Matthew Sweet : Classic or Dud?

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"Girlfriend" remains one of my favourite albums. The harmonies, hooks and lead guitar breaks give me the shivers.

*shivers*

Chris Radford, Monday, 21 April 2003 04:51 (twenty-one years ago) link

He gets bonus points for using the great Robert Quine

SplendidMullet (iamamonkey), Monday, 21 April 2003 05:05 (twenty-one years ago) link

outside of 'girlfriend' i've found him quite patchy, often dull. but 'smog moon' and 'a life without you' are both perfectly charming.

i'd say 'girlfriend' is an utter classic, though. bitter lyrics plus sugary Revolver pop = sweet.

stevie (stevie), Monday, 21 April 2003 08:20 (twenty-one years ago) link

Matthew Sweet is definitely classic. Lots of great albums since that one too.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 21 April 2003 08:53 (twenty-one years ago) link

"girlfriend" is a very nice record, but not quite classic. and maybe not quite as good as i was led to believe. love "I thought i knew you" especially. haven't heard much else.

weasel diesel (K1l14n), Monday, 21 April 2003 09:02 (twenty-one years ago) link

He gets bonus points for using, and being used by, the great Lloyd Cole.

the pinefox, Monday, 21 April 2003 09:07 (twenty-one years ago) link

I'd say Girlfriend is a classic, but clearly it was a tough act to follow. Some decent singles thereafter, but overall he succumbed to the curse of gradually diminishing returns.

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 21 April 2003 11:57 (twenty-one years ago) link

What about the two albums prior to Girlfriend?

I've never heard the first one, but Earth is not as terribly as you'd probably expect. "Easy" is one of the better songs in his repetoire.

paul cox (paul cox), Monday, 21 April 2003 12:04 (twenty-one years ago) link

terribly = terribly awkward

paul cox (paul cox), Monday, 21 April 2003 12:04 (twenty-one years ago) link

"Holy War" is probably the best thing he's ever written. Sadly, I have to agree that he hasn't been up to snuff after Girlfriend.

My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Monday, 21 April 2003 16:06 (twenty-one years ago) link

I thought "Girlfriend" was ok, but overall he's pretty bland. My cousin knows him.

Sean (Sean), Monday, 21 April 2003 16:09 (twenty-one years ago) link

I had a crush on him for the brief "We're the Same" period. I would see the video on TV and fantasize about being one of the mod girls in said video. Of course, considering how I qualified the crush by using the "brief" descriptor, you should be well aware of the fact that it has long since subsided.

At any length, I would have to say classic with this artist, if only for the nostalgic factor.

Dee the Lurker (Dee the Lurker), Monday, 21 April 2003 16:45 (twenty-one years ago) link

I remember enjoying his live show but not enough to ever purchase a record

SplendidMullet (iamamonkey), Monday, 21 April 2003 18:31 (twenty-one years ago) link

Played all the instruments on Josie...

jm (jtm), Monday, 21 April 2003 19:14 (twenty-one years ago) link

I love that pic of Tuesday Weld on the cov of 'Girlfriend' - the rec's pretty gd as well. Robert Quine AND Richard Lloyd = mmmmmm

Andrew L (Andrew L), Monday, 21 April 2003 19:27 (twenty-one years ago) link

Girlfriend is a definite classic (haven't heard the earlier stuff), though inspiration has pretty clearly declined gradually since. I saw him live on the In Reverse tour and that was lots of fun. Quine's solos are phenomenal.

Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 21 April 2003 19:53 (twenty-one years ago) link

"Sick Of Myself" is also quite classic, but I kinda lost interest after that.

Chris Barrus (Chris Barrus), Monday, 21 April 2003 22:33 (twenty-one years ago) link

Matthew Sweet always struck me as a good talent in need of collaboration...that's why this new trio project he's in called The Thorns looks to be promising. And as good as "Girlfriend" was, the messy "Altered Beast" isn't without it's charms.

Erick H (Erick H), Monday, 21 April 2003 22:46 (twenty-one years ago) link

that's pretty OTM (though I think they've all got their charms until In Reverse). He's also collaborated with Hanson recently (and I don't think that's a joke, even if it's funny).

Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 21 April 2003 23:23 (twenty-one years ago) link

Matthew Sweet, absolutely classic. "Girlfriend" is like the soundtrack to me playing The Legend of Zelda for 9 hours a day 2 weeks straight in Jr. High since I was too engrossed in the game to change cds.

Plus oddly enough, he was an artist I have always wanted to see live and never had. I missed seeing him 3 times in a year and a half time frame during the Girlfriend days. The first time I was to see him there was a hurricane. The second time when he was the opener, he canceled. The third time I had to go out of town.

Carey (Carey), Monday, 21 April 2003 23:46 (twenty-one years ago) link

"In Reverse" from 1999 was actually his best album ever.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 08:27 (twenty-one years ago) link

100% Fun is his best CD, Girlfriend his best song, and In Reverse is pretty good.

MerkinMuffley (MerkinMuffley), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 17:46 (twenty-one years ago) link

I never understood why ppl were so into him, even "Girlfriend" left me cold

H (Heruy), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 17:55 (twenty-one years ago) link

lots of good stuff, but i found both in reverse and blue sky... sub-par.

he did work with hanson -- helped them write a couple songs, and produced takes of 'em -- but last i heard, that stuff all got shelved. rumor has it that the middle hanson brother is actually some kind o pop genius, but his family has him in a bit of a creative stranglehold.

he also did lots of great stuff with (produced,played with and toured with) Velvet Crush, and all of that stuff is ace.

bucky wunderlick (bucky), Tuesday, 22 April 2003 19:52 (twenty-one years ago) link

one year passes...
Anyone heard the new one Living Things? Opinions?

Jim Reckling (Jim Reckling), Thursday, 7 October 2004 02:03 (twenty years ago) link

absolutely classic. not just because of his own work, but going back to Oh OK he was awesome. "girlfriend" makes me feel heartachingly sick, in a way that nothing else can.

maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Thursday, 7 October 2004 02:24 (twenty years ago) link

In Reverse is a fantastic album for many reasons, but I'll only offer two: Carol Kaye and Greg Leisz.

Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Thursday, 7 October 2004 02:26 (twenty years ago) link

CLASSIC for the trilogy of Girlfriend, Altered Beast, and 100% Fun, even tho they're just a tinch spotty. (They woulda made two EXCELLENT LPs!) With his relentlessly angelic, sunny-to-the-point-of-preciousness singing voice, he was possibly the most accurately-named rocker ever, down to his nomenclature of "Matthew" as opposed to the scruffier "Matt". His singing would have approached the point of nausea if left unchecked. Which is why he hired those great, noisy lead guitarists Robert Quine and Richard Lloyd for balance. "Evangeline" is most excellent.

Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Thursday, 7 October 2004 10:14 (twenty years ago) link

Girlfriend, absolutely classic, along with his cover of the song of "magnet & steel"- it's on some soundtrack.
Other than that, each album has had a few good songs, but he might need to change over to a steady diet of EPs- "son of altered beast" was better than altered beast, for example.

mclaugh (mclaugh), Thursday, 7 October 2004 16:35 (twenty years ago) link

Never cared about "Girlfriend" but "Superdeformed" is absolutely fantastic.

joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Thursday, 7 October 2004 17:43 (twenty years ago) link

I don't know him, but he has the same last name as me, so he must be good!!! :)

JTS, Thursday, 7 October 2004 18:52 (twenty years ago) link

Classic - I'm not normally into this kind of pop-rock but "Time Capsule" the pinnacle of MS's brilliance. I've also had the pleasure of meeting him and he indeed lives up to his name.

Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 7 October 2004 20:28 (twenty years ago) link

"Sick of Myself" is perfect pop.

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 7 October 2004 20:34 (twenty years ago) link

Classic. And Spencer is totally OTM about that track.

Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 7 October 2004 21:48 (twenty years ago) link

"100% Fun" cannot be given away in North America. Along with "What's The Story Morning Glory" and that album by the Rembrants with the Friends theme, it is the most commonly observed in huge piles priced 49 cents. Pawn shops, junk stores and thrift stores like to stack their dozens of copies close to the door, hoping they will be stolen.

everything, Thursday, 7 October 2004 22:24 (twenty years ago) link

thank you, 'everything' for your interesting insight into the retail trends concerning matthew sweet's release entitled "100% fun". shall we turn our attention to, oh i dunno, the MUSIC for a change? ok thk bye

Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 7 October 2004 22:33 (twenty years ago) link

Perhaps insight into the music can be gleaned from the suggestion that the record buying public bought all these albums for one song (Sick of Myself, Wonderwall and I'll Be There For You) and then found the rest of the contents to be unsatisfying.

everything, Thursday, 7 October 2004 22:38 (twenty years ago) link

i accept that thinking, but there are plenty of 'classic' albums readily available at used record/CD stores as well

Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Thursday, 7 October 2004 22:43 (twenty years ago) link

True, but not in the same massive quantities, and not so low priced. Honestly, "100% Fun" is the king of unsellable 2nd hand cds.

everything, Thursday, 7 October 2004 22:55 (twenty years ago) link

Also, I hold on to tons of albums which only have one song I like. And Morning Glory had a bunch of successful singles...

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 7 October 2004 22:57 (twenty years ago) link

what is this "north america" you speak of.

Hari Ashurst (Toaster), Thursday, 7 October 2004 22:57 (twenty years ago) link

Perhaps insight into the music can be gleaned from the suggestion that the record buying public bought all these albums for one song (Sick of Myself, Wonderwall and I'll Be There For You) and then found the rest of the contents to be unsatisfying.

Well in the case of 100% Fun, the taste of the record buying public = crap (also the label probably had too many manufactured).

wetmink (wetmink), Friday, 8 October 2004 01:50 (twenty years ago) link

Copies of 100% Fun pale severely in comparison to Jesus Jones' Doubt and Hootie's Cracked Rear View. Also close behind is R.E.M.'s Monster.

(Is there another thread for this subtopic?)

Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Friday, 8 October 2004 02:20 (twenty years ago) link

four weeks pass...
Recently picked up Sweet's next to latest release (originally only in Japan now avaliable domestically) Kimi Ga Suki. Recorded quickly over 2 weeks it makes a strong argument that Sweet's best stuff is under rather than overproduced. Still have to pick up his latest.

Jim Reckling (Jim Reckling), Sunday, 7 November 2004 23:53 (nineteen years ago) link

two years pass...

Let's revive this thread for this sadly underrated fellow. A few thoughts:

100% Fun may be his most consistent release in all. "Super Baby" is so stupid it's brilliant. But Altered Beast's "Someone To Pull the Trigger" may be his best song.

I was looking for my copy of In Reverse this am and couldn't find it, sadly. I'm not sure I would love the ProTools Spector production as much anymore, but there are some great tunes on it -- opener "Millennium Blues" and all the ELO-inspired stuff (he even namechecks "Message From the Country" on one track).

Naive Teen Idol, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 15:12 (seventeen years ago) link

He was opening for Robyn Hitchcock in 92 and my friends and I were at the front of the stage while some roadies were setting up for Sweet. I was telling them how I liked his contributions to the Golden Palominos but was unimpressed with his solo records.

The roadie was Sweet. He glared at me through his set.

Mr. Odd, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 16:04 (seventeen years ago) link

Also, Matthew Sweet's cover of "Every Night" on one of the McCartney tributes is outstanding.

Naive Teen Idol, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 17:56 (seventeen years ago) link

Without Quine and Lloyd he's just a nice boy, a second-tier songwriter; with them he's got something to prove, and often does.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 18:10 (seventeen years ago) link

A bit of an oversimplification, I think, Alfred.

Naive Teen Idol, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 18:27 (seventeen years ago) link

There's lots of forgettable songs – rote verses, mushy singing – on the "classic" trilogy (at least three per album).

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 18:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, figured it probably was him.

Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Wednesday, 23 October 2024 14:05 (one week ago) link

Also Adrienne Armstrong, who I presume is Billie Joe Armstrong's wife, and more from R.E.M.'s camp via Bertis Downs and Mike Mills (now the top donor)

birdistheword, Wednesday, 23 October 2024 16:25 (one week ago) link

Heartening to see this level of support for a good musician who by all accounts seems like a great dude, but it's a shame it has to even come to this. A good reminder that most of us in the good ol' USA are one unexpected illness or injury away from total insolvency

Paul Ponzi, Wednesday, 23 October 2024 17:02 (one week ago) link

yeah ain't that the sad truth :(

no surprise but always good to see further confirmation mike mills is a good dude

Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 23 October 2024 17:15 (one week ago) link

I had totally forgotten he was in Oh-OK.

clemenza, Wednesday, 23 October 2024 17:18 (one week ago) link

BTW, "Girlfriend" was released October 22, 1991.

Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 23 October 2024 17:32 (one week ago) link

They've reached the initial goal, just about -- new update from his manager:

We and Mattthew are overwhelmed with gratitude for the many generous donations and well-wishes from donors around the world in the last 48 hours. With your direct help, Matthew was able to check out of the hospital in Toronto and successfully return to Omaha on board a medical flight attended by two nurses with medical equipment to keep him stable. He was admitted into the rehabilitation hospital immediately where he is already being evaluated and tested so medical staff can prepare a more comprehensive rehabilitation plan this week. With each bill and test completed, we’re getting a clearer picture of the total cost of Matthew’s long, tough road to recovery. The funds raised to date will cover all of his medical expenses in Canada, the flight to Omaha and the first 28 days in rehab. We are raising our goal to $400,000 at this time with the hope that we can continue to cover Matthew’s medical and essential monthly expenses while he remains in day to day rehabilitation and recovery for an undetermined number of months in 2025. Needless to say, Matthew will not be able to return to performing concerts anytime soon. Your contributions are profoundly helpful to Matthew - he is fully aware of your generosity and has asked that I convey his deep appreciation to all of you who have helped him

Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 23 October 2024 21:39 (one week ago) link

Jim Parsons and Ben Gibbard also chipping in with nice donations. Biggest so far is from JAM Productions, which I didn't expect to see.

Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 24 October 2024 14:13 (one week ago) link

It's crazy for a 60 year old touring musician to not have health insurance.

Jordan s/t (Jordan), Thursday, 24 October 2024 14:56 (one week ago) link

I read somewhere that he's had some ongoing health issues that made it really cost prohibitive to get insured.

Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 24 October 2024 14:59 (one week ago) link

xpost -- yeah but...America. I guess I'm just not that surprised, sadly. Dick Dale essentially had to keep touring just so he could fund his dialysis treatment, for instance. It's a shitty world on that front!

Ned Raggett, Thursday, 24 October 2024 15:13 (one week ago) link

Tim Meadows and Susanna Hoffs coming up with big donations too. Currently over $343K raised.

birdistheword, Thursday, 24 October 2024 19:31 (one week ago) link

Go-Fund Me is up to 365 thousand now

curmudgeon, Friday, 25 October 2024 02:27 (one week ago) link

https://www.stageit.com/robyn_hitchcock_emma_swift/live_from_tubby_s_house_fundraiser_for_matthew_sweet/117098

Robyn Hitchcock is doing a live-streamed fundraiser - Live from Tubby's House on November 13, 2024

curmudgeon, Friday, 25 October 2024 02:31 (one week ago) link

Awesome.

Ned Raggett, Friday, 25 October 2024 04:02 (one week ago) link

I'm still shocked he was uninsured, not even catastrophic. I don't know the details of Obamacare, but isn't it based on income, and caps out at something like 8% of your annual income? I don't know Sweet's specific (pre-stroke) circumstance, but I thought the whole point of the ACA was to, well, make health care affordable.

Josh in Chicago, Friday, 25 October 2024 12:30 (one week ago) link

I don't think it's shocking at all that someone in this country without a 9-5 job with employer provided healthcare would be uninsured.

il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Friday, 25 October 2024 13:20 (one week ago) link

From Wikipedia: "In 1996, R.E.M. re-signed with Warner Bros. for a reported US$80 million, at the time the most expensive recording contract ever."

I absolutely don't want to cast shade on anyone, but it seems to me that Buck and Mills alone could have covered all of Sweet's expenses with barely a dent to their bank balances. It's great that they donated, but the sums they contributed... don't seem particularly generous for multi-millionaires? I dunno, I know his life is not their responsibility, and maybe I'm out of line here.

Vast Halo, Friday, 25 October 2024 14:31 (one week ago) link

Gotta leave open the possibility that some people are giving to the GoFundMe to encourage other people to give, but are also sending separate checks. If you publicize that you donated 5 figures or whatever, setting yourself up for lots of other people asking you for the same.

Blitz Primary (tipsy mothra), Friday, 25 October 2024 14:51 (one week ago) link

Yeah, you're right. I get that they don't want to make themselves targets.

Vast Halo, Friday, 25 October 2024 15:02 (one week ago) link

PBKR otm — rude to blame the victim of a stroke for their willingness to shell out for healthcare in this damn country.

Piggy Lepton (La Lechera), Friday, 25 October 2024 15:17 (one week ago) link

Unwillingness even

Piggy Lepton (La Lechera), Friday, 25 October 2024 15:17 (one week ago) link

In any event they're just a little over ten thousand away from the 400K goal. So I say look on the bright side here of a horrible situation -- people have stepped up.

Ned Raggett, Friday, 25 October 2024 15:46 (one week ago) link

It's not MS's fault that health care in the U.S. is so fucked, obviously, or that these sort of fundraisers are necessary. But it also always feels weird that their success is tied to social networks and fame, when I see friends in equally dire situations having trouble raising much, much smaller funds.

Jordan s/t (Jordan), Friday, 25 October 2024 16:29 (one week ago) link

That, absolutely, is terrible indeed.

Ned Raggett, Friday, 25 October 2024 16:37 (one week ago) link

I'm not blaming him at all! It's not his fault he had a stroke. I just thought Obamacare was supposed to solve this problem by being reasonable and affordable.

Josh in Chicago, Friday, 25 October 2024 17:01 (one week ago) link

Thanks Obama!

il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Friday, 25 October 2024 17:01 (one week ago) link

Jesus people, considering this is my industry I thought I should chime in. He doesn't even have Obamacare, he has No insurance whatsoever. There are approximately 50 million people on it but not every uninsured person are on it for whoever reason.

Bee OK, Friday, 25 October 2024 17:10 (one week ago) link

From Wikipedia: "In 1996, R.E.M. re-signed with Warner Bros. for a reported US$80 million, at the time the most expensive recording contract ever."

if there's one thing we can be sure about is that artists always get 100% percent of the big number thrown out on a press release and there's no fine print or label and management hijinks that could make the actual amount they get far less, and that the money is equally divided between all members

Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 25 October 2024 18:42 (one week ago) link

judd apatow gave 1000 less than mills and those two i guarantee aren't even on the same planet of wealth

Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 25 October 2024 18:43 (one week ago) link

So, do you reckon that Mike Mills is not a multi-millionaire? I'm not asking out of any hostility towards him, I'm just interested.

Vast Halo, Friday, 25 October 2024 19:07 (one week ago) link

Every member of REM is a multi millionaire.

Just read the Moon Unit book and Zappa didn't have insurance when he was diagnosed with cancer either.

Makes sense, when you have to pay out of pocket it's an outrageous amount per month that most people cant afford.

kurt schwitterz, Friday, 25 October 2024 19:09 (one week ago) link

When Zappa was around, sure. But now - and maybe Bee OK can correct or explain? - through the ACA I thought it was capped at around 8% of your income. So if you make, say, $60,000 a year, ACA cost would be about $5000 a year, which means around $400 a month? And at a certain lower income level medicaid takes over, right? Again, not blaming, trying to understand how this works, or why someone would be totally uninsured, because again as I understood it it scales reasonably with your income. Not saying this is the best solution, either, because it's not, but I thought the whole idea of the ACA was, in conjunction with medicaid, making health care somewhat accessible.

Josh in Chicago, Friday, 25 October 2024 19:20 (one week ago) link

As a person who pays out of pocket for healthcare I can assure you that decent (not catastrophic) healthcare is more expensive than $400/mo. Fuckin sucks!!!

Piggy Lepton (La Lechera), Friday, 25 October 2024 19:29 (one week ago) link

I'm guessing the erratic nature of his income didn't help things either.

Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 25 October 2024 19:30 (one week ago) link

Again, there are millions of uninsured people in this country. I can’t believe this has to be explained.

il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Friday, 25 October 2024 20:00 (one week ago) link

neither can I!!
$400 a month is a LOT for bottom of the barrel catastrophic coverage. you cannot blame (or IMO be vocally surprised/shocked by) a person who makes $60K for preferring to take their chances. and OF COURSE that is a risk but $400/month ($100/week) is a lot of money to fork over for coverage that only kicks in when catastrophe does. would you consider taking my word for it as a person who makes less than that annually, is not covered by either of my employers, and pays out of pocket? what more would you like to know?

Piggy Lepton (La Lechera), Friday, 25 October 2024 20:03 (one week ago) link

Anonymous $10k (!) donation just catapulted them over their $400k goal.

birdistheword, Friday, 25 October 2024 23:12 (one week ago) link

IIRC, as it was designed (or rather as the final compromised version was designed when it finally passed), Obamacare really needed to push everyone on to insurance in order for it to work, hence the original penalty where if you weren't uninsured, you'd be paying a penalty that was virtually the equivalent of being insured. (Something Roberts interpreted as a tax which ultimately saved the ACA from its Supreme Court legal challenge.) What the GOP was able to do once Obama wasn't around to veto their Congressional bills was zero out the penalty - so even though you're supposed to be insured, there was no longer a "tax" to collect if you weren't. So from that point on, one could be uninsured without worrying about a penalty.

I knew a few people who were in dire straits financially, trying to make it in NYC at some unpaid internship or as an actor on Broadway, etc., who actually stressed out when the ACA went into effect because they had been uninsured as a way of scraping together money. I think their peers were able to stay covered on their parents' insurance from work, but unfortunately these people had a different situation where that wasn't an option. I think they ended up borrowing money or something like that until they could get better jobs, but for an older guy like Sweet with a history of health problems, I imagine decent health coverage through the ACA would be far more expensive. One criticism of the ACA is that the most affordable plans don't really give the patient great health coverage. It really depends on the person, but I wouldn't be surprised if Sweet just thought whatever plan was available to him was financially untenable while providing inadequate health coverage.

birdistheword, Friday, 25 October 2024 23:29 (one week ago) link

Everyone gets kicked off their parents health insurance at age 26.

Bee OK, Friday, 25 October 2024 23:50 (one week ago) link

You can get your own beforehand but I don't think I have ever seen a policy, with their parents, past 26. Disability are different, just talking about most people.

Bee OK, Friday, 25 October 2024 23:52 (one week ago) link

That 26 cutoff was new w the ACA — i didn’t get that when I was in my early 20s. I was uninsured!

Piggy Lepton (La Lechera), Saturday, 26 October 2024 00:07 (one week ago) link

botched a sentence:

*weren't insured, you'd be paying a penalty that was virtually the equivalent of paying for insurance

birdistheword, Saturday, 26 October 2024 00:19 (one week ago) link

That 26 cutoff was new w the ACA — i didn’t get that when I was in my early 20s. I was uninsured!

Yup, that was one of the few things that actually gave Trump pause before he went ahead and demanded the GOP get rid of the ACA. No replacement, their campaign promises on that were bullshit - he and the GOP were just going to kick a lot of people out of their insurance plans and in many cases doom them. When the vote failed by ONE vote, they still had time to get rid of the ACA, all they needed to do was come up with an alternate plan, but they simply didn't give a shit about what would happen to people forced out of their insurance and didn't bother. I'll always remember this town hall where Ryan straight up lied to this guy's face and ultimately tried to do exactly what he said he wouldn't do, which is repeal the ACA with no replacement. (A former Republican who initially refused to comply with the ACA, this guy found out he had a curable form of cancer that would kill him in six weeks if left untreated. The only reason he was able to afford its costly treatment was insurance which he didn't have before and had to get it on his own a small business owner, and had the ACA never existed, he would not have been insured as companies routinely denied coverage to what were deemed pre-existing conditions. He thanked Obama and said he owed him his life.)

birdistheword, Saturday, 26 October 2024 00:32 (one week ago) link

New update:

Russell Carter here, Matthew's manager. Matthew is checked in and has already had a successful but tough first couple of days at the rehabilitation and therapy hospital back home in Omaha. After going through several rounds of testing and evaluations, we're thrilled to report he's begun physical and speech therapy. His doctors have told us with reasonable certainty that Matthew will need to remain in the hospital's care until early December at the soonest when he will then transfer to home care with a professional caretaker. That next stage of outpatient therapy will last anywhere from six months to a year. Furthermore, the doctors have told us he'll have to convert a den into a bedroom on the first floor of his house and upgrade the adjacent bathroom to be ADA compliant.

We've heard from many friends, fans, and doctors in the last few days who have shared stories of stroke victims who, over time and with perseverance, have made full recoveries. This is very heartening for all of us to hear. Our gratitude for the deluge of kindness and generosity toward Matthew in the last 72 hrs. is immense.

The chart posted at Matthew's bedside gives his basic vitals and measurement along with his primary therapy goal. Matthew's goal is not to walk and talk - it reads very clearly in black sharpie, "my goal is to play guitar and sing and make art". He is very determined and we all can put faith in that!

Ned Raggett, Saturday, 26 October 2024 00:33 (one week ago) link

They’ve updated the goal to $750,000, which honestly from the sound of it all makes sense.

Ned Raggett, Saturday, 26 October 2024 00:34 (one week ago) link

I'm in a coffee shop I mention a lot on the CVS thread, and they have a guy playing guitar who just did "Sick of Myself." After he finished, I went up to him and mentioned having contributed to the GoFundMe, and said how unfortunate this was. He said he loved Matthew Sweet, but from his response, I actually wasn't sure if he knew what happened.

clemenza, Saturday, 26 October 2024 16:24 (one week ago) link

"Sick Of Myself" greatest rock song of the past 30 years? sure, why not.

alpine static, Saturday, 26 October 2024 18:21 (one week ago) link

def not many songs with like five fake endings, that's for sure

Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 26 October 2024 18:51 (one week ago) link

Once upon a time, back in 1996, Matthew Sweet took time out of his life as a very popular recording artist to sing at our Wild Honey Pet Sounds/Friends Show at the El Rey Theatre. He was magnificent. He became a member of the extended Wild Honey Foundation family and remained so ever since. We take care of our own. Please support Wild Honey's benefit concert for his stroke recovery at McCabe's Guitar Shop on Sunday, November 10th. It is going to be unforgettable! Tickets are moving briskly.

Get tickets here

Matthew's musical friends and bandmates(past and present) have stepped up and immediately volunteered for this intimate event at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica. Bangles Debbi Peterson and Vicki Peterson, Dan Wilson, Richard Lloyd (Television), Val McCallum (Jackson Browne), Greg Leisz, Tony Marsico, John Moremen, Nick Vincent, Willie Aron, Lyn Bertles, Jim Laspesa, Gabi Lima, and possibly several surprise guests will perform an amazing evening of music to support and inspire Matthew in his recovery. It will be an unforgettable night in this very intimate venue. All performers subject to change

birdistheword, Friday, 1 November 2024 03:17 (yesterday) link


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