Music Library: Matthew Friedberger, Matthew Shipp, Matthew Sweet

Matthew Friedberger - Winter Women/Holy Ghost Language School (2006). Friedberger is the brother half of the Fiery Furnaces.  On these albums (the plural seems unnecessary because this is really one album with two parts), Friedberger makes music that is sometimes annoying and sometimes inspired and really in bad need of an editor.

Matthew Shipp - Harmony and Abyss (2004). The Allmusic review considers this to be outside of the realm of jazz.  That seems like an ok assessment on the face of it, but it also seems to be shutting a door.  Shipp is interested in electronic rhythms and sounds, but he's fundamentally a jazz artist.  And this is fundamentally a jazz album.  A pretty interesting one.

Matthew Sweet - Girlfriend (1991), Altered Beast (1993), and Son of Altered Beast (1994).  Matthew Sweet is well-named for his ability to wreak sweet pop into the heart of even his most slashing song.  All of these songs slash and burn their way through beautiful melodies and exquisite harmonies with guitars provided by Robert Quine, Richard Lloyd, and Ivan Julian.  Fan-freakin-tastic.