There had to be some hope.

There had to be some expectations the new Matt Good would be something a whole lot different than the old Matt Good.

He's ditched his original band (after much-publicized on-and-off internal squabbling), he's reportedly in a good personal space, and his record label has apparently decided he's worth the trouble his mouth often supplies as they've made his new record a high priority.

So wouldn't it be understandable to predict Avalanche would provide something more than any of the other albums he recorded with the Matthew Good Band?

Understandable, but wrong.

For the most part, it's typical Matt Good -- moody, downtempo navel-gazing drama rock, with a little caustic attitude thrown in for good measure.

His music still sounds more like filled-out and less eccentric Tragically Hip material -- without the benefit of the arguable mad poet dynamism Gord Downie provides -- by utilizing a full band, as well as the string section of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and West Coast vocal ensemble Musica Intima.

But to be fair, overall, as a collection of songs, this is probably one of Good's best and contains some of his finest musical moments: the opener Pledge of Allegiance, his "super-size" rant 21st Century Living, and the swirling Double Life.

Where he loses ground is where he always does -- by saying something in six minutes what could be said in four, and by putting more in where less would be better.

Then again, I guess that's just Matt Good -- something he'll always be no matter how much he changes. (More on Matthew Good)

Track Listing
1. Pledge Of Allegiance
2. Lullaby For The New World Order
3. Weapon
4. In A World Called Catastrophe
5. Avalanche
6. 21st Century Living
7. While We Were Hunting Rabbits
8. Bright End Of Nowhere
9. Near Fantastica
10. Song For The Girl
11. Double Life
12. Long Way Down
13. House Of Smoke & Mirrors