Released on 22 October 22, 1991 "Girlfriend," was the third studio album by US artist Matthew Sweet, it became his most successful release, earning widespread critical acclaim. The album spawned the singles "Divine Intervention", "Girlfriend" & "I've Been Waiting."
The record was crafted in 1990 in the wake of his divorce; the experience served as a form of catharsis, helping him process the pain of losing his wife. Indeed, it was this very depression that fueled the creation of what would become one of the crowning achievements of his career. The album featured contributions from Richard Lloyd (formerly of the band Television) and Robert Quine. Their involvement lent the record a pop sensibility while maintaining a strong emphasis on noisy, aggressive guitars—a sound that leaned into the realm of power pop, reminiscent of early Neil Young or Television.
This direction was championed by producer Fred Maher, who opted for a stripped-back, sparse aesthetic—eschewing heavy reverb—to evoke the production style of George Martin’s work with The Beatles. A great creative energy permeated the sessions, allowing the musicians' performances to flow with unprecedented intensity; it unleashed a raw, inner fire that had been desperate for an outlet. By the end, the participants were left physically and emotionally exhausted.
Furthermore, the use of vintage instruments and amplifiers was essential in achieving the album's distinct sonic atmosphere. Three singles were released from the album: "Divine Intervention," "Girlfriend," and "I've Been Waiting." The music video for the title track received significant airplay on MTV and Night Tracks and the video featured footage of the band interspersed with clips from the Japanese anime film "Space Adventure Cobra: The Movie", with a particular focus on the female character Jane Royal. For the single "I've Been Waiting," the video incorporated clips from "Urusei Yatsura," especifically featuring the character Lum Invader.
Other notable tracks on the album included "Evangeline" and "Your Sweet Voice," both of which were produced with a vinyl-like, phonographic sound to evoke the feel of a vintage 1960s record. These songs also had specific inspirations: "Evangeline" was dedicated to the comic book character of the same name—told from the perspective of the character Johnny Six—while "Winona" was dedicated to the actress Winona Ryder.
The album became a commercial successful and earned critical acclaim, with reviewers hailing it as the finest power pop of the moment. It reached No. 100 on the Billboard 200, while its singles secured prominent positions on the Modern Rock Tracks and Mainstream Rock charts. Also noteworthy is the excellent, elegant cover art, which features an image of actress Tuesday Weld from the late 1950s; the album was originally going to be titled "Nothing Lasts," but it was renamed "Girlfriend" following an objection from Weld herself.
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