Altered Beast
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Albums:
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Altered Beast
- Artist: Matthew Sweet
- Rating:
- Release Date: July 13, 1993
- Total Time: 55:31
- Type: Lyrics are included with the album
- Genre: Rock
Review
Compared to the concise songwriting of Girlfriend, Altered Beast is all over the place, both emotionally and musically. Ranging from piercing guitar rave-ups ("Dinosaur Act") to gorgeous country-rock ("Time Capsule"), the album not only covers all sides of Matthew Sweet's musical personality, but pastes them together haphazardly. Consequently, it takes a bit of time for all of it to make sense, but after a few listens, it falls together, and its best moments equal Girlfriend. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi| Altered Arts EP (1998 Album by Jamie Anderson) | |
| Altered Beats: Assassin Knowledges of the Remanipulated (1996 Album by Various Artists) |
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
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Altered Beast (album)
| Altered Beast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
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| Studio album by Matthew Sweet | ||||
| Released | 13 July 1993 | |||
| Recorded | January – February 1993 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 55:31 | |||
| Label | Zoo Entertainment | |||
| Producer | Fred Maher and Matthew Sweet | |||
| Matthew Sweet chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Rolling Stone | [2] |
Altered Beast is the fourth album by alternative rock musician Matthew Sweet. Released by Zoo Entertainment in 1993, the initial response to this record was cool compared to Girlfriend, with Rolling Stone writing that the album was "[f]rustratingly uneven," with "inspiring moments; the problem is finding them."[3]
Sweet was accompanied by a high-powered group of guest musicians. Among the drummers were Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac), Jody Stephens (Big Star) and Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello's backing band). On guitar were Richard Lloyd (Television), Robert Quine (Voidoids) and Ivan Julian (Voidoids). Additionally, renowned session keyboardist Nicky Hopkins appeared,[3] and Byron Berline contributed fiddle to "The Ugly Truth".
The track "Intro" is a clip from the movie Caligula featuring Malcolm McDowell.[4]
Five different colored versions of the album cover were produced: yellow, blue, green, orange and purple.
The name of the album is based on the arcade game Altered Beast. Sweet has declared the title meant "whatever is inside you that someday might explode, and maybe you don't know it's there", which he found similar to the game, where "you have to find these little power-up things, and when you eat them you become the Altered Beast, this other creature that's really powerful and violent".[5]
Originally, Sweet wanted to use the logo of the Japanese delivery company Yamato Transport on the cover of the album, but was denied permission; Sweet has described the dinosaur logo as a "consolation prize".
Track listing
All songs written by Matthew Sweet; with the exception of Track 8, "Intro" excerpts from the movie "Caligula".
- "Dinosaur Act" - 4:05
- "Devil With the Green Eyes" - 4:43
- "The Ugly Truth" - 3:18
- "Time Capsule" - 3:56
- "Someone to Pull the Trigger" - 3:55
- "Knowing People" - 4:25
- "Life Without You" - 2:18
- "Intro" - 0:46
- "Ugly Truth Rock" - 2:58
- "Do It Again" - 3:33
- "In Too Deep" - 3:54
- "Reaching Out" - 4:00
- "Falling" - 4:50
- "What Do You Know?" - 4:27
- "Evergreen" - 4:23
Music videos
- *Time Capsule", directed by Douglas Gayeton (Satellite Films)
References
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ Rolling Stone review
- ^ a b O'Connor, Rob: Review: Matthew Sweet - Altered Beast, Rolling Stone, July 17, 1997.
- ^ DeRogatis, Jim: Matthew Sweet Sours on Success, Chicago Sun-Times, June 20, 1993.
- ^ Kelly, Christian: King of Pop, Spin, September 1995.
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