Customer Reviews

Earth

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Matthew Sweet's second album improves over the first, partly because the '80s were on the way out and there's less processed robo-pop in the backing tracks. Sweet's songwriting has also improved; while even the strongest tracks on the first album were usually buried under mounds of keyboards and drum programming, the clean production and arrangements on "Earth" allow the songcraft to show up front and center. Highlights include the wistful "Easy," a great opening track; "Wind And The Sun," which, despite some slightly corny lyrics, has a lovely, bouncy melody; "Children Of Time (Forever)," a somewhat amusing track in which Sweet projects his love affair into the far future (think "In The Year 2525" meets the Jetsons and Roy Wood all at once); and "Vixen," which, no matter what you think of the lyrics, has an irresistible sing-along chorus; it reminds me of Jonathon Richman's "Road Runner." This album might not take hold of you right away, but given a chance, it's as rewarding as his later, better-known work. If you like "100% Fun" or "Blue Sky On Mars" in particular, you might really like this one.

Compared to his first album INSIDE, which had about a dozen producers and dozens of top session musicians, EARTH is a decidedly more orderly affair. One production team handles all the tracks, resulting in a more consistent listen. For the first time, Robert Quine and Richard Lloyd handle most of the lead guitar duties, as they would on Sweet's following 3 (and far more commercially successful) albums. Sweet's songwriting skills aren't quite as impressive here as they would prove to be on later albums, although he is consistant: there's not a bad song on here and the high points ("When I Feel Again", "Vertigo", "Easy") really are high. Oddly enough, there's nothing here as impressive as tracks like "Quiet Her" and "Love I Trusted" from INSIDE. But if you're already a fan of Sweet's music and you've got everthing else (including INSIDE) give this one a try.

If you're reading this, you're quite possibly a Matthew Sweet fan already, so maybe you should buy this album, which contains several reasonably decent songs (though arguably no great ones). If you aren't: please, for the love of the higher power of your choice, start elsewhere (e.g. _Girlfriend_ or _100% Fun_). Otherwise, you run the risk of encountering "Underground" and concluding that all Sweet has to offer are your worst memories from the eighties distilled into a very painful three minutes and 38 seconds. Which isn't the case, because the man got significantly better from here.

This is not the most popular Matthew Sweet title out there, but it sure is better than his debut in 1986, and some of his recent works. When I got this back in '89 "Easy" was being played on the radio.(hard to believe). Richard Lloyd helped atthew here on guitar. Songs that crack this CD: The above mentioned song "Easy","When I Feel Again", "Children Of Time(Forever)","Vertigo", "Underground","The Alchol Talking",and the funky "Vixen" with back up vocals by Kate Pierson(of the B52's). If it weren't for the 80's programming it might of gotten a higher rating. Matthew would release his classic "Girlfriend"***** next, followed by "Altered Beast"**** and "100% Fun"****1/2, these would be his high water mark albums.

If you're one of the many people who bought (and sold back) "Time capsule" wondering to yourself "how did this guy get a record contract?" you would find the answer to this question here. Yes, back in "tha day," Matthew wrote GOOD songs, with clear melodies backed by cunning arrangements. While not the masterpiece his first album, "Inside" was, Earth is still a great album. The leadoff track, "Easy" is a brilliant tune that makes the most of Robert Quine's and Richard Lloyd's guitars (they actually play REAL MOTIFS instead of just soloing aimlessly over a song!) The second song "When I feel again," despite its status as the album's second single is kind of weak, with Rich and Rob palm muting in the back ground. Both "Wind and the Sun" and "Children of Time" are brilliant excercises in melodic genius, but the album's most startling revelation is "Love" where Matthew actually experiments with Trip Hop/R&B to a very soulfull effect; something Boyz to Men would cover if they were cool. The album's first single, "Vertigo," is a great song and seems to be about snorting coke; ah, the eighties... But the chorus, punctuated by the heavenly sounds of Kate Pierson, is really what makes the track stand out.It's a shame this one didn't have a video with a bikinied anime girl to accompany it, cause it woulda been huge.....

This album marks Matthew coming out of the control of record labels and exploring himself. Though maybe not the prefered Girlfriend album, for those die hard Matthew fans it does not have to be. The album has emotional charging lyrics with a kind of mix between late eighties and early ninities sound. For the big fans of Matthew Sweet it is a must have. For those fans caught up only on the Girlfriend album don't waste your time or effort on an album you will never come to appreciate.