the Matthew Good Band, and featured accompaniment by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra on several tracks.

<i>Raygun</i> (album) 1997 studio extended play by the Matthew Good Band

Raygun is an EP released by the Matthew Good Band in 1997. The EP was distributed by A&M Records on Matthew Good's own imprint, Darktown. It was the first MGB album recorded with guitarist Dave Genn as an official member of the band. The EP includes a re-recorded version of Last of the Ghetto Astronauts song, "Haven't Slept In Years".

<i>Hejira</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Joni Mitchell

Hejira is the eighth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, released in 1976 on Asylum Records. Its material was written during a period of frequent travel in late 1975 and early 1976, and reflects Mitchell's experiences on the road during that time. It is characterized by lyrically dense, sprawling songs and musical backing by several jazz-oriented instrumentalists, most prominently fretless bass player Jaco Pastorius, guitarist Larry Carlton, and drummer John Guerin.

<i>In a Coma</i> 2003 compilation album by Matthew Good

In a Coma: 1995-2005 is the title of the Matthew Good compilation album, featuring both his solo work and work from the Matthew Good Band.

Odds are a Canadian alternative rock band based in Vancouver, British Columbia. They were nominated for six Juno Awards in the 1990s. As of 2014, they are on their fifth record label.

<i>Running on Empty</i> (album) 1977 live album / studio album by Jackson Browne

Running on Empty is the fifth album by American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne. Featuring songs themed around life on the road, the entire album was recorded on tour, either live on stage, or in locations associated with touring, such as backstage, on tour buses, or in hotel rooms. Released in 1977, the album reached No. 3 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart in 1978 and stayed on the charts for 65 weeks. The single for the title track, "Running on Empty", peaked at No. 11 and the follow-up single, "The Load-Out"/"Stay", reached No. 20 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Pino & the Volunteers</span> Dutch band

El Pino & the Volunteers is a band from Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The band's music mixes alt. rock with Americana. In 2006 the band's debut album Molten City was released on Excelsior Recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Browne (musician)</span> Canadian musician and composer

Ian Browne is a Canadian-born musician and composer. He was formerly with psych-blues band No Sinner, and before that notably the drummer of the popular Canadian rock group Matthew Good Band. Browne plays drums and performs backup vocals on The Prettys' upcoming second LP Soirée. He also played on No Sinner's debut EP Boo Hoo Hoo, and played drums and produced tracks on their 2016 LP Old Habits Die Hard. He can also be heard on the Matthew Good Band albums Last of the Ghetto Astronauts, Raygun, Underdogs, Lo-Fi B-Sides, Beautiful Midnight, Loser Anthems, Audio of Being, and the greatest hits compilation In a Coma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big John Bates</span> Canadian singer

Big John Bates is a Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist. He cofounded and performed in Annihilator, Big John Bates & the Voodoo Dollz and the Noirchestra. Bates has had long-term sponsorships with Jagermeister, Gretsch (guitars) and Hofner (basses) through his career.

Greenhouse Studios is a Canadian music recording studio founded by Bruce Levens in 1987 where over 1000 albums have been recorded in the last 25 years. Incorporated as Lions Gate Studios, it subsequently changed its name to Vancouver Studios before adopting its present name.

<i>Merkin Ball</i> Two-song single by Pearl Jam

Merkin Ball is an extended play (EP) by American alternative rock band Pearl Jam. The EP contains two songs: A-side "I Got Id" and B-side "Long Road", both written by Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder. The EP features Canadian-American musician Neil Young and was released on December 4, 1995, through Epic Records. Merkin Ball is a companion to Young's 1995 album, Mirror Ball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apparitions (song)</span> 1998 single by Matthew Good Band

"Apparitions" is a song by Matthew Good Band. The third single released from the band's second studio album Underdogs, the song was very successful in Canada, nominated for "Best Single" at the 1999 Juno Awards. The edited version of the song is featured on the MuchMusic compilation album, Big Shiny Tunes 3. Good regards "Apparitions" as one of his best compositions.

References

  1. "Last of the Ghetto Astronauts". Archived from the original on 1999-08-19. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  2. Last of the Ghetto Astronauts at AllMusic
  3. Weiler, Derek (15 Feb 1996). "Last of the Ghetto Astronauts". The Record. Kitchener. p. D3.
  4. Monk, Katherine (21 Mar 1996). "Last of the Ghetto Astronauts". The Vancouver Sun. p. C8.
  5. "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada . Retrieved April 1, 2017.