Skip to content
Elly Roberts reviews
Shout! Factory Records
- Released: August 2008
- Rating: 6/10
- Vote and comment on this album:
Nebraskas Sidney Matthew Sweet, 47, one-time member of supergroup The Thorns, bounces back to life with a rip-roaring 10th album.
Having made his name via the burgeoning Athens Georgia scene in the mid-80s,hes re-focused his writing on quality once more, though much of Sunshine Liesis way off mainstream appeal, not that it matters.
In 2006 he collaborated with former Bangles eye-candy Susanna Hoffs on a coversalbum returning to accessible and melodic formats synonymous with his breakthroughmaterial.
Possessing a fear of flying, it has inhibited his touring capabilities tosupport album releases, so things may well be the same right now. His usualcollaborators drummer Ric Menck, guitarists Ivan Julian and Richard Lloyd,pedal steel guitarist Greg Leisz throw their collective weight behind thiseclectic gem, with Hoffs doing backups on the title track.
This album is a kaleidoscope of colours sure to appeal to Prog-rockers,Americana fans and the plain curious. Psychedelia strong influences the undulatingquality of Beatles-esque Time Machine with some neat and melodic guitarsolos adding to the throw-back feel, giving it a Rubber Soul touch. Room To Rockdoes what it says on the tin raucous dirty riffs and solos aplenty, leadingus to believe hes always had latent rock tendencies.
Similarly, appropriately titled Flying brings us a belting and full-on approach,as if the soloists have been given a free-range to express themselves, and how,with the simple but fuzzed-out Lets Love almost being accessible with its whoppinganthemic chorus. Delving into the heyday of American folk-rock, Byrdgirl reminiscesThe Byrds floaty and wistful template with dazzling solos by erstwhile axemanGreg Leisz.
Up to now, Feel Fear is the most melodic, making it the most radio-friendlySweet has elected to be: glorious harmonies a la Byrds/The Thorns. Right out of60s California, the title track is a subtle mix of Beach Boys-meets-Byrds.
The jangly and swooning flow is embellished by Hoffs hushed vocal and the swirling pedal steel, while sumptuous and (almost) poppy Around You Nowis a flavour of The Thorns all over again.
File under: Cool.
Weblink:matthewsweet.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Time Machine
2. Room To Rock
3. Byrdgirl
4. Flying
5. Feel Fear
6. Lets Love
7. Sunshine Lies
8. Pleasure Is Mine
9. Daisychain
10. Sunrise Eyes
11. Around You Now
12. Burn Through Love
13. Back Of My Mind
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.