Matthew Sweet

In Reverse

Reversal of Sweet's Fortunes?

Review Score:

(10/10)
I haven't liked any one CD so immediately since I came across Kyle Vincent's (another musician with a soap actor's name) self-title '97 opus. I've been on Sweet's trail for years, but while I've always felt that he had the tunes, the look and the voice, somehow the representation often fell short of living up to the ingredients' potential. Mainly, the producers he chose to - or were chosen for him - to work with just didn't seem to get it. From Euro-Pap (Cliff Richard, A-Ha, Leo...yikes!...Sayer) 'meistro' Alan Tarney on Sweet's '86 debut to Brendan O'Brien's heavy-handed (Sweet needn't be produced in the same manner as Oasis, who, contrary to popular belief, neither have a material as good as his, nor the pipes to match it) work on the somewhat (here on Amazon) overrated "100% Fun"(1995), the producers, I've felt, have all too often been mismatched with our boy Matthew. Well, "In Reverse" lists no less than four producers, which instantly screams out, "Too many cooks in the kitchen!" - in most such cases, that is. Not so here, though. From the initial cacophony charm of opener "Millenium Blues" to the closing nearly 10 minute Spector-esque Brian Wilson-like epic of "Thunderstorm" (echoes of Wilson's own 1988 "Rio Grande" are audible), this record's an almost uninterrupted delight. Only on the sonically overdone "Split Personality" seems the quality control guard to have been let down, but that's a small price to pay since that song's only crime is to be 'only' average while the rest remains relatively top-notch. The obvious oft-touted Spector/Wilson influence here has been, by others before me, given its due attention for both better and worse, but I also hear a clear nod to Gerry Buckley and America (the group) on the mighty but mellow "Untitled", under which the spirit of Roger McGuinn also lurks mischeviously about. "Beware My Love" is a song that would've/should've been an instant hit - if only this was 1975, not 2000! I can very well imagine McCartney, McGuinn, Wilson, Spector, et al, humm approvingly along with this one, mumbling, "Jolly well done, son." And indeed it is. But will it mark a reversal of Sweet's fortunes - or lack thereof - I ask? Well, it bloody well should! Buy it - it REALLY IS that good.

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