The Bottom Line: Check this one out if you like college radio at all. This is a great album, and one that anybody should enjoy having in their collection.
lambchops's Full Review: 100% Fun by Matthew Sweet
Matthew Sweet is a fun sort of songwriter. He first gained success and respect with his album "Girlfriend" and the song of the same name in 1991. This album, "100% Fun" also was successful with the song "Sick of Myself." Matthew Sweet's main success has been with college alternative radio rather than with the mainstream broadcasters and MTV. Sweet isn't a "hot" guy. Rather, he is a relatively talented singer and songwriter.
"100% Fun" is a good album. One that's pretty necessary for people who like the kind of music played on college radio station. Open your ears and your mind. You won't be disappointed with most of the songs that are reviewed.
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1. SICK OF MYSELF
Great, happy, catchy music surrounded by Sweet's obviously upbeat and cheery voice. My favorite part of the song really are the lyrics. They are definitely singable. In fact, I think that Sweet has a great talent for writing things that are easily repeatable. So far as lyrics go, I like the opening lines the most:
You don't know how you move me
Deconstruct me
And consume me
I'm all used up
I'm out of luck
I am starstruck
By something in your eyes
That is keeping my hope alive
Like I said, I do like this song. It's my favorite on the entire album. Sweet has a knack as shown via this song. If you have a chance to listen to this alternative music classic, don't miss out. It's happy, it's upbeat and it's very much unlike other alterna-pop tunes. I like the guitars, the drums, and Sweet's voice for that matter. All perfect matches to say the least.
2. NOT WHEN I NEED IT
Another very fun, singable song. It's slower and less musically driving, but it's still very special. It's a gem so far as music goes. I wish that more people would give Sweet credit. But, quite honestly most people don't even realize that he exists more than his few radio semi-hits. The song is very sing-songy. It's almost poetic and it reminds me very much of some of the more recent pop songs. It seems that Sweet could have been some sort of influence on these bands whether or not they actually realize it. Again, the music is good as is Sweet's delivery.
3. WE'RE THE SAME
Another very interesting song from this talented songwriter. I can almost hear a band like the Goo Goo Dolls with this song. Fortunately it belongs exclusively to the talented Matthew Sweet. Sweet's voice is beautifully high and unlike that of most other male singers out there. "Baby we're the sam, when we fall in each other's eyes." This is a love song. And, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy when I listen to it. Very high quality. Almost universally appealing.
4. GIVING IT BACK
I love the guitars and drums in this song that are reminiscent of southern rock. But what makes this song very much whole is the addition of Sweet's soft, pleading, voice. Like I said, it's a good song, but there really doesn't seem to be as much presence to it as some of the other tracks. Worth a listen, but not the best by a long-shot. Just another instance where Sweet proves interesting.
5. EVERYTHING CHANGES
About a grooving as Sweet gets, this song is pretty slow and less interesting than some on the album. The only good point of the album really is Sweet and his talented voice and guitars. Nothing else. Just too slow and for that matter mediocre for my taste. Real fans will like it, though.
6. LOST MY MIND
This is almost a Beatles-esque tune. It has some elements when it comes to the music. But, as always, what makes Sweet's song special is his voice. He just has a very special take on what music should sound like. I really great, singable song worth of both my ears and yours for that matter. "You can't stomach the truth and I only tell lies, you don't care if you live, I don't care if I die..."
7. COME TO LOVE
This song is mediocre when compared to some of the gems on this album. It just seems boring and for that matter uniteresting. The lyrics are fun and I like the guitars, but really nothing else. I don't recommend this song specifically. Rather, if you're listening to the album as a whole it may be worth a listen, but don't go out of the way to do so.
8. WALK OUT
Is that a bluesy sound I hear? Well yes, of course. That's Sweet and his Electric Bass. This a pretty interesting song, but it sounds a bit repetitive in relation to some of the other songs. "Walk Out" isn't by any means the best song on this album, but it's still listenable. Don't turn it off. Sweet has put alot of effort into this, the most bluesy track on the entire album. Good job!
9. I ALMOST FORGOT
I hear a steel guitar in this one lending itself to a sad country western song. Fortunately, there's also a piano. This song is very touching. It's a alterna-pop ballad with some odd influences. The song speaks to somebody that Sweet apparently almost forgot he loved. He realizes that it's a mistake and that he still loves them immensely. It's a beautiful love song. Beautiful. It's not my favorite...it's just not fast and loud enough for me. Rather, it's soft and gentle. So is Sweet's voice.
10. SUPER BABY
What an odd name to a song. Fortunately, it's very much a rock song. It's catchy, hip, and defnitely fun. I love the opening lines, as they are indicitive of the rest of the song..."No memory is quite the same, no gently breeze can ease the pain." The only negative thing I have to say is that Sweet's voice is rather repetitive in this song. Although, I relize that he doesn't have much range in his very high-pitched voice.
11. GET OLDER
As the title indicates, this is a song about growing old gracefully and how to live with the fact that we all grow up and older and better for that matter. It's a pretty good song, but the real good part of this tune really is the message. The music and vocals are annoyingly repetitive. Not worth much of a listen. Maybe check it out, but I'd understand if you fast forwarded through this rather than listen.
12. SMOG MOON
To be quite honest, this song is a bit too plodding and soft for me. The lyrics and Sweet's voice are both high quality, but the song just really doesn't appeal to me. It's technically beautiful in that the piano-driven melody is truly gorgeous. It's just that I prefer songs that are loud. Worth a listen, and you probably shouldn't fast forward through this track. Check it out!
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This isn't Sweet's "best" album. Rather, it's a good one. He's got better ones and worse ones, but like I said in my introduction, this is a necessary album for people who like college alternative radio. Sweet is by no means a Bob Dylan, but he is a singer-songwriter in the purest sense of the definition. I hate to say that my favorite song on the album is the one that most people have been exposed to, but it's the truth. I really do like "Sick of Myself." It's a great track and one that everybody needs to hear.
Since this album is globally good and since not everybody will appreciate it's merits, I give it 3 1/2 stars, but with the Epinions ratings system, I think I'll rate it a solid four stars. Happy listening if you decide to pick this one up. It really is a good, solid album.
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