Matthew Sweet

One of the most unlikely and endearing successes of the alternative rock era, Matthew Sweet was -- and is -- one of the most consistent artists to come out of that time period. Compiled by Volcano Records, the same label that released Sweet's 1999 album In Reverse, Time Capsule: The Best of Matthew Sweet collects 16 of his best-loved songs and two new ones, "Ready" and "So Far." Not surprisingly, the anthology spends the most time with his strongest albums, especially his breakthrough, Girlfriend. A full four songs -- "Divine Intervention," "I've Been Waiting," "Girlfriend," and "You Don't Love Me" -- come from that 1991 classic, but Altered Beast, 100% Fun, Blue Sky on Mars, and even In Reverse are well represented with songs like "Time Capsule," "Sick of Myself," "We're the Same," "Where You Get Love," and "What Matters." Sweet's vibrant, vulnerable take on power pop revitalized the genre in the '90s, and this collection of his work still sounds completely fresh and enjoyable. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide