Hidden gems from Matt Jones’ record collection: "In this column, I want to shine a light on the essential hidden gems in my record collection. Albums that might not always get the spotlight, but have stayed close to me over years of listening."

I came about discovering Matthew Sweet's Girlfriend at the CD rental section of Mentone Video Store. I used to rent 10 CDs for $10 in the ’90s, I think. The ’90s is a bit blurry still… yes.

That idea has since gone the way of VHS tapes, but what an album I discovered.

While it earned critical acclaim on release and enjoys cult status among power-pop devotees, it still feels strangely absent from most 'greatest albums of the ’90s' conversations. That's a shame, because Girlfriend is one of the finest examples of melodic guitar pop ever committed to vinyl.0

Why is Matthew Sweet's Girlfriend a hidden gem?

What makes Girlfriend a hidden gem isn't just Sweet's songwriting. It's the extraordinary cast of musicians who elevate great songs into something genuinely special.

Matthew Sweet wrote the songs, but Girlfriend became magical thanks to two legendary guitarists, Richard Lloyd (Television) and Robert Quine (Lou Reed, Richard Hell).

Lloyd brings melody, colour and classic rock feel. Quine brings jagged, unpredictable leads that seem to fly off in unexpected directions. Their playing constantly pushes against Sweet's sunny melodies, creating tension and excitement.

Most power-pop records live and die on hooks. Girlfriend succeeds because every track contains not only memorable melodies but also guitar performances that reward repeated listening. More than thirty years later, those guitar parts are still revealing new details.

At its core, Girlfriend is a breakup record. Sweet was navigating the collapse of his marriage, and the songs swing between heartbreak, vulnerability, anger and optimism. But it never sounds sad or depressing. Instead, the optimism shines through, like Matthew is looking forward to the future.

My favourite tracks:

‘Girlfriend’

The title track is one of the great power-pop singles.

It starts with a burst of energy and never lets up. Sweet's yearning vocal sits atop chiming guitars before Quine and Lloyd begin weaving their magic. The solo alone is worth the price of admission.

This is the song everyone knows, but it still sounds fresh more than three decades later.

‘Divine Intervention’

A darker and more introspective track featuring some of the album's strongest lyrics. The contrast between the vulnerable verses and soaring chorus showcases Sweet's gift for making emotional pain sound uplifting.

‘I've Been Waiting’

Possibly the album's most underrated song.

The melody feels effortless, the chorus is enormous, and the guitar interplay is sublime. If power pop has a textbook example of how to build a perfect pop song, this is it.

‘Day for Night’

One of the emotional centrepieces of the record. Reflective and melancholic, it demonstrates Sweet's ability to write songs that linger long after they've ended.

‘Winona’

A fan favourite that combines dreamy melodies with some of the album's most adventurous guitar work. This one is also about Winona Ryder.

‘Thought I Knew You’

Perhaps the purest expression of heartbreak on the album. Sweet's vocals are particularly effective here, conveying disappointment without bitterness.

Who would have known when I rented 10 CDs for $10 back in the ’90s that I would have discovered a classic? This album really is, in the opinion of this writer, a classic, and stands alongside Nevermind, Blood Sugar Sex Magik and Ten as one of the great guitar albums of the ’90s.

What makes this album a fave of mine is the wonderful songs and the guitar playing of Lloyd and Quine. It's a masterclass in how great musicians can take great songs and make them special.

This album is around on vinyl, but if you can find one, get the ripper Intervention reissue from 2019. Remastered from the analogue tapes, with wonderful notes, it really lets the music sing.

Till next time, keep spinning.

Stream the album