The cover of "Girlfriend" is a photo of actress Tuesday Weld

It’s amazing to say that it’s been 20 years since the release of Girlfriend, the third and most critically acclaimed album by Matthew Sweet. Breaking through during a narrow window of time in which music from the 80s had been discarded in favor of grunge and alternative rock, Girlfriend ended up high on commercial radio charts, and even MTV seized on Matthew’s anime-themed music videos and played them non-stop (nearly a decade before, we might add, Daft Punk had success with the same trick.)

The album was recorded in NYC and features incredible solos and musicianship from the lines of Robert Quine, Richard Lloyd, Greg Leisz, Lloyd Cole, Rick Menck and Fred Maher. This year Matthew has been touring the US, playing songs from the album in their original ordering, with backup from long time touring bandmates Paul Chastain (bass) and Ric Menck (drums). But who, in the wake of Robert Quine’s tragic death in 2004, would be providing the signature guitar solos? Dennis Taylor. Who? Dennis is a gem of a find – he was discovered by Matthew whilst guitar teching for the Bangles, and went on to help Matthew record his latest record, Modern Art.

See an excellent interview of Matthew Sweet by the AV Club, which includes an acoustic performance of “I’ve Been Waiting.” It’s clear that as an album, Girlfriend holds up and lives on even 20 years after its release.

Favorite tracks: _2_ I’ve Been Waiting, _10_ I Wanted to Tell You, 6 Evangeline, 9 You Don’t Love Me, 12 Your Sweet Voice, 3 Girlfriend
Label: Zoo Entertainment (defunct), rereleased by Legacy Recordings/Volcano
RIYL: Velvet Crush, The Replacements, Game Theory, The Lemonheads

After 2007′s Calling the World and a tour in 2008, Rooney departed from Geffen Records and did their own thing. Taylor Locke, guitarist for the band, put in a lot of time with his band The Roughs, and ended up hanging out quite a bit with our pal Bleu. They released an EP in 2009, and finally in 2010, they released Eureka, through Warner’s independent label, California Dreamin’ Records. Rooney is still the same band that brought us “Blueside” and “Calling the World”, and it shows on Eureka. Here’s the music video for the leading single “Holdin’ On”:

Favorite tracks: _5_ All Or Nothing, 2 I Can’t Get Enough, 12 Don’t Look at Me, 1 Holdin’ On
Label: California Dreamin’ Records / Rooney Music
RIYL:  Weezer, Ocean Colour Scene, Fountains of Wayne

Last year, the revered power pop supergroup from Vancouver, The New Pornographers, released their fifth album on Matador Records. It is called “Together”, and in the span of twelve tracks it covers the distinct influences of all of its members – A.C. Newman’s cryptic lyrics, Neko Case’s charmingly cheerful choruses, Dan Bejar’s awkwardly beautiful songwriting, Kurt Dahle’s unmistakably persistent drumming.. it’s only right that the band end the album with a song calling “We End Up Together.”

In the video below, feel free to skip over the first :17 or so, and then watch a ludicrously funny trailer for a non-existent movie: “Moves: The Rise and Rise of the New Pornographers.” Directed by noted comedian and radio host Tom Scharpling (WFMU, Monk, etc.), it features all manner of TV celebrities and musicians taking on the roles of characters from the band.. and then some! Witness, for example, Ted Leo tarted up in the role of bandmate Kathryn Calder. The trailer takes “mockumentary” to a new level, perhaps best described as “crockumentary.” See it for yourself:

Favorite tracks: _1_ Moves, _2_ Crash Years, _10_ A Bite Out of my Bed
Label: Matador Records
RIYL:  The Gay, Sloan, Brendan Benson, The Wondermints