The aforementioned "Millenium Blues" segues effortlessly into "If Time Permits", one of four songs here in which Sweet pays loving tribute to Phil Spector's infamous "Wall of Sound". This delicious production style is the last thing I expected after the nearly unrelenting crunch of his previous two albums (Blue Sky on Mars and 100% Fun), but it's a perfect match for Sweet's songs of (usually unrequited) love. The recipe: mix pianos, organs, electric and acoustic guitars, and acoustic and electric bass. Stir in harpsichord (a/k/a "tack piano"), theremin, and a dash of sleigh bells. Bring the melodious mess to a boil, let it simmer, and top with multiple layers of Matthew's heavenly harmonies.

Lest you think that Matthew has gone all soft and sentimental on us, there's still a bit of the old Sturm und Drang in the form of "Faith in You", the first single "What Matters", and the caustic "Write Your Own Song." He hasn't forgotten how to rock, but I think this album is worth buying on the merit of the aforementioned pop songs alone. The only false note is the finale ("Thunderstorm"), which clocks in at 9:37 and seems even longer. Strip that away, and you still have 46 minutes of wonderful music that will resonate in your head long after the CD player has been turned off.