MATTHEW SWEET
In Reverse (Volcano)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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The monkey that hangs on Matthew's back (Girlfriend) is a hard one to shake, but our power pop hero valiantly carries on in search of the proper follow up. His latest effort comes perilously close to capturing some of the hook of that masterpiece, but is diluted under a heavy handed production job. In Reverse is about as sweet as Sweet can possibly get, encompassing angelic harmonies with a wall of Brian Wilson orchestrated sound. The addictive layering climaxes with the bombastic "Worse To Live," with nineteen instruments vying for your attention. You know when Matthew starts toying with harpsichords, toy pianos and theremins that a sandbox in the middle of his studio is inevitable.

© 1999 - John Sekerka