Matthew Sweet - Living Things
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Artist: Matthew SweetEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2004-09-07
Music Label: Racm Records
Soundtracks:
- Big Cats of Shambala
- You're Not Sorry
- Dandelion
- Push the Feelings
- In My Tree
- Cats vs. Dogs
- I Saw Red
- In My Time
- Sunlight
- Season Is Over
- Tomorrow
Free Music Notes for Living Things
Free Music Review: "Sweet" success on experimental "Living Things"
Hit: 5 Stars
It sounds like everyone else wanted to hear Matthew Sweet recreate the old stuff. An artist moves on, experiments and tries not to repeat the same thing over and over again. "Living Things" is full of experimental touches but the songwriting is as strong as ever. Sweet's latest album is a concept album about nature and all the wonder that surrounds us every day that we take for granted.
The use of the steel drum on the opening track "The Big Cats of Shambala" kind of surprised me. " It immediately reminded me of Harry Nilsson's "Sandman" which did many of the same things Sweet tries here. "You're Not Sorry" has the same feel as John Lennon's ballad "Jealous Guy" with a beautiful melody highlighted by lovely piano playing by Van Dyke Parks. "Danelion" has a snarky bass part and piano part that builds into something that might have sounded at home from the "Smile" sessions or "Magical Mystery Tour". That's not to say it's derivative--Sweet plays with melody much as Brian Wilson or Lennon & McCartney might. The only truly weak track I felt was "Cats Vs. Dogs".
"In My Time" uses the guitars to build interesting backing textures against a strong power pop melody. "Sunlight" with a touch of organ that wouldn't have been out of place on an album by The Band but with jangly guitar playing pulls the album towards its conclusion. Like "Good Day Sunshine" this song captures the feel of a glorious spring day. "Season is Over" slides along on a simple but melodic guitar part. The final track "Tomorrow" uses mandolins and accordians in much the same way that the steel drums are used on the opening track--to accent the music and add a slighly different otherworldly feel to a traditional melody. The song wouldn't have sounded out of place on The Thorns album that Sweet did a couple of years ago. With echoes of The Byrds, The Band and Big Star, it concludes this fine concept album on a strong musical and lyrical note.
With excellent playing, songcraft and killer harmony vocals, Sweet crafts one of his most winning albums since "Girlfriend" and "In Reverse". It's the same Matthew Sweet sound trying on some new clothes to give that sound a revitalized quality. It works.
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