Matthew Sweet | Artist
Sidney Matthew Sweet is an American pop/rock singer-songwriter and musician born 1964 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Sweet was part of the burgeoning music scene in Athens, Georgia during the 1980s before gaining commercial success in the 1990s as a solo artist. A master of potent pop tunes and catchy melodic hooks, who also knew how to make his songs rock, Sweet's inspired use of incisive guitar work gave his songs an edge that was fresh and satisfying. After graduating from High School, Sweet moved to Athens, Georgie to attend college. There he met the band R.E.M. and collaborated with frontman Michael Stipe in a duo called Community Trolls, as well as playing guitar 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, and released the EP Sound Castles in 1984. On the strength of this record, Sweet was signed to a solo recording contract with Columbia Records, and he moved to New York City. In 1986, he released his debut album Inside to good reviews but little commercial success, and in 1989, his second album Earth likewise was well-received critically, but not commercially. This marked a personal and professional low period as his record company lost interest and he survived by playing guitar in Lloyd Cole's backing band. In 1990 Sweet formed a new hot-shot band which included Richard Lloyd (Television), Robert Quine (Richard Hell & the Voidoids), Greg Leisz (Dave Alvin, K.D. Lang), Lloyd Cole (Commotions) and drummer Fred Maher, who together spent that year assembling his next work. The following year, Sweet released the album Girlfriend which was widely considered an artistic breakthrough. With its near-perfect fusion of pop formalism and full-bodied rock & roll Girlfriend quickly gained impressive U.S. sales, spawning a Top 10 single with the title track. Over the next decade Sweet followed up with a string of great albums culminating in 2003 with the album Kimi Ga Suki - Raifu. At this point, which also coincides with the departure of guitarist Richard Lloyd, Sweet's artistic output and popularity began to wane somewhat. Standout albums include Girlfriend (1991), Goodfriend (promo release) (1992), Altered Beast (1993), 100% Fun (1995), In Reverse (1999), and Kimi Ga Suki - Raifu (2003). Also recommended are the three collaboration albums made between Sweet and ex-Bangle's guitarist-vocalist Susanna Hoffs, released as Under the Covers Vol's 1-3. Sweet and Hoffs are also in the pseudo-band Ming Tea created by Mike Myers for his Austin Powers movies. The band, fronted by Myers/Powers, included Susanna Hoffs as Julian Shagwell (rhythm guitar, vocals) and Matthew Sweet (bass, vocals). In 2014, Sweet was also featured on The Simpsons American sitcom, where he wrote "Hopin' for a Dream", a song by fictitious 1980s band SunGazer, in the episode.
Artist Website: matthewsweet.com
Featured Albums: Matthew Sweet
Related Artists: Ming Tea, Susanna Hoffs, REM, Richard Lloyd, Robert Quine
