a Matthew Sweet thread.....

last one was archived and was back in 2004.

i just pulled out Girlfriend (bought when it came out and i worked in a record store in 1991) and although it's been MANY years since i have listened to it, i found i still enjoy it.

i probably would not have bought it, but at the time, there were a couple girls that played that and the s/t Jon Secada (also dig this one) album to death.

so, if i generally don't dig pop music, but i really like the Girlfriend album, what, if any, other Matthew Sweet should i check out?


feel free to discuss whatever regarding Matthew Sweet in this thread as i intend this to be an open-ended thread on this artist.

 

"Altered Beast," definitely.

 

"Altered Beast" is good but I would recommend to look at "100% Fun" first, which is somewhat closer to "Girlfriend".
If you are also into more polished country/folk-oriented music, you might also like the album by "The Thorns" (with Pete Droge and Shawn Mullins). However, Sweet's "own" records are grittier!

 

I've followed him ever since Girlfriend. Loved that cd and bought almost everything since. He has tons of stuff on comp cds, soundtracks, promos, etc that is high quality. And hours and hours of really good songs he's never released, kind of like John Hiatt.

His last solo effort was a disaster, the song about cats was possibly the nadir of his career.

Liked the duets CD with sexy Susie (mastering aside).

I think my favorite is 100% Fun. I just don't play Girlfriend much as radio here really slammed the thing into your consciousness.

I'm hoping he can redeem himself with his next solo cd (due in September, I think). Also like to see him lose some weight; he's looking borderline morbidly obese.

 

"Girlfriend" is one of my all-time favorite singles; 100% Fun is a great record.
If you get the chance, check out his pre-solo band Oh-OK, an early Athens, GA, group with Michael Stipe's sister Lynda.

 

Well, since Girlfriend is his masterpiece, you might be somewhat disappointed as you explore other albums. That said, I like everything he's done except for the two pre-Girlfriend records and Blue Sky On Mars(which is his career low-point).

 

I came in around Divine Intervention, and that song was good enough to get me to but Girlfriend, which is a 90s power~pop classic.

Picked it up on vinyl eventually, a cherished Lp, and the recent deleuxe edition. Essential for Goodfriend that previously rare radio promo companion disc which is also essential.

If you liked Girlfriend that album he did for Japan, with some odd title, but released stateside, is a very good follow up, its a rocker. Many of the same players, a reunion of sorts. The band on Girlfriend and this disc just kicks...

100% didn't grab me at first, but now I think Smog Moon is maybe his best song, but then, it helped me though a very dark period of my life, one of those songs that seemed tailor written for the occasional fall from grace...

Great artist and songwriter, it would be nice to have him back in good form...

cheers,

 

There's a collection of early stuff called "To Understand: The Early Recordings Of Matthew Sweet" - the highlight on the cd, for me, is the Community Trolls track (Smith and Michael Stipe) "Tainted Obligation." I had a recording of this on a "questionably released import" and it had been a multi-generational dub. So to finally have a decent commercially available version was a treat and a half.

"Goodfriend" and a few other "Girlfriend"-era recordings are also on this compilation (I don't have the Deluxe Edition of "Girlfriend" but i think these tracks are on that release - feel free to correct me if i'm wrong).

 

Yeah, that Tainted Obligation track is killer, forgot about that one, not the best collection besides that though... IMNSHO...

 

Recently acquired Kimi Ga Suki * Raifu, so this is a timely thread for me. Sweet's an interesting case. I don't think he ever truly reached his potential but he has made some interesting stuff along the way.

 

There's something about that accordion that does it for me. Sure is a great rainy Sunday morning song.

 

In my opinion, Girlfriend is great, but Altered Beast is his shambolic masterpiece.

Everything else around those two albums ranks between good and very good.

I realize I hold a minority opinion here.

Craig(VC).

 

Never quite got into Altered Beast, but I love 100% Fun and Blue Sky On Mars.

In Reverse was a bit self-indulgent, but it has a few really good songs on it. I kind of lost interest soon after that, though.

 

His recent one with Susanna Hoffs is probably the best covers album of all time. Absolutely essential, despite the dreadful mastering IMHO.

 

This thread inspired me to listen to Altered Beast again, an album I have not played from start to finish probably since it was released. Aside from the muddy production (pretty disappointing considering it's Lindsey Buckingham's right hand man), I think the problem with it is he took the praise for the lead guitar work on Girlfriend too much to heart, and cluttered every song up with excessive noodling (much of which sounds like first takes). The songs are better than I remembered though (the only songs that stuck in my mind through the years are Devil with the Green Eyes and Time Capsule).

I'd still go with 100% Fun, which I actually like better than Girlfriend.

 

If you like Girlfriend then I recommend the Goodfriend Promo disc, it is available on the Deluxe Edition of Girlfriend, definitely the cheaper way to go as the promo alone is pricey. The version Of Cortez The Killer on the promo is fantastic and it includes many other cool alternate versions of album tracks as well.

 

"Blue sky on mars" is a such a great record , criminally underrated.

 

Yeah I think it's pretty good too, although IMO it could have used a little more time in the oven.

 

Is that noodling him or Richard Lloyd?

 

The one's I couldn't do without are...

1991 - Girlfriend (and the new bonus disc is wonderful too)
1993 - Altered Beast
1995 - 100% Fun (Japanese version, with two bonus tracks)
1999 - In Reverse (Japanese version, with two or maybe three bonus tracks)
2003 - Kimi Ga Suki (originally only issued in Japan, since issued in the US and elsewhere)


The rest have their moments, but don't get nearly as much airplay in my household. You can't go wrong with any of the above 5 titles -- the first three being the best of the best.

But do NOT overlook "In Reverse" and "Kimi Ga Suki" - both of which are brilliant, IMHO. "Kimi Ga Suki" in particular, is fascinating because all of the tunes were written, and the entire album was recorded IN ONE WEEK. It sounds a little more like 'sophisticated demos' - but that only adds to its charm.

 

I really like the muddy production. It adds a nice, murky atmosphere to the recording.

My favorite song on the album is "Falling." I love the "excessive noodling" on that song in particular, and on the album overall. So beautiful.

There have been days where I've put that song on repeat and listened to it half a dozen times, just sitting in front of the stereo to close my eyes and let the "noodling" wash over me.

I could probably count on one hand the songs that I'm eager to listen to more than once or twice in a sitting, so Matthew Sweet's "Falling" is in rare company in my mind.

Coincidentally, Mission of Burma's song "Falling" is another one I like to listen to several times in a row!

Craig(VC).

 

It's Richard Lloyd and Robert Quine from "Girlfriend," and also Ivan Julian and maybe others. I don't know that MS is much of a lead guitarist but he does play all the guitar on "Blue Sky on Mars" IIRC. I think for that album he did want to strip away the guitar clutter -- and then the album didn't get any attention.

 

"Girlfriend" and "Altered Beast" are unbeatable. "100% Fun" is very good. "In Reverse" is a failed but fascinating Brian Wilson-esque effort. The rest is patchy with the occasional brilliant tune----with the exception of his first two records which, to my ears, have nothing to recommend them. I'll be curious to check out "Sunshine Lies" as I think he's still a threat to achieve brilliance---coming July 22, 2008.

 

Yes, I mean, it seems intentional, but my tastes run more toward clarity, I guess. And when I think about it, the other albums have tons of guitar overdubs too so I'm not sure what is different about AB.

 

I too am not a huge pop music fan, but I really like a few of his albums. I think what does it for me are the crazy guitar solos from Robert Quine and Richard Lloyd and his Sweet's multi tracked vocals.

I have Girlfriend, Altered Beast, Son of Altered Beast and In Reverse.
They are all worth owning and I spin them regularly.

I used to own Blue Sky on Mars but it never really did anything for me. I really tried to like it, but something about it just didn't excite me. I had another on cd with a white cover and a photo of him but I can't recall the name. That was a weak one too imo so I traded it in with the Blue Sky on Mars lp.

I liked the Thorns cd for about ten spins and then it died on me. I think everything was too perfect or light weight. There were no cool guitar solos and it wore out its welcome quickly so I dumped it too.

I've never heard 100% Fun or that Japanese disc. It sounds like I should check them out.