This came out in 2003 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
The best part of any trip is coming back to the comfort of home.
And fittingly, after gallavanting around the world with video cameras seeking inspiration, Goodbye Flatland — despite its title — welcomes veteran Vancouver outfit 54•40 back to more familiar Can-rock terrain. Driven by Phil Comparelli’s fuzzy garage-rock guitar licks, topped by Neil Osborne’s throaty vocals, stocked with instantly addictive pop choruses and artfully tweaked with edgy production flourishes, these dozen cuts are confident, direct, relaxed, honest and unpretentious. Like some of the strongest recent works of R.E.M. and Tragically Hip, Goodbye Flatland is the sound of a band secure in their own strengths, aware of their own abilities and fully in control of their talent. Welcome back, boys.
