(TV) Lloyd & Sweet

["Leo Casey" <LeoCasey@comcast.net>]

Boston Globe Nov. 5, 2004

Matthew Sweet
LIVING THINGS
KIMI GA SUKI
RCAM

The success of the Thorns, Sweet's project with Pete Droge and Shawn
Mullins, seems to have refocused and re-energized the singer/songwriter on
his two new solo records. ''Kimi Ga Suki," previously released in Japan,
marks a retrenchment to the sound of Sweet's breakthrough record,
''Girlfriend," as he works with the musicians from that disc including
guitarist Richard Lloyd. It's a bit ragged and may strike some as too
familiar and safe, but you'll find more hooks here than in an aisle at Home
Depot, and all of Sweet's strengths are on display, particularly his ace
songcraft. With ''Living Things," the artist takes a slightly different
direction as he hooks up with, among others, Van Dyke Parks, who adds
versatile keyboard embellishments throughout the 11 tracks. There's an
immediate feel to the music, and songs such as the opening ''The Big Cats of
Shambala" and ''Dandelion" are infused with psychedelic flourishes. No one
evokes yearning and regret as well as Sweet with his winsome voice, and
''You're Not Sorry" and ''Push the Feelings" feature some of his better
vocal turns. The songs have more ambitious arrangements, but, ironically,
what is missing here is the biting guitar work from the likes of Lloyd,
Robert Quine, and Ivan Julian that characterized his vintage '90s output and
provided a keen counterpoint to Sweet's aching romanticism. Greg Leisz
supplies subtle mandolin and slide guitar to the mix, but the songs could
use a bit more muscle. Both records, though, are sharp examples of
expressive guitar pop and strong returns to form for one of rock's more
underrated songsmiths
--------------
To post: Mail tv@obbard.com
To unsubscribe: Mail majordomo@obbard.com with message "unsubscribe tv"