The best of Good

A "best of" album, like a pale monument, commemorates an artist's songs of times past, and times not to be had again. Like a cap on an urn, a "best of" album holds inside the greatness of the glory years.

While some "best of" albums rust with age, musical virtuoso Matt Good's "In a Coma" shines platinum.

Whether it's a soothing serenade or rock hard enough for a town stoning, Good has rocked the Canadian countryside for the past 10 years and sits atop a mountain in a world of his own.

"In a Coma" celebrates 10 years of musical virtuosity by this postmodern maestro.

Good's career jolted into notoriety with the hypnotic ballad "Apparitions" and poppy rock melodies like "Hello Time Bomb" and "Load Me Up." Venturing further away from conventionality, he experimented with the acclaimed album "Avalanche" but gravitated back to his rock and roll roots with "White Light Rock and Roll Revue."

The three-disc set contains 42 songs, including three new songs, nine acoustic re-workings and a DVD containing 17 music videos.

The song selection, though reflecting the stages of Good's career, is clearly based on popularity. If the album deserves any criticism, it is with the song choice. While "Alabama Motel Room" may have marked a milestone in Good's career, a song like "Running for Home" or "Near Fantastica" would have better displayed Good's range.

Any criticism can quickly be swept under the rug and disregarded after getting a taste of the acoustic melodies, which are powerful, poignant and moving, all displaying Good's raw talent.

The Juno-award-winning music video "Weapon" is the highlight of a beautiful and evocative repertoire of music videos that also features "Apparitions" and "Anti Pop."

The sheer breadth of "In a Coma" is remarkable. The videos, acoustics and bulging playlist properly celebrate this esoteric artist's last 10 years of success.

We can only hope that "In a Coma" is not the conclusion, but just a passing chapter in the career of a brilliant musician.