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Matthew Sweet

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For the writer and broadcaster, see Matthew Sweet (writer).

Matthew Sweet
Matthew Sweet performing at the Turborock Festival in Spain, September 2011
Matthew Sweet performing at the Turborock Festival in Spain, September 2011
Background information
Birth nameSidney Matthew Sweet
Born (1964-10-06) October 6, 1964 (age 59)
Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
GenresPower pop, grunge, alternative rock
Occupation(s)singer, songwriter, record producer, instrumentalist
Instrument(s)vocals, guitar, bass guitar
Years active1980s–present
LabelsColumbia
A&M
Zoo Entertainment
Shout! Factory
Websitewww.matthewsweet.com

Sidney Matthew Sweet (born October 6, 1964, in Lincoln, Nebraska) is an American alternative rock/power pop musician. He was part of the burgeoning Athens, Georgia, music scene in the early and mid-1980s before gaining commercial success during the early 1990s. He continues to tour, and his most recent studio album, Modern Art, was released in 2011.

1980s

In 1980, while attending Lincoln Southeast High School, Sweet, having written and recorded songs on four-track cassettes, joined the band, the Specs, which resulted in his first recording on a battle of the bands LP produced by a local radio station.[1] After graduating in 1983, Sweet travelled to Athens, Georgia to attend college during the vibrant Athens music scene. That same year, Sweet, who had become friends with the band R.E.M., collaborated with frontman Michael Stipe in a duo group under the name Community Trolls, as well as played in Stipe's sister Lynda Stipe's band, Oh-OK. In addition, he formed another duo, The Buzz of Delight, with Oh-OK drummer David Pierce, releasing an EP, Sound Castles, in 1984 on DB Records. [2] On the strength of this 12" vinyl, Sweet was signed to a solo recording contract with Columbia Records.[3]

In 1986, Sweet released Inside, his debut album, to good reviews but little commercial success.

In 1989, Sweet released Earth, his follow-up, after having signed with A&M Records and, again, it was well-received critically, but failed commercially. This period marked a personal and professional low point for Sweet, as both his record company lost interest and his marriage failed.

1990s

In 1990, A&M released Sweet from his contract, and he signed with rival Zoo Entertainment, which later formed into Volcano Entertainment several years later. Sweet formed a new band (which included Richard Lloyd, Robert Quine, Greg Leisz, Lloyd Cole, and Fred Maher), and together they spent that year assembling his next work, originally titled Nothing Lasts.

In 1991, Sweet released Girlfriend, the retitled pop-rock album which was widely considered an artistic breakthrough, and quickly garnered impressive U.S. sales, spawning a Top 10 single with the title track. The music video for "Girlfriend" (heavily aired on MTV, MuchMusic and Night Tracks) featured clips from the anime film, Space Adventure Cobra, while the video for "I've Been Waiting" used clips of the Urusei Yatsura character, Lum Invader.

In 1993, Sweet released Altered Beast, a harder rock album which drew mixed reactions with its intense and brooding tracks (such as "Someone to Pull the Trigger" and "Knowing People"). The music video for the single, "The Ugly Truth" (directed by Sweet) featured the singer being chased in the desert by police while driving his own 1970 Dodge Challenger, while the video for "Time Capsule" was a literary homage to Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels.

In 1995, Sweet released 100% Fun, an alt-rock album best known for its lead-off track, the self-deprecating "Sick of Myself". The album itself fared better commercially, and even made it onto Entertainment Weekly critic David Browne's years-best list.

In 1997, Sweet released Blue Sky on Mars, a new-wave album which featured the synth-laden singles "Where You Get Love" and "Come to California". The music video for the former featured Sweet as an astronaut traveling through outer space.

In 1999, Sweet released In Reverse, a psychedelic album which featured Wall of Sound tracks, including the singles "What Matters" and "Trade Places". The album is noteworthy for its 10-minute closing track, "Thunderstorm", which is a combination of several demos.

2000s

In 2000, Sweet released Time Capsule: Best of 90/00, a retrospective compilation which featured two new tracks.

In 2001, Sweet and Darius Rucker performed The Beach Boys song, "Sail On, Sailor" on the special, A Tribute to Brian Wilson, and both the musicians later performed the same song with Brian Wilson himself on Late Show with David Letterman.[4]

In 2002, Sweet released To Understand: The Early Recordings of Matthew Sweet, a retrospective compilation which featured unreleased material. Later that year, he formed the supergroup, The Thorns, with Shawn Mullins and Pete Droge, releasing their self-titled debut album the following year.

In 2003, Sweet released Kimi Ga Suki, a garage-rock album initially released in Japan, of where Sweet has a significant following.

In 2004, Sweet released Living Things, an acoustic album which consisted mainly of material he wrote while recording with The Thorns.

Sweet in 2006

In 2006, Sweet and Susanna Hoffs released Under the Covers, Vol. 1, which featured covers of popular 1960s songs.

In 2008, Sweet released Sunshine Lies, his 10th studio album, which also incorporated a 2-LP set featuring 4 bonus tracks.[5]

In 2009, Sweet and Susanna Hoffs released Under the Covers, Vol. 2, which featured covers of popular 1970s songs.

In 2010, the musical "Girlfriend", which used songs from Sweet's eponymous album, was staged by the Berkeley Repertory Theatre.[6][7]

In 2011, Sweet released Modern Art, an album which featured the single, "She Walks the Night".

In 2012, Sweet celebrated the 20th anniversary of "Girlfriend" with a tour which featured the entire album played from start to finish.

Discography

Main article: Matthew Sweet discography

Film & television

1992
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2006
2007
2009
2010
  • "Wild", The Bigtop [9]

Tributes & benefits

1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
  • "Do Ya" (Move cover), Live from 6A: Great Musical Performances from Late Night with Conan O'Brien[13]
2001
  • "Every Night", Listen to What the Man Said: Popular Artists Pay Tribute to Paul McCartney.[14]
2002
  • "Karen", Shoe Fetish: A Tribute to Shoes.[15]
  • "Big Sky", This Is Where I Belong - The Songs of Ray Davies & The Kinks
2004
  • "Good Night" (Beatles cover), For the Kids Too[16]
2005
  • "American Girl" (Tom Petty cover), High School Reunion: A Tribute To Those Great 80s Films[17]
2006

Other appearances

  • In 1985, Sweet contributed a cover of the dB's "Ask for Jill" (with Don Dixon and Chris Stamey) for the Hoboken anthology, Luxury Condos Coming to Your Neighborhood Soon.
  • In 1986, Sweet contributed lyrics and vocals to the song, "Something Becomes Nothing", for The Golden Palominos album, Blast of Silence.[19]
  • In 1992, Sweet was featured on an episode of the series, 120 Minutes, hosted by VJ Dave Kendall, which included an interview and live performances.
  • In 1994, Sweet co-produced the Velvet Crush album, Teenage Symphonies to God.
  • In 1996, Sweet contributed bass guitar to the Fastball song, "Are You Ready for the Fallout?", on their debut album. Also, Sweet provided backing vocals for Kris McKay in a cover of his own song, "How Cool", on her album, Things That Show.[20]
  • In 1997, Sweet was the subject for Matthew Sweet: On the Edge, an hour-long documentary which chronicled the musician's career, produced by NPTV (Nebraska Public Television).
  • In 1998, Sweet appeared on an episode of the series, The Drew Carey Show, as a musician auditioning to be in Carey's band.[21]
  • In 1999, Sweet co-produced (and co-wrote two songs) on the Velvet Crush album, Free Expression.
  • In 2002, Sweet provided backing vocals to the title track of the Counting Crows album, Hard Candy.[23]
  • In 2004, Sweet co-wrote the title track to the Hanson album, Underneath.[24]

References

  1. ^ http://www.timmcmahan.com/matthewsweet.htm
  2. ^ http://www.athensmusic.net/store/pc/Buzz-of-Delight-The-br-Sound-Castles-12-Vinyl-p4632.htm
  3. ^ http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Sweet,_Matthew/Biography/
  4. ^ http://www.amazon.com/An-All-Star-Tribute-Brian-Wilson/dp/B00005QAPR
  5. ^ "Matthew Sweet Tells Lies on New Record", Pitchfork Media June 4, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-5-5.
  6. ^ "Girlfriend", Berkeley Repertory Theatre Web site. Retrieved on 2010-4-28.
  7. ^ John Horn (April 18, 2010). "In 'Girlfriend,' Matthew Sweet's lyrics tell the story". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 28, 2010.
  8. ^ http://www.glidemagazine.com/articles/58913/susanna-hoffs.html
  9. ^ http://www.bigtopmovie.com/
  10. ^ 1993 RykoDisc
  11. ^ CD liner notes: Track No. 9, Sweet Relief, 1993 Thirsty Ear Records
  12. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/honor-a-benefit-for-the-honor-the-earth-campaign-mw0000078971
  13. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Live-From-6A-Night-OBrien/dp/B000001EXT
  14. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Listen-What-Man-Said-McCartney/dp/B00005NVJM
  15. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Shoe-Fetish-Tribute-Various-Artists/dp/B000056K1C
  16. ^ http://www.amazon.com/For-Kids-Too-Various-Artists/dp/B0003JANQE
  17. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/high-school-reunion-a-tribute-to-those-great-80s-films!-mw0001444768
  18. ^ http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-together-now-beatles-stuff-for-kids-of-all-ages/11700322
  19. ^ http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/matthew-sweet/id89836957
  20. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kris-mckay-mn0000774935
  21. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0566437/
  22. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0749034/
  23. ^ http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/4716399/a/Hard+Candy.htm
  24. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/underneath-mw0000337706
  25. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1660055/

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