WINNIPEG -- Depending on your perspective, it was the best of Good -- or the worst.

Having apparently abandoned his past as an angry radio-friendly rocker to focus on satisfying his own artistic desires, Vancouver singer-guitarist Matthew Good unveiled his new, lower-key persona at the first of three sold-out shows at the Colosseum Monday.

Admittedly, Good is an earnest songwriter whose smooth voice and clean guitar sound are perfectly suited to the softer material that made up the bulk of his 100-minute set before a packed -- and irritatingly talkative -- crowed of 700. Good and his backing quartet started the set with Pledge of Allegiance, the mid-tempo first song off his new album Avalanche. After another downbeat new number, he finally injected some energy with a cover of The Who's I Can't Explain and Hello Time Bomb off his own 1999 album Beautiful Midnight.

But that's about as much as the gum-chewing Good would rock on this night, with the bulk of his set consisting of slower fare from Avalanche. And because his newer music often isn't as interesting as his poetic vocals, some songs tended to blend into one another, making it hard to discern when one ended and another began if the band didn't take a pause.

Then again, maybe it's fortunate he wasn't more aggressive -- when one spectator did try to start a mosh pit, he was removed quickly by security.

The bouncers weren't the only ones who came off heavy-handed at times. During one song, Good and the band played behind a taped monologue during which he listed all the countries the United States has occupied since the end of the Second World War and opined on the war in Iraq and the backlash against the Dixie Chicks for saying they were embarrassed George W. Bush was from Texas.

The innovative device showed that even though Good has mellowed somewhat musically, he still has strong political opinions and doesn't hesitate to share them.

A three-song encore included fan favourite Apparition and ended with Lullaby for the New World Order, which was an appropriate way as any to send the crowd home.

Montreal atmospheric pop band the Dears opened the show at 8:45 p.m. with a half-hour set, which was seemingly ignored by many people in the bar. (More on Matthew Good)

JAM! Rating: 3 out of 5