This spring, Intervention Records announced a highly anticipated new endeavor:  a series of Matthew Sweet SACD and 2-LP reissues, encompassing his entire recorded output from 1991-1995.  The Second Disc was able to hear the two-disc vinyl configuration of the release that kicked off the series:  an expanded edition of Sweet's 1995 album, 100% Fun.

Originally released on the Zoo Entertainment label, the album has seen surprisingly few reissues over the years. Music On Vinyl released a comparatively bare-bones single-LP version a few years ago.  Zoo released a deluxe CD version in 1995 that added two bonus tracks--"Sense of Adventure" and "Slowly"--packaged it with a Manga-inspired comic strip, and dubbed it 100% Fun + 16.66% Extra Fun!  These two tracks had never been pressed to vinyl, until now.

Created in partnership with Matthew Sweet himself, Intervention Records' new reissue of the power-pop classic brings those '90s bonus tracks to vinyl for the first time, and adds five more rarities from the vault.  The 2-LP set is presented with the same quality and meticulous attention to detail that continues to set the label apart from the pack.  The collection was mastered by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound, pressed at RTI on dead-quiet, 180-gram vinyl, and presented in a beautiful, heavy-stock, "old-style" gatefold sleeve that was printed at Stoughton.  The art has been lovingly restored by Intervention's own Tom Vadakan and has been film-laminated to look better than ever.  Right out of the gate, the album screams "high-quality" and is set apart from any prior reissue.

Indeed, the packaging and presentation make the perfect complement to the excellent music within.  Matthew Sweet wrote all the songs 100% Fun, and he plays many of the instruments.  Backing him up on the album are Robert Quine and Richard Lloyd on guitars, Greg Leisz on lap steel, pedal steel, and mandolin, Brendan O'Brien on guitars and keyboards, as well as Stuart Johnson and Ric Menck on drums.  The album's title belies the sometimes foreboding and self-loathing lyrics, which are delivered to a punchy, hook-filled, power-pop backdrop--each track catchy and compelling.  Yet, behind the jangle, 100% Fun has a decidedly experimental feel.  Sweet's sonic collaboration with producer Brendan O'Brien yields an album full of dense timbres--guitars galore, swirling synths, Mellotron samples, huge drum sounds, thunderous bass...  In all, it's an album of well-written rock music that feels equal parts familiar and off-kilter.

One standout on the album is "Not When I Need It."  It's a passionate and introspective rock ballad built around a beautiful melding of crunchy and jangly guitar textures, plus the inimitable Greg Leisz on double-tracked electric lap steel guitar.  The instruments steadily building to an emotional chorus, followed by an expressive and emotive guitar solo.  Somehow, all the dense components are given a space to shine in this new reissue, shedding light on the complexities of the track, especially when it comes to the multi-tracked a cappella vocals that close the song.

The power-pop goodness continues with the Byrds-y "We're the Same," with its close harmonies and 12-string electric and acoustic guitars.  "Giving It Back" spotlights Sweet's talents for crunchy riff-rock and features Richard Lloyd (ex-Television) on lead guitar.

Side One concludes with "Lost My Mind."  It's a dense and atmospheric stand-out, full of heavy guitars, syncopated clavinet, spaced-out Theremin and Mellotron, and slithering, interweaving guitar solos from Richard Lloyd and Robert Quine.  It's here that Brendan O'Brien's production really goes off the wall, at times evoking early Pink Floyd.  The track evolves into a sinister and spooky soundscape that feels like it could swirl into total chaos at any moment, before it all unexpectedly drops out to reveal one lone clavinet.  Indeed, oddball instrument combinations pop up all over the album, from the Leslie'd slide guitar on the hard-grooving "Walk Out," to the synthesizer samples on "Super Baby."  Across the board, 100% Fun proves itself to be an engaging and surprising experience, one that stands up to several repeat listens.

But on Intervention Records' new reissue, the fun doesn't end with the album proper.  Longtime fans will be pleased to know that the label has also included a 7-track bonus disc of extra tracks.  These are pressed on equally eerily silent 180-gram vinyl, this time playing at 45rpm.  Boasting international tracks, unreleased demos, and alternate mixes, these bonus cuts shine a light on Sweet's creative process and work surprisingly well as a stand-alone mini-album.  Whether it be "Sense of Adventure," the frantic, driving rocker from that "Manga comic" edition of 100% Fun, the stripped-down alternate take of "Walk Out," or the sparse harmonies and harpsichords co-mingling on the heartbreaking "Slowly," these bonuses are worth the price of admission.  Like the album proper, this bonus disc is presented with great sonics that really complement the quality of music and production.

All told, the team at Intervention Records has delivered a beautiful listening experience with their new 2-LP edition of 100% Fun.  The music still retains its trademark power-pop punch but thanks to the new mastering, there's a greater sense of proximity and clarity.  This enhanced sonic quality allows the listener to be completely engrossed in all the album's subtleties and quirks--and there are many to be found!  Between the great songcraft, the illuminating extras, the beautiful pressing, and the first-rate packaging, Intervention's new 100% Fun is a collection that begs to be enjoyed again and again.  Without doubt, the definitive presentation of this music.  Our hats off to Intervention for another stellar release.

Matthew Sweet, 100% Fun: Expanded Edition (Zoo 72445-11081-2, 1995 - reissued Intervention, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Side One

1. Sick of Myself
2. Not When I Need It
3. We're the Same
4. Giving It Back
5. Everything Changes
6. Lost My Mind

Side Two

1. Come to Love
2. Walk Out
3. I Almost Forgot
4. Super Baby
5. Get Older
6. Smog Moon

Side Three (bonus tracks)

1. Sense of Adventure
2. Slowly
3. Breaks My Heart

Side Four (bonus tracks)

1. Walk Out (Alternate Mix)
2. Never Said Goodbye
3. You
4. Our Song