Customer Reviews

Son of Altered Beast

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3 star:		(1)
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If your a Mathew Sweet fan, you'll definitely want this album. It's refreshing to here the live versions of some of the songs I'd listened too for a long time. The real highlights, however, are Superdeformed and Ultrasuede, which to my knowledge aren't on any of his other albums. Ultrasuede is simply amazing---in my opinion, it's the best Mathew Sweet song ever.

Matthew Sweet ranks third among my favorite musical artists (and he gives Elvis C. a real run for #2. Bowie is untouchable at #1) and I was blown away by this album. It was my last purchase of one of his "modern," i.e. post-Earth, albums and right now I'm recommending it above even "Girlfriend" and "Altered Beast." Why? Blistering live versions of songs I had completely overlooked when they appeared on their studio album. The studio version of "I Wanted to Tell You" on the Girlfriend album was a little too precious. On Son of Beast it rocks hard and harmonically. Superdeformed performed live on this album is 20 times better than the demo version released with the Girlfriend/Goodfriend cd-single. Faster, more aggressive -- from now on I'm gonna be screaming for this one at every MS show I attend (be prepared, Matthew). Why did Matt think Ultrasuede was not fit for a full length album? It is absolutely sweet, very much idiomatic of the music Sweet makes: kind of "moderne," spacey and retro at the same time, like the Archies vs. Ziggy Stardust. Get this album. You won't regret it.

Yes, I have seen Matthew Sweet many times, and I can safely attest this is the real thing. A live mini-album of a great pop songwriter and one powerhouse of a band backing him up. Of course the highlights are those blistering solos by Robert Quine and Richard Lloyd who know that on stage is the place to tear it up. They show off a classy-no holds barred approach to embelleshing the sound of the studio records and adding that extra oomph that makes going out to clubs and fighting the beer-sweaty crowds worth it!

More like "Son of the Marketing Beast." Yet *another* spin-off disc from the "Altered Beast" release. This 7-track CD contains one remix, five live tracks, and one studio outtake. The remix, of "Devil With the Green Eyes" probably sounds different than the "Altered Beast" version, but I couldn't really say how. The live tracks vary from solid live interpretations of otherwise available songs to rather pedestrian takes. The live versions of "Superdeformed" and "Knowing People" are nice and punchy, while the languid take of "Someone to Pull the Trigger" (with Greg Leisz adding more great pedal steel) seems to out-ache the "Altered Beast" rendition - though it's still a pale imitation of the demo version available on the "Goodfriend" CD. The live take of "I Wanted To Tell You" might be a nice reminder for those who've heard Sweet live, but I think I'd rather listen to the original studio version. The live cover of Neil Young' "Don't Cry No Tears" is real rock 'n' rolly. Finally, the studio outtake of "Ultrasuede" sounds different than the version on the "Ugly Truth" CD-5. I'm sure it does. Really. But with all these remixes and live tracks floating about in my head, I couldn't tell you how.