Last of the Ghetto Astronauts

Infobox Album
Name = Last of the Ghetto Astronauts
Type = Studio Album
Artist = Matthew Good Band


Released = 1995
Recorded =
Genre = Rock
Length = 52:01
Label = Independent / A&M Records
Producer = John Shepp
Reviews = * Allmusic Rating|2.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:62d7gjir36im link]
Last album = 15 Hours on a September Thursday (Demo)
(1994)
This album = Last of the Ghetto Astronauts
(1995)
Next album = "Raygun (EP)"
(1996) |"

"Last of the Ghetto Astronauts" was the debut album of the Matthew Good Band. It was released independently in 1995 on a budget of roughly $5,000 CAD. With the singles "Alabama Motel Room", "Symbolistic White Walls", the album achieved incredible popularity, particularly in western Canada. It gained the title of highest-selling independent album in Canada, a title it holds to this day.

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.

"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.

Trivia

* The album's title comes from a six-minute song of the same name on Good's demo "15 Hours on a September Thursday" (1994).

* Two of the songs on "Last of the Ghetto Astronauts" were re-released on the EP "Raygun" (1996). Whereas the recording of "Alabama Motel Room" on "Raygun" is identical to that which appears on "Astronauts", the "Raygun" version of "Haven't Slept in Years" is completely redone (to the satisfaction of many fans).

* Surprisingly, not a single electric guitar was employed in the recording of this album. All guitars heard on the album were either acoustics or acoustics run through Marshall amplifiers. (The difference is fully realized when one listens to the electrified "Haven't Slept in Years" on "Raygun".)

Track listing

All tracks written by Matthew Good, except where noted.

# "Alabama Motel Room" - 3:18 (Good, Lloyd, Browne)
# "Symbolistic White Walls" - 4:30
# "She's Got A New Disguise" - 6:17
# "Native Son" - 4:52
# "Vermilion" - 4:49
# "Every Name Is My Name" - 4:00
# "Haven't Slept In Years" - 3:23
# "Radio Bomb" - 3:09
# "Fearless" - 5:15
# "The War Is Over" - 7:56 / "Omissions Of The Omen" - 4:32"Omissions of the Omen is a bonus track hidden in The War is Over"

Personnel

*Matthew Good Band
**Matthew Good - vocals, guitar
**Ian Browne - drums
**Geoff Lloyd - Bass Guitar
*Dave Genn - Organ, Rhodes
*Steve Black - Piano on track 9
*Judy Renouf - Cello on track 9
*John Shepp - Producer, mixer, percussion on track 4::Note: Terry Brown mixed tracks 1 & 2
*George Leger - Mastering
*George Jenkins - Layout & Design
*Recorded at Utopia Parkway Studios, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
*Manufacturer: Darktown Records
*Distributor: A&M Records, a division of PolyGram Inc.
*Words and music by Matthew Good::Except "Alabama Motel Room", music by Good/Lloyd/Browne