Album Review: Matthew Good – “Arrows of Desire”

By: Mehek Seyid (@whatthemehek) –

Arrows of Desire is not an experimental album. It is not particularly adventurous or profound, especially when compared to Matthew Good’s previous album, Lights of Endangered Species. “Lights” found Good’s political and self-reflective voice supplemented by inspiration from the work of UK art-rock band Talk Talk, especially their albums Laughingstock and Spirit of Eden, along with grand orchestral sounds, including piano melodies, jazz-inspired bridges and soft interludes, which are especially prominent on “Non Populus” and the title track, “Lights of Endangered Species”. Arrows of Desire escapes this creative chapter of Good’s catalogue. But it is, however, an alternative rock album, the kind that is so characteristically reminiscent of the genre during the ‘90s that it’s difficult to not enjoy it.

On “We’re Long Gone”, the piano and guitar infused rhythm immediately attracts and maintains your attention for the short running time of just over two minutes. Lead single “Had It Coming”, another small bite that is just under three minutes, is structurally built for sing-a-longs. Featuring a simple chorus and an interlude that sparks head nodding and shoulder shaking, this track will work great in a live setting. “Guns of Carolina,” the second single and the only ballad on Arrows of Desire, will instantly take listeners back to the days of Matthew Good’s first solo venture, Avalanche. “It’s all too late/So what you waiting for?/ Take these guns back to Carolina,” Good requests on the chorus, his voice accepting and tired of the sad circumstances at hand. Although the sound of melancholy dripping over the steady strums of guitar is lovely, this song deserves to be performed acoustically to truly allow Good’s vocals to take the spotlight and maximize the impact of the song itself.

There are a few metaphorical moments for the keen listener, too. A highlight is “Via Dolorosa”, which means “Way of Suffering” in Latin, paints a sonic and visual image of struggle and sacrifice. The title of the song refers to the path that Jesus walked on as he carried the crucifixion cross. At the climax of the song, Good quietly threatens “Wait til’ I get my head on/Wait til’ I get my head on straight/ Wait til’ I get my crown on straight,” the rhythms becoming louder, stronger, and more optimistic as Good crescendos on the last line, hoping to outlast the pain. This is the first song that Good wrote and recorded for the album, and is certainly one of its stronger points.

At this point in his career, which contains many incredible music moments that have impacted not just the alternative rock genre but the Canadian music industry, Matthew Good is able to shoot his arrows wherever he chooses. So when listeners, especially new comers to Good’s music, hear tracks like “Hey Hell Heaven” and “Garden of Knives”, they will hopefully appreciate them for being good, solid rock songs rather than be disappointed at the lack of a “modern” influence. After all, an occasional dose of nostalgia does everyone some good.

Essential Tracks: “Via Dolorosa”, “Garden of Knives”, “Guns of Carolina”.