Underdogs is the second full-length studio album by the Canadian alternative rock group Matthew Good Band, released on October 7, 1997.
Background
In December 1996, Matthew Good Band signed a two-album deal with Private Music. However, during pre-production, BMG Entertainment North America merged Private Music into Windham Hill/High Street Records, halting production. After negotiations, the group was released from its contract in mid-March. The band decided to fund the album themselves using the money received from the contract dissolution, spending approximately $100,000 to produce it. They subsequently entered a distribution agreement with PolyGram Group Canada.
Commercial Performance
Underdogs was the band's most commercially successful album. It ranked among the top 80 best-selling albums in Canada in 1998, placing at #76. The album was certified Platinum in Canada in 1999, and by March 2003, it had sold 200,000 units in Canada, achieving Double Platinum status.
Accolades
The album was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 1999 Juno Awards. In a 2000 poll by music magazine Chart, Underdogs was voted the 18th Greatest Canadian Album of all time.
Track Listing
All lyrics by Matthew Good, all music by Good and Dave Genn except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Deep Six" | 3:32 |
| 2. | "Everything Is Automatic" | 4:17 |
| 3. | "Apparitions" | 5:11 |
| 4. | "My Out of Style Is Coming Back" | 3:16 |
| 5. | "Strangest One of All" | 4:41 |
| 6. | "Middle Class Gangsters" | 5:37 |
| 7. | "Rico" | 3:26 |
| 8. | "Prime Time Deliverance" | 5:33 |
| 9. | "The Inescapable Us" | 3:12 |
| 10. | "Indestructible" | 3:24 |
| 11. | "Invasion 1" | 4:04 |
| 12. | "Look Happy, It's the End of the World" | 3:47 |
| 13. | "Change of Season" | 7:21 |
Singles
Four singles were released from the album: "Everything Is Automatic" (November 9, 1997), "Indestructible" (March 9, 1998), "Apparitions" (June 1, 1998), and "Rico" (1998).
Personnel
Matthew Good Band:
- Matthew Good – vocals, guitar, cover concept
- Ian Browne – drums
- Geoff Lloyd – bass guitar
- Dave Genn – guitar, keyboards
Production:
- Warne Livesey – producer, engineer, mixer
- Recorded at Greenhouse Studios, Burnaby, British Columbia
- Mastered by Stephen Marcussen at Precision Mastering, Los Angeles, CA
Genre and Label
- Genre: Alternative rock
- Length: 57:27
- Labels: Mercury, Darktown, PolyGram
