Living Things

Being a high powered member of the Elite media establishment allows me certain privileges. For one I get to go to the front of the lines in movies. And then there are speeding tickets. I don't get them. Yep. It's true. When you get to be part of the Elite media they give you this card, and you get free money from the bank, and don't have to pay taxes ever again. Also you get preview copies of new CD's before they even are released! Don't believe me? Well check this homey. Two weeks ago I received a pre-release copy of "Living Things", which is the first American release by Mathew Sweet since 2000's "In Reverse".

First you must realize that Mathew Sweet places backward hypnotic suggestions into his music. In that, If you listen to a Mathew Sweet CD three times, you can't stop listening and it becomes your favorite CD ever! Seriously. It is clear that with this CD he has given a musical middle finger to commercial radio. There is not one radio friendly song on the cd; having said that, It sounds amazing in a post-traumatic stress disorder sort of way. The songs are dripping with cynicism and dry wit. This is a must have for fans. The CD sounds like a twisted Walt Disney sound track to a movie I would love to see. "Push the world" is vintage Mathew Sweet at his best. "Push the feelings down, when the urge to kill comes on" Put those feelings into place, cause this lousy human race don't deserve them". Another beautiful essay on the basic suckieness of relationships is "You're not sorry" The song that is currently wrapped around my cerebellum is "In my Time". All in all this CD is quite a departure for those who remember the tremendous "Girl Friend". He still has CSN and Y leanings on this CD, I would say that this is a holdover from The Thorns project that he worked on last year. By saying that I am not inferring that these songs were left over pieces not used on that CD. (Well maybe I am) But it sounds great and he is making his music his way. And if you don't like it :"Write your on damn song" His words not mine.