Sweet Masterpiece

How many of you remember that video. I remember it when I was in High School. Back then the videos tried to remain simple, but Matthew Sweet took it a bit further. He decided to use his music with Japanese animation to it. It worked pretty damn good. What was also cool was that signature guitar sound that Matthew Sweet was famous for. Matthew Sweet even had a back up band that was worthy of any band. His guitar players beside him he had Richard Lloyd from Television and Robert Quine who played with Richard Hell, Lou Reed, Brian Eno and John Zorn among others. Fred Maher on drums who also played with Lou Reed and others. The bass playing and rhythm guitar playing was mostly Matthew Sweet. The band is round out by Greg Leisz who is Bill Frisell's go to guy for pedal steel.

Matthew Sweet was a funny story. He was somewhat noncommercial. He bounced from Columbia records and A&M records. Then he landed at Zoo Records. Some how is wonderful mix of Neil Young, Byrds, Big Star, and the Beatles. It begins so classic that you know you have a gem.

They layer of vocals and beautiful guitar and vocals and chunk sound from the guitar and the awesomeness of the stereo sound of how he adds parts on top of each other. Each song has it's own identity. It's Richard Lloyd's finest moment on the first track "Divine Intervention." This signature sound never grows old. Everytime I hear the album I feel like I am in the studio watching Matthew Sweet blow everybody away.



Hearing this for the first time in 1991 was a treat because you could hear every nuance on what he was doing. Every song on this album has some great gem attached to it. It really is amazing to hear. He really does come into his own here. While everyone talks about Girlfriend and how it's guitar pop. I think it's just damn good album. He even pays homage to the record. With the song "Your Sweet Voice," it ends like a record should be turned over. I think that is pretty awesome and it goes right into the next song which I love. My favorite song on the album "Does She Talk." It is full of power chords and his lyrics are awesome. It's about a man's hunting the opposite gender. He conquerors and the rest is history.

If you missed something in 1991 then this is the album for you. It has not grunge feel, but it certainly has the feel of Neil Young and Crazy Horse and other bands I mentioned above. It is fresh and fun and well done. His voice is really cool too. Enjoy an album that has the feel of 1975 all over again. It is fun to hear and most of all new!!!