It seems like forever since Matthew Sweet was one of pop music’s major stars in the wake of his critical and commercial smash hit “Girlfriend.” Sweet’s long-awaited new CD, “Living Things,” won’t return him to commercial glory, but that’s not because it’s devoid of great tunes. On “Sunlight” Sweet skillfully blends warm vocal harmonies, chiming guitars and psychedelic keyboards into a gloriously tuneful beam of sound. The simmering riff that propels “I Saw Red” helps make it one of Sweet’s best brooding, edgy rockers, while the gently autumnal “Season Is Over” perfectly embodies the poignant lyricism that’s long been one of his trademarks. However, “Living Things” also includes some offbeat tunes that extend Sweet’s artistic range at the expense of his oft-cited charm. The chugging, driving “Dandelion” rides a rote riff without ever resolving into a hook, and the bouncy “Cats Vs. Dogs” is whimsical without being witty, lively without being catchy. Still, “Living Things” is Sweet’s strongest album since “Altered Beast.”
