Sweet Find

Posted by Kerstin, Online Editor

While visiting my family this past Easter, I was up way too early one morning (Mom, time to replace those see-through shades). And found myself flipping through old photo albums, cards, and various CDs. In between some photos of unflattering pleated shorts/polo shirt combos and a Guinness coaster, I came across Matthew Sweet 's CD, Girlfriend.

For those of you who don't remember, Sweet had his 15 minutes of indie fame in the early '90s for crafting pop with a harder, slightly twangy edge -- Nick Lowe meets Neil Young. Girlfriend, his third and most successful LP, lived up to its alluring cover image of Tuesday Weld with songs like the sweeping "Divine Intervention" and the wistful "Winona."

While listening to it again brought back certain places and faces (they shall remain nameless), it also struck me that the sound was really current, like something I would hear now and want to download
immediately. Like fashion, music tends to move in cycles, and there are many bands today (they shall remain nameless) that are clearly influenced by Sweet and this standout album.

While I left the coaster and the aformentioned pictures in Maryland, I brought back the CD and quickly added it to my iPod. It will be a perfect addition to a carefree summer soundtrack.

Comments

[L.C.]

This is one of my all-time favorite CDs. I went to see him live in Atlanta when he was just becoming famous and all my friends were like "who is that?" and I was like "you'll see" and then a year later they all loved him too. I just pulled this CD out of my collection again too! Glad to see he is still appreciated by others : )

L.C.

[jenifer Altman]

Holy flashback - one of my favorites - though I think I actually owned the tape - does that date me a bit? lol!

[Sara]

I love Matthew Sweet! He is so underrated. The album after this is great as well - Altered Beast.

[Sarah]

Wow, this was one of the first CDs I ever bought! I hadn't listened to it in ages, but reading this post inspired me to dig it out. The high school memories are all coming back... Thanks for the trip down memory lane!