Sidney Matthew Sweet (born October 6, 1964) is an Americanalternative rock/power pop singer-songwriter and musician who was part of the burgeoningmusic scene in Athens, Georgia, during the 1980s before gaining commercial success in the 1990s as a solo artist. His companion albums,Tomorrow Forever andTomorrow's Daughter, were followed by 2018'sWicked System of Things^[1][2][3] and 2021'sCatspaw,^[4][5] his 15th studio effort.

Matthew Sweet
Sweet performing in 2011
Background information
Birth name	Sidney Matthew Sweet
Born	(1964-10-06)October 6, 1964 (age 60) Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
Genres	Alternative rock power pop
Occupation(s)	Singer, musician, songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitar, bass
Years active	1978–present
Labels	Columbia A&M Zoo Entertainment Shout! Factory
Formerly of	The Specs Oh-OK Community Trolls The Buzz of Delight Ming Tea (non-virtual) The Thorns
Website	matthewsweet.com

Sweet was born inLincoln, Nebraska. He graduated fromSoutheast High School in Lincoln,^[6] in 1983. Upon graduation he moved toAthens, Georgia to attend college.^[6]

As a high school student in 1980, Sweet wrote songs and recorded them on four-track cassettes. He joined the bandThe Specs and released his first recording on abattle of bands LP produced by a local radio station,^[7] and fronted his own local band called The Dialtones.^[8] After graduating, Sweet traveled toAthens, Georgia, to attend college during the vibrantAthens music scene. That same year, Sweet, who had met the bandR.E.M. when they played a show in his hometown the previous year, collaborated with frontmanMichael Stipe in a duo group under the nameCommunity Trolls, as well as played guitar in Stipe's sisterLynda Stipe's band,Oh-OK. In addition, he formed another duo,The Buzz of Delight, with Oh-OK drummer David Pierce, releasing an EP,Sound Castles, in 1984 onDB Records.^[9] On the strength of this 12" vinyl, Sweet was signed to a solo recording contract withColumbia Records.^[6]

In 1986, he releasedInside, his debut album, to good reviews but little commercial success. In 1989, he releasedEarth after signing withA&M Records; likewise, it was well-received critically, yet not commercially. This marked a personal and professional low period as his record company lost interest and his marriage failed.

In 1990, A&M released Sweet from his contract, and he signed with rivalZoo Entertainment, which evolved intoVolcano Entertainment. Sweet formed a new band (which includedRichard Lloyd,Robert Quine,Greg Leisz,Lloyd Cole, andFred Maher), and they spent that year assembling his next work, originally titledNothing Lasts.^[10]

The following year, Sweet releasedGirlfriend, which was widely considered an artistic breakthrough. It quickly garnered impressive U.S. sales, spawning a Top 10 single with the title track. The music video for "Girlfriend" (heavily aired onMTV,MuchMusic andNight Tracks) featured clips from theanime filmSpace Adventure Cobra, while the video for "I've Been Waiting" used clips of theUrusei Yatsura characterLum.

In 1993, Sweet releasedAltered Beast, an album which drew mixed reactions with its intense and brooding tracks (such as "Someone to Pull the Trigger" and "Knowing People"). The music video for the single "The Ugly Truth" (directed by Sweet) featured the singer being chased in the desert by police while driving his own 1970Dodge Challenger, while the video for "Time Capsule" was a literary homage toJonathan Swift'sGulliver's Travels.

In 1995, Sweet released100% Fun, an alt-rock album best known for its lead-off track, the self-deprecating "Sick of Myself". The album itself fared better commercially, and even made it ontoEntertainment Weekly critic David Browne's year's-best list.

In 1997, Sweet releasedBlue Sky on Mars, a new-wave album which featured the synth-laden singles "Where You Get Love" and "Come to California". The music video for the former featured Sweet as an astronaut traveling through outer space.

In 1998, his version ofWalter Egan'sMagnet and Steel was recorded on theSabrina The Teenage Witch album withLindsey Buckingham on guitar.

In 1999, Sweet releasedIn Reverse, a psychedelic album which featuredWall of Sound singles "What Matters" and "Trade Places". The album is noteworthy for its 10-minute closing track, "Thunderstorm", a combination of several demos.

In 2000, Sweet releasedTime Capsule: Best of 90/00, a retrospective compilation which featured two new tracks.

In 2001, Sweet andDarius Rucker performedThe Beach Boys song "Sail On, Sailor" on the specialA Tribute to Brian Wilson; the musicians later performed the same song with Brian Wilson himself onLate Show with David Letterman.

In 2002, Sweet releasedTo Understand: The Early Recordings of Matthew Sweet, a retrospective compilation which featured unreleased material.^[11] Also that year, he formed the groupThe Thorns withShawn Mullins andPete Droge.^[12]

In 2003, Sweet releasedKimi Ga Suki, a garage-rock album initially released in Japan, where Sweet has a following.

In 2004, he releasedLiving Things, an acoustic album mainly consisted of material he wrote while recording w/ The Thorns.

In 2006, Sweet andSusanna Hoffs releasedUnder the Covers, Vol. 1, which featuredcovers of popular 1960s songs.

In 2008, Sweet releasedSunshine Lies, his 10th studio album, which also incorporated a 2-LP set featuring 4 bonus tracks.^[13]

In 2009, Sweet and Hoffs releasedUnder the Covers, Vol. 2, which featured covers of popular 1970s songs.

In 2010, themusicalGirlfriend, using songs from Sweet's album of the same name, was staged by theBerkeley Repertory Theatre.^[14][15]

In 2011, Sweet releasedModern Art, an album which featured the single, "She Walks the Night".

In 2012, Sweet celebrated the 20th anniversary ofGirlfriend with a tour performing the entire album from start to finish.^[16] Also that year, Sweet contributed an essay for the Mark Dillon bookFifty Sides of the Beach Boys on the 1967 song "Wonderful".^[17]

In 2013, Sweet and Susanna Hoffs releasedUnder the Covers, Vol. 3, which features covers of popular 1980s songs.^[18][19][20]

In 2014, Sweet was featured onThe Simpsons, the longest-running American sitcom. He wrote "Hopin' for a Dream", a song by fictitious 1980s band SunGazer, in the episode.^[21][22] Sweet and his wife Lisa were also research consultants for theTim Burton filmBig Eyes, a biography on painterMargaret Keane.^[23][24][25]

In 2015, Sweet and Susanna Hoffs releasedCompletely Under the Covers, a limited 4-disc box set of all threeUnder the Covers albums, with 15 bonus tracks.^[26]

In 2017, Sweet releasedTomorrow Forever,^[27][1] a rootsy album funded entirely by fans onKickstarter; over the course of one month in 2014, the project exceeded its $32,000 goal by 75% from fewer than 800 backers.^[28]

In 2018, Sweet releasedTomorrow's Daughter on May 18,^[29] a companion album toTomorrow Forever. Also that year, Sweet was paid tribute in the compilation album, "Altered Sweet", which included artists such as Lisa Mychols, Andy Reed, Greg Pope, Nick Bertling, Fireking, Chris Richards & The Subtractions, simple friend, Michael Simmons, Gretchen's Wheel, The Well Wishers, Elvyn, Pop Co-Op, Stabby Robot,Lannie Flowers, Stereo Tiger, Michael Carpenter, Phil Ajjarapu, CokeRoque,Donny Brown, Nick Piunti, Paranoid Lovesick, Trolley, Keith Klingensmith, Arvidson & Butterflies, Robyn Gibson and Popdudes.^[30][31] Also that year, independent vinyl reissue label Intervention Records announced it would release Artist-Approved 2 LP Expanded Editions of100% Fun,Altered Beast, andGirlfriend on vinyl and CD/SACD, along with a vinyl reissue ofSon of Altered Beast. On Record Store Day's Black Friday, he releasedWicked System of Things,^[32] a tribute to midwestern power pop, and a 3-inch colored vinyl of a live 1997 recording from Disney Orlando's Pleasure Island for Record Store Day in 2019.^[33][34]

In 2021, Sweet releasedCatspaw, his 15th studio album, and the first to feature Sweet playing alllead guitar parts.^[4][5]

Sweet and his wife Lisa have resided inOmaha, Nebraska, since 2013.^[24] He was married at least once before; a 1989 divorce inspired the songs on Sweet's commercial breakthrough albumGirlfriend.^[35]

Sweet is a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism.^[36]

In October 2024, Sweet suffered a debilitating stroke while on tour withHanson.^[37]

• Inside (1986)
• Earth (1989)
• Girlfriend (1991)
• Altered Beast (1993)
• 100% Fun (1995)
• Blue Sky on Mars (1997)
• In Reverse (1999)
• Kimi Ga Suki (2003)
• Living Things (2004)
• Under the Covers, Vol. 1 (withSusanna Hoffs) (2006)
• Sunshine Lies (2008)
• Under the Covers, Vol. 2 (withSusanna Hoffs) (2009)
• Modern Art (2011)
• Under the Covers, Vol. 3 (withSusanna Hoffs) (2013)^[38][39]
• Tomorrow Forever (2017)^[40]
• Tomorrow's Daughter (2018)^[2][41]
• Wicked System of Things (2018)^[32][3]
• Catspaw (2021)

• In 1983, Sweet was an extra in the film,Terms of Endearment, in a scene featuringDebra Winger andJeff Daniels at theUniversity of Nebraska.^[64]
• In 1985, Sweet contributed a cover ofthe dB's "Ask for Jill" (withDon Dixon andChris Stamey) for the Hoboken anthology,Luxury Condos Coming to Your Neighborhood Soon.
• In 1986, Sweet contributed lyrics and vocals to the song, "Something Becomes Nothing", forThe Golden Palominos album,Blast of Silence^[65] and played with the band during a 1987 concert tour.^[66]
• In 1988, Sweet co-wrote (withJules Shear) the title track to the final'Til Tuesday album,Everything's Different Now.
• In 1990, Sweet contributed bass, guitar and vocals to several tracks onLloyd Cole's album,Lloyd Cole (also known as "The X Album").
• In 1991, Sweet contributed bass guitar toLloyd Cole's cover of "Chelsea Hotel" for the tribute album,I'm Your Fan: The Songs of Leonard Cohen, and also toured with his band,Lloyd Cole and the Commotions.
• In 1992, Sweet was featured on an episode of the series,120 Minutes, hosted byVJDave Kendall, which included an interview and live performance.
• In 1992, Sweet played bass on the albumTo Hell With Love bySuzanne Rhatigan, which was produced by Sweet'sGirlfriend producerFred Maher and also featured Sweet's guitaristRobert Quine.
• In 1994, Sweet co-produced theVelvet Crush album,Teenage Symphonies to God.
• In 1995, Sweet appeared on an episode of the series,Space Ghost Coast to Coast. That same year, he was featured on an episode ofVH1 Duets withJohn Hiatt, and also contributed guitar and vocals to the song, "She's Not in Love", on theKim Stockwood album,Bonavista.^[67]
• In 1996, Sweet contributed bass guitar to the song, "Are You Ready for the Fallout?", on theFastball debut album. Also, Sweet provided backing vocals for Kris McKay in a cover of hisown song, "How Cool", on her album,Things That Show.^[68]
• In 1997, Sweet was the subject forMatthew Sweet: On the Edge, a documentary produced byNPTV (Nebraska Public Television). Also that year, Sweet contributed vocals to the song, "Sixteen Down", on theJayhawks album,Sound of Lies.
• Also in 1997, Sweet appeared inAustin Powers: International Man of Mystery.^[69] He played a performer in Austin's bandMing Tea playing during the closing credits of the movie.
• In 1998, Sweet appeared on an episode of the series,The Drew Carey Show, as a musician auditioning to be in Carey's band.^[70]
• In 1999, Sweet co-produced (and co-wrote two songs) on the Velvet Crush album,Free Expression.
• In 2000, Sweet contributed lyrics and vocals to the song, "Daylight", on theDelerium album,Poem. Also that year, he appeared on the game show,Win Ben Stein's Money, as a contestant playing forAlzheimer's.^[71]
• In 2001, Sweet was interviewed for the book,Behind The Muse: Pop and Rock's Greatest Songwriters Talk About Their Work and Inspiration.
• In 2002, Sweet contributed vocals to the title track of theCounting Crows album,Hard Candy.^[72]
• In 2003, Sweet co-wrote the song, "Stumbling Through the Dark", for the Jayhawks album,Rainy Day Music.^[73]
• In 2004, Sweet co-wrote the title track to theHanson album,Underneath.^[74]
• In 2008, Sweet was featured inMellodrama, a documentary about theMellotron. Also, he producedThe Bridges debut album,Limits of the Sky.
• In 2010, Sweet was featured on an episode ofStripped Down Live WithCurt Smith, which included an interview and live performance.^[75][76]
• In 2011, Sweet performed theBig Star song, "September Gurls", withMike Mills at a tribute concert toAlex Chilton.^[77] Also, he co-producedThe Bangles comeback album,Sweetheart of the Sun.^[78]
• In 2012, Sweet was the subject for an episode ofOn Canvas, an Emmy-winning music program which fuses stage performances with interviews.^[79]
• In 2013, Sweet performed the Beatles songs, "Nowhere Man" and "Day Tripper", along with the Wild Honey Orchestra (featuringRusty Anderson) at a tribute benefit forautism. That same year, he contributed bass to theLloyd Cole album,Standards.^[80]
• In 2013, Sweet collaborated withTim Robbins andSusanna Hoffs for a cover of the traditional "Marianne" for thesea shanty-compilationSon of Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys.^[81]
• In 2020, Sweet contributed guitar and backing vocals to a new version ofBadfinger's "Baby Blue" for the band's sole surviving member,Joey Molland.^[82]
• In 2022, Sweet published an unreleased cover demo of Kate Bush's 1978 single,Wuthering Heights (song), on his YouTube channel.^[83]

• Official website 
• Matthew Sweet atAllMusic
• Matthew Sweet atIMDb