I bought Girlfriend when it was released after seeing and being captivated by this Japanese anime influenced video for the title track on a TV music show. Wow I thought. It sounded and looked amazing. We were living in Taupo at the time and I had to wait for a business trip to Hamilton to get a copy of the CD. Wow again. A collection of 70's sounding US powerpop a la Big Star, The Raspberries and The Plimsouls but with perhaps even better songwriting. It is one of a number of albums that, over the years when I see a cheap copy I snap it up and then give it to friends I think will appreciate it.
One of the standout things about the album though is the stunning musicianship - Sweet managed to pull together an incredible mix of talent including Robert Quine and Richard Lloyd on guitars (perhaps the best pairing since Lloyd and Verlaine), Fred Maher and Greg Leisz - amazing for pretty much an unknown.
The original album had 15 tracks and the quality just did not let up. From the opening Divine Intervention, through Girlfriend, Looking at the Sun, Winona, Day for Night, Does She talk and Holy War this is just a startling and sparkling album that jumps out of whatever you are playing it on.
Last year a truncated vinyl edition was released and while it sounds amazing I would have happily paid double if they had added the last three tracks and maybe some of the Goodfriend disc as well. Nevertheless it does sound stunning.
The good thing is there was better to come!
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