In 1991 Matthew Sweet released Girlfriend, an alternative rock milestone, and quickly followed it up with two back-to back classics, Altered Beast and 100% Fun, that cemented his reputation as an elder statesman of indie-r... more »ock. Now, nine years after his last major solo release and on the heels of side projects with The Thorns and The Bangles' Susanna Hoffs, comes his long-awaited new album, Sunshine Lies, which hearkens back to the glories of his revered '90s albums. Features long-time sidemen Richard Lloyd (Television), Ivan Julian (Richard Hell & The Voidoids), Greg Leisz (Beck, Bill Frisell), Ric Menck (Velvet Crush), and a guest vocal by Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles).« less
In 1991 Matthew Sweet released Girlfriend, an alternative rock milestone, and quickly followed it up with two back-to back classics, Altered Beast and 100% Fun, that cemented his reputation as an elder statesman of indie-rock. Now, nine years after his last major solo release and on the heels of side projects with The Thorns and The Bangles' Susanna Hoffs, comes his long-awaited new album, Sunshine Lies, which hearkens back to the glories of his revered '90s albums. Features long-time sidemen Richard Lloyd (Television), Ivan Julian (Richard Hell & The Voidoids), Greg Leisz (Beck, Bill Frisell), Ric Menck (Velvet Crush), and a guest vocal by Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles).
CD Reviews
Pleasantly Nostalgic
C. A. Baker | Massachusetts | 09/14/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
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When I last heard a new Matthew Sweet record, it was the disappointing "Blue Sky on Mars". Sweet, for whatever reason, went in a different direction and played nearly all the instruments himself, deciding not to bring back the core team of Richard Lloyd, Robert Quine, Ivan Julian. and Greg Leisz. Those instrumentalists are what made the sound of "Girlfriend", "Altered Beast" and "100% Fun" so distinctive. At that time I figured that maybe Sweet's best work had run its course and as a result his subsequent work fell off my radar.
That's what makes my reaction towards hearing "Sunshine Lies" so ironic. The core team from Sweet's glory days is back (sans Quine, who passed away a few years ago) and they recapture some of the old magic, but in ways that are mostly superficial. "ByrdGirl" recalls the shimmering psychedelic pop of "Girlfriend". "Room to Rock" brings back the dissonant guitar squall of songs like "Knowing People" from "Altered Beast". "Feel Fear" recaptures the melancholy vibe of "Smog Moon" from "100% Fun". But there isn't really any new ground being broken here. Like most of the record, it's all good stuff but it makes you feel like you're at a high school reunion. It's great to revisit the good times with old friends but you know it can't be the same as actually reliving it all over again.
If you're a fan of Matthew Sweet's "classic" period, you will enjoy this disc but perhaps find it to be a not quite necessary addition to your collection. If you're just discovering Sweet for the first time, you're better off starting off with one of his peak era recordings.
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Matthew is back!
T. Smith | San Francisco, CA United States | 10/04/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Matthew has his own musical path he's following, and you're welcome to come along, and if not, you have to admit he never puts less than 100% of himself into his music. I have albums of his I like better than others, but there's never been one that didn't hook me hard with at least a few songs. I'm pleased he's back after far too long a hiatus. I look forward to seeing him in concert again in San Francisco."
Excellent CD!
B. Knight | 12/27/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A rock solid return to form for Mr. Sweet. I've been a big fan from the beginning. I will admit to being a little disapointed with the last two disc. Sunshine Lies grabbed me instantly with great lyrics, melodies, and numerous heavy guitar riffs. Matthew is in great voice throughout. Sweet's high vocal range is countered again by the tangled, jagged soloing of Richard Loyd and Ivan Julian. I caught the band live 2 weeks ago. Excellent show. The new stuff played well along side the classics. (Ric Menck is the coolist drummer.)
Fall Out Boy? All American Rejects? Etc.. Please. Matthew Sweet is back. Buy this record.
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Satisfying Sweet
Kathryn Sweeney | 12/09/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As rabid fan of the big 3, I've liked the most recent CDs fine. I liked this one quite a bit too the first weeks I had it. Something happened though, at the GAMH show in SF: Great band + Hot groovy fun, and suddenly I could properly hear Sunshine Lies, even the tracks he didn't play that night. Somehow the key to the puzzle was transmitted to me--by means of feedback, I'm guessing...the mechanism is unclear.
This is an extreme set of songs, seriously over-the-top as both ear candy and lyric sincerity. I think the step required to access Sunshine Lies is awakening the silly 16 year old rocker within, so play it LOUD. Delivering rueful musings of experience wrapped in these shimmery Pet-Sounds-kind of pop gloss produces a dissonance that works for me. Sunshine Lies asserts sweet optimism even after all that young rocker has seen and done, a neat trick.
(I Need A) Room to Rock In is our new house motto. And Back of My Mind is the best album-ender since Party Girl.
Thanks, Matthew!! I needed that.
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Genius!!!
Steven Walsh | Windsor, Ontario Canada | 11/30/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"He did it again!In the great songwriting vein of The Byrds,Beatles,Big Star...i.e. songs with singalong choruses,harmonies,melodies,chunky guitar solos,all wrapped up in a shimmering and vibrant and punchy style,man it just rocks and flows and my 19 month old daughter Daisy just LURVES ''Lets Love''!!!!!Terrific!!"
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1