Amazingly enough, October is winding down and we’re heading into the colder months, which means most areas will be inundated with respiratory diseases like influenza, RSV, and COVID. This week, EHS Daily Advisor wrote about indoor air quality and preparing for respiratory disease season, so the Song of the Week is Matthew Sweet’s power pop classic. “Sick of Myself.”
After releasing two albums that got good reviews but didn’t sell well, Sweet’s third album, 1991’s Girlfriend, established him as one of alternative rock’s premier purveyors of catchy power pop. His next album, Altered Beast, was an excellent but dark affair that didn’t hit the same way as its predecessor.
Sweet followed that up in 1995 with 100% Fun and the lead single, “Sick of Myself,” was as catchy and great a song as he’s ever written. Although it’s not about being ill (rather, about having a crush on someone), it’s terrific.
And Sweet himself is dealing with poor health right now, having suffered a stroke while on tour in Canada earlier this month. Doctors in Toronto saved his life, but having no health insurance or touring income, Sweet needed to raise a significant amount of money to be flown back to the U.S. and receive care in a rehabilitation center. A GoFundMe launched by his representative has raised nearly $400,000 in just a few days from concerned friends and fans; Sweet is home now but faces a long road to recovery.
Here he is in happier times: