Matt Sweeney (born July 2, 1969) is an American musician and record producer best known as a guitarist of
Skunk
Skunks are mammals in the family Mephitidae. They are known for their ability to spray a liquid with a strong, unpleasant scent from their anal glands. Different species of skunk vary in appearance from black-and-white to brown, cream or gi ...
,
Chavez, and supergroup
Zwan
Zwan was an American alternative rock supergroup that was formed by Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin, lead singer/guitarist and drummer of The Smashing Pumpkins respectively, after they disbanded in December 2000. Other members included bassis ...
.
Early life and education
Sweeney was born in
New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York (state), New York; on the ea ...
. His father was John D. Sweeney, a professor of Medieval English at
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University (SHU) is a private Catholic research university in South Orange, New Jersey. Founded in 1856 by then-Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley and named after his aunt, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Seton Hall is the oldest dioces ...
who was also an avid musician.
His mother,
Katharine Sweeney Hayden
Katharine Sweeney Hayden (born May 30, 1942) is an American attorney and jurist serving as Senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Early life and education
Born in New York City, ...
, is a federal judge.
Sweeney's parents divorced after 20 years of marriage.
He has an older brother, Gregory Sweeney, who is a musician who works on the TV show ''
Kitchen Nightmares
''Kitchen Nightmares'' is an American reality television series formerly broadcast on the Fox network, in which chef Gordon Ramsay is invited by the owners to spend a week with a failing restaurant in an attempt to revive the business. Produced ...
.''
He grew up in
Maplewood and
South Orange
South Orange, officially the Township of South Orange Village, is a suburban township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the village's population was 16,198, reflecting a decline of 766 (4.5%) fr ...
,
New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York (state), New York; on the ea ...
. He attended
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world.
Chart ...
before dropping out.
Career
Sweeney's high school band
Skunk
Skunks are mammals in the family Mephitidae. They are known for their ability to spray a liquid with a strong, unpleasant scent from their anal glands. Different species of skunk vary in appearance from black-and-white to brown, cream or gi ...
released two albums on Twin/Tone records ("Last American Virgin" in 1989 and the posthumous "Laid", both out of print). In the nineties he recorded and performed as a singer and guitarist with
math rock
Math rock is a style of progressive and indie rock with roots in bands such as King Crimson and Rush as well as 20th-century minimal music composers such as Steve Reich. It is characterized by complex, atypical rhythmic structures (including ...
band
Chavez, releasing a seven-inch ("Repeat the Ending" b/w "Hack the Sides Away") two albums (1995's ''
Gone Glimmering
''Gone Glimmering'' is the debut studio album of American indie rock band Chavez. It was released on Matador Records on May 23, 1995. According to the liner notes, the album was recorded over weekends in December '94 and January '95 at various ...
'' and 1996's ''
Ride the Fader
''Ride the Fader'' is the second and last studio album by American indie rock band Chavez. It was released on Matador Records on November 5, 1996. The album is considered by most fans and critics to be the band's best work.
Critical reception ...
'') and one EP (1995"s ''Pentagram Ring'') on the Matador label. Chavez did several short tours in the United States and Europe between 1994 and 1997.
When Chavez slowed down Sweeney filled in on bass guitar for
Guided By Voices on the "
Under the Bushes, Under the Stars
''Under the Bushes Under the Stars'' is the ninth Guided by Voices album overall, and the last until 2012's Let's Go Eat the Factory to feature the "classic" lineup including Tobin Sprout, Mitch Mitchell, and Kevin Fennell in addition to leader ...
" tour. He also provided vocals on the song "Quicksilver" on Guided By Voices leader
Robert Pollard
Robert Ellsworth Pollard Jr. (born October 31, 1957) is an American singer and songwriter who is the leader and creative force behind indie rock group Guided by Voices. In addition to his work with Guided by Voices, he continues to have a prol ...
's first solo album ''
Not in My Airforce
''Not in My Airforce'' (1996) is the debut solo album by American indie rock musician Robert Pollard, released simultaneously with Tobin Sprout's '' Carnival Boy'', just as the "classic" Guided by Voices lineup was dissolving.Robert Pollardat Dis ...
'' LP. The late '90s found him continuing to work a day job and touring with
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Joseph Will Oldham (born January 15, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded in collaboration with dozens of other musicians under variations of Palace (Palace, Palace Flophouse, Palace Br ...
as a guitarist.
Sweeney's work has taken him across a variety of musical genres. Starting in 2000 he turned up on
Cat Power
Charlyn Marie "Chan" Marshall ( ; born January 21, 1972), better known by her stage name Cat Power, is an American singer- songwriter, musician and model. Cat Power was originally the name of her first band, but has become her stage name as ...
's ''
The Covers Record
''The Covers Record'' is the fifth album by Cat Power, the stage name and eponymous band of American singer-songwriter Chan Marshall. It was released in 2000 on Matador Records.
The album consists entirely of cover songs, with the exception of ...
'', playing guitar on "Salty Dog", and a couple of Bonnie "Prince" Billy singles (percussion on "A Whorehouse Is Any House" and guitar and vocals on "Little Boy Blue"). In 2001 he started playing and writing with
Billy Corgan
William Patrick Corgan Jr. (born March 17, 1967) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and professional wrestling promoter. He is best known as the lead singer, primary songwriter, guitarist, and only permanent member of the rock band th ...
and
Jimmy Chamberlin
James Joseph Chamberlin (born June 10, 1964) is an American drummer and record producer. He is best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. Following the 2000 breakup of the band, Chamberlin joined Pumpkins fro ...
in what was to become
Zwan
Zwan was an American alternative rock supergroup that was formed by Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin, lead singer/guitarist and drummer of The Smashing Pumpkins respectively, after they disbanded in December 2000. Other members included bassis ...
. He collaborated with Billy Corgan on the soundtrack to the movie ''
Spun
''Spun'' is a 2002 American black comedy crime drama film directed by Jonas Åkerlund from an original screenplay by William De Los Santos and Creighton Vero, based on three days of De Los Santos's life in the Eugene, Oregon, drug subculture. Th ...
'', singing the movie's opening song, a cover of Iron Maiden's "Number of the Beast". He was also featured as a guitarist and backing vocalist on Bonnie "Prince" Billy's ''Ease Down The Road'' album. He lent a helping hand to
Dave Grohl
David Eric Grohl (born January 14, 1969) is an American musician. He is the founder of the rock band Foo Fighters, in which he is the lead singer, guitarist, and principal songwriter. Prior to forming Foo Fighters, he was the drummer of gru ...
in assembling the all-star heavy metal album
Probot
Probot was a heavy metal side project of ex-Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters rhythm guitarist and lead-singer Dave Grohl. Described by Grohl as "a death metal ''Supernatural''", the album mixes instrumentals recorded by Grohl himself with variou ...
, tracking down the legendary singers and providing some guitar work (the Probot album was not released until 2004, on
Southern Lord
Southern Lord is an American heavy metal record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson. It specialized in experimental metal: particularly doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal. The label later expanded its line-up to include a ...
records). Sweeney recorded and toured with Zwan from late 2001–2003. He is credited as providing guitar, vocal, and some songwriting on Zwan's album ''
Mary Star of the Sea''.
After Zwan's breakup, Sweeney played guitar with Bonnie "Prince" Billy for several tours in 2004. January 2005 saw the release of their collaboration ''
Superwolf'' on
Drag City.
Sweeney and Bonnie toured behind the Superwolf record in the U.S. and Europe. 2005 also saw Sweeney producing heavy metal band
Early Man's debut album, ''
Closing In
''Closing In'' is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Early Man, released on October 11, 2005. There are clear influences from heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath and thrash metal bands like Metallica. Mike Conte's vocal style ...
''. The following year found Sweeney working in both the country music and hip-hop scenes, providing guitar work, along with
Mike Campbell and
Smokey Hormel
Smokey Hormel (born circa 1959)Cohen (2017) quotes Hormel as saying he was "4 or 5 ears old when "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles was "a big hit on the radio"; the song was released in America in December 1963. is an American guitarist ...
, on the
Johnny Cash
John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American Country music, country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later s ...
album ''
American V: A Hundred Highways'' and appearing with
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo (YLT; Spanish for "I have her") is an American indie rock band formed in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1984. Since 1992, the lineup has consisted of Ira Kaplan (guitars, piano, vocals), Georgia Hubley (drums, piano, vocals), and James McN ...
bass player
James McNew
James McNew is an American musician. He has been the bass player for the rock band Yo La Tengo since their 1992 album, '' May I Sing with Me''.
He was previously a member of the band Christmas, being featured on their third album ''Vortex''.
...
and
Def Jux
Definitive Jux was a record label based in New York City. It was co-founded in 1999 by El-P and Amaechi Uzoigwe.
History
Definitive Jux was initially known as Def Jux. However, popular hip hop label Def Jam Recordings sued Def Jux over the nam ...
founder
El-P
Jaime Meline (born March 2, 1975), better known by the stage name El-P (shortened from his previous stage name El Producto), is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Starting his career as a member of Company Flow, he has been a ...
, as guest artists on the first track of rapper
Cage
A cage is an enclosure often made of mesh, bars, or wires, used to confine, contain or protect something or someone. A cage can serve many purposes, including keeping an animal or person in captivity, capturing an animal or person, and display ...
's album ''
Hell's Winter
''Hell's Winter'' is the second solo studio album by American rapper Cage (rapper), Cage. It was released by Definitive Jux on September 20, 2005. It peaked at number 26 on the ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Heatseekers Albums chart, as well a ...
''. He also played guitar on the
Dixie Chicks
The Chicks (previously known as Dixie Chicks) are an American country music band from Dallas, Texas. Since 1995, the band has consisted of Natalie Maines (lead vocals, guitar) and sisters Martie Maguire (vocals, fiddle, mandolin, guitar) and ...
' ''
Taking the Long Way
''Taking the Long Way'' is the seventh studio album by American country music group Dixie Chicks. Released on May 23, 2006, through Columbia Nashville, it was also the group's last album released under the “Dixie Chicks” name. The album debut ...
'' album. In addition, he became a member of apocalyptic Christian folk legends
Current 93
Current 93 are an English experimental music group, working since the early 1980s in folk-based musical forms. The band was founded in 1982 by David Tibet, who has been Current 93's only constant member.
Background
Tibet has been the only cons ...
's touring group, playing shows in Europe in support of the ''
Black Ships Ate The Sky
''Black Ships Ate the Sky'' is a 2006 album by the UK-based musical ensemble Current 93. The album features numerous guest vocalists, such as Anohni, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Marc Almond, and Shirley Collins. It features nine versions of the 1816 ...
'' album. He also recorded with longtime friend
Andrew W.K.
Andrew Fetterly Wilkes-Krier (born May 9, 1979), known professionally as Andrew W.K., is an American conceptual Performance Artist, performance artist, Rock music, rock singer, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and actor. Raised in Michi ...
for W.K.'s ''
Close Calls With Brick Walls'' album.
In 2007 Sweeney again collaborated with
El-P
Jaime Meline (born March 2, 1975), better known by the stage name El-P (shortened from his previous stage name El Producto), is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Starting his career as a member of Company Flow, he has been a ...
, this time alongside
Omar Rodríguez-López
Omar Alfredo Rodríguez-López (born September 1, 1975) is an American guitarist and songwriter. He has formed or played in several bands, including the Mars Volta, At the Drive-In, Antemasque, and Bosnian Rainbows. He was the bassist for th ...
and
Cedric Bixler-Zavala
Cedric Bixler-Zavala (born November 4, 1974) is an American singer and songwriter. He is the lead singer and lyricist of the progressive rock band The Mars Volta and the only constant member of the post-hardcore group At the Drive-In, for whic ...
of
Mars Volta, on El-P's 2007 album, ''
I'll Sleep When You're Dead
''I'll Sleep When You're Dead'' is the second solo studio album by American hip hop artist El-P. It was released through Definitive Jux on March 20, 2007. It peaked at number 78 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, selling about 11,000 copies in its f ...
''.
In early 2009 Sweeney formed The Brill Sisters with Andrew W.K. and producer
Don Fleming. They played their first show (without Fleming) at Santos Party House on April 2, 2009. The entire group performed on April 21.
In 2016, Sweeney toured with
Iggy Pop
James Newell Osterberg Jr. (born April 21, 1947), known professionally as Iggy Pop, is an American singer, musician, songwriter and actor. Called the " Godfather of Punk", he was the vocalist and lyricist of proto-punk band The Stooges, who w ...
,
Josh Homme
Joshua Michael Homme ( ; born May 17, 1973) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as the founder, primary songwriter, and only continuous member of the rock band Queens of the Stone Age, which he for ...
as well as
Matt Helders
Matthew Helders (born 7 May 1986) is an English drummer, vocalist and songwriter. He is best known as a founding member of the indie rock band Arctic Monkeys, with whom he has recorded seven studio albums.
In 2015, Helders collaborated with Ig ...
to support their album ''
Post Pop Depression
''Post Pop Depression'' is the seventeenth studio album by American rock singer Iggy Pop, released by Caroline International / Loma Vista Recordings on March 18, 2016. Produced by Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, the album was recorded in ...
''.
Production work
Sweeney produced
Dax Riggs
Dax David Riggs (born October 15, 1973) is an American musician, best known for fronting the sludge metal band Acid Bath in the 1990s. He has been a part of many projects since then, including Agents of Oblivion and Deadboy & the Elephantmen. ...
' album ''
We Sing of Only Blood or Love'' in 2007 for
Fat Possum
In nutrition, biology, and chemistry, fat usually means any ester of fatty acids, or a mixture of such compounds, most commonly those that occur in living beings or in food.
The term often refers specifically to triglycerides (triple es ...
records.
In late 2007, along with Bonnie 'Prince" Billy, Sweeney produced
Baby Dee
Baby Dee (born 1953) is an American performance artist, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter from Cleveland, Ohio.
Early career
In the 1970s, Baby Dee began her musical career as a street performer, but soon decided to take work as an ...
's debut album for Drag City Records, ''Safe Inside the Day''. The album was released in January 2008.
Sweeney is credited for "wry guitar licks" on an album for NYC heavy blues rockers
Endless Boogie
''Endless Boogie'' is a studio album by American blues musician John Lee Hooker, released in 1971 through ABC Records. Produced by Bill Szymczyk and Ed Michel, the double album was recorded at Wally Heider Recording with session musicians such a ...
, called "Focus Level." It is rumored he produced the album as well. He also turned up on the
Six Organs of Admittance
Six Organs of Admittance is the primary musical project of American guitarist Ben Chasny. Chasny's music is largely guitar-based and is often considered new folk; however, it includes obvious influences, marked by the use of drones, chimes, and ...
's LP ''
Shelter from the Ash
''Shelter from the Ash'' is the tenth album by experimental indie rock band, Six Organs of Admittance
Six Organs of Admittance is the primary musical project of American guitarist Ben Chasny. Chasny's music is largely guitar-based and is ofte ...
''. In addition, Sweeney has songwriting credit on certain pressings of Cat Power's ''
Jukebox
A jukebox is a partially automated music-playing device, usually a coin-operated machine, that will play a patron's selection from self-contained media. The classic jukebox has buttons, with letters and numbers on them, which are used to selec ...
'' album, for "Song to Bobby." He is also credited as an additional guitarist on that album.
Session work
In tune with his many collaborations, an unlikely combination of Sweeney and
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. He has sold more than 130 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. He has had ten No. 1 singles on the Hot 100 and Adul ...
was proposed by seminal producer
Rick Rubin
Frederick Jay Rubin (; born March 10, 1963) is an American record producer. He is the co-founder (alongside Russell Simmons) of Def Jam Recordings, founder of American Recordings, and former co-president of Columbia Records.
Rubin helped popu ...
in 2008 to follow up Diamond's Rubin-produced 2005 album ''
12 Songs''.
The 2008 album ''
Home Before Dark
''Home Before Dark'' is the twenty-seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond. Released on May 5, 2008, it was the artist's second album for American Recordings.
''Home Before Dark'' received generally positive reviews f ...
'', released on May 12, features Sweeney on all songs.
Sweeney also plays guitar on
Kid Rock
Robert James Ritchie (born January 17, 1971), known professionally as Kid Rock (also known as Bobby Shazam), is an American singer, songwriter and rapper. His style alternates between rock, hip hop, country, and metal. A self-taught musician ...
's 2010 album ''
Born Free
''Born Free'' is a 1966 British drama film starring the real-life couple Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers as Joy and George Adamson, another real-life couple who raised Elsa the Lioness, an orphaned lion cub, to adulthood, and released h ...
''.
Discography
Skunk
*''Last American Virgin'' (1989)
Twin/Tone
Twin/Tone Records was an independent record label based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which operated from 1977 until 1994. It was the original home of influential Minnesota bands the Replacements and Soul Asylum and was instrumental in helping the ...
*''Laid'' (1990)
Twin/Tone
Twin/Tone Records was an independent record label based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which operated from 1977 until 1994. It was the original home of influential Minnesota bands the Replacements and Soul Asylum and was instrumental in helping the ...
Chavez
*''Gone Glimmering'' (1995)
Matador
A bullfighter (or matador) is a performer in the activity of bullfighting. ''Torero'' () or ''toureiro'' (), both from Latin ''taurarius'', are the Spanish and Portuguese words for bullfighter and describe all the performers in the activit ...
*''Ride The Fader'' (1996)
Matador
A bullfighter (or matador) is a performer in the activity of bullfighting. ''Torero'' () or ''toureiro'' (), both from Latin ''taurarius'', are the Spanish and Portuguese words for bullfighter and describe all the performers in the activit ...
*''Better Days Will Haunt You'' best-of compilation CD/DVD (2006)
Matador
A bullfighter (or matador) is a performer in the activity of bullfighting. ''Torero'' () or ''toureiro'' (), both from Latin ''taurarius'', are the Spanish and Portuguese words for bullfighter and describe all the performers in the activit ...
*''Repeat the Ending'' EP (1994)
Matador
A bullfighter (or matador) is a performer in the activity of bullfighting. ''Torero'' () or ''toureiro'' (), both from Latin ''taurarius'', are the Spanish and Portuguese words for bullfighter and describe all the performers in the activit ...
*''Pentagram Ring'' EP (1995)
Matador
A bullfighter (or matador) is a performer in the activity of bullfighting. ''Torero'' () or ''toureiro'' (), both from Latin ''taurarius'', are the Spanish and Portuguese words for bullfighter and describe all the performers in the activit ...
*''What's Up Matador?'' feat. "Theme from 'For Russ (1995)
Matador
A bullfighter (or matador) is a performer in the activity of bullfighting. ''Torero'' () or ''toureiro'' (), both from Latin ''taurarius'', are the Spanish and Portuguese words for bullfighter and describe all the performers in the activit ...
*''School House Rock'' feat. "Little Twelve Toes" (1996)
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most ...
*''Boys Making Music, Music Making Men'' Documentary VHS (1996)
Matador
A bullfighter (or matador) is a performer in the activity of bullfighting. ''Torero'' () or ''toureiro'' (), both from Latin ''taurarius'', are the Spanish and Portuguese words for bullfighter and describe all the performers in the activit ...
*''Cockfighters'' EP (2017)
Matador
A bullfighter (or matador) is a performer in the activity of bullfighting. ''Torero'' () or ''toureiro'' (), both from Latin ''taurarius'', are the Spanish and Portuguese words for bullfighter and describe all the performers in the activit ...
Zwan
*''
Spun
''Spun'' is a 2002 American black comedy crime drama film directed by Jonas Åkerlund from an original screenplay by William De Los Santos and Creighton Vero, based on three days of De Los Santos's life in the Eugene, Oregon, drug subculture. Th ...
(Motion Picture Soundtrack)'' (2002)
*''
Mary Star of The Sea'' (2003)
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...
Matt Sweeney & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
*''
Superwolf'' (2005)
Drag City
*''I Gave You'' (2005) EP
Drag City
*''The Seedling Soundtrack'' feat. "Demon Lover" (2006)
*''Must Be Blind/Life In Muscle'' (2011) single
Drag City
*''Superwolves'' (2021)
Drag City
Producing
*''
Probot
Probot was a heavy metal side project of ex-Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters rhythm guitarist and lead-singer Dave Grohl. Described by Grohl as "a death metal ''Supernatural''", the album mixes instrumentals recorded by Grohl himself with variou ...
'' – by Probot – executive producer Sweeney (2004)
Matador
A bullfighter (or matador) is a performer in the activity of bullfighting. ''Torero'' () or ''toureiro'' (), both from Latin ''taurarius'', are the Spanish and Portuguese words for bullfighter and describe all the performers in the activit ...
*''
Closing In
''Closing In'' is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Early Man, released on October 11, 2005. There are clear influences from heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath and thrash metal bands like Metallica. Mike Conte's vocal style ...
'' – by
Early Man – produced by Sweeney (2005)
Matador
A bullfighter (or matador) is a performer in the activity of bullfighting. ''Torero'' () or ''toureiro'' (), both from Latin ''taurarius'', are the Spanish and Portuguese words for bullfighter and describe all the performers in the activit ...
*''
We Sing of Only Blood or Love'' – by
Dax Riggs
Dax David Riggs (born October 15, 1973) is an American musician, best known for fronting the sludge metal band Acid Bath in the 1990s. He has been a part of many projects since then, including Agents of Oblivion and Deadboy & the Elephantmen. ...
– produced by Sweeney (2007)
Fat Possum
In nutrition, biology, and chemistry, fat usually means any ester of fatty acids, or a mixture of such compounds, most commonly those that occur in living beings or in food.
The term often refers specifically to triglycerides (triple es ...
*''
Safe Inside the Day'' – by
Baby Dee
Baby Dee (born 1953) is an American performance artist, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter from Cleveland, Ohio.
Early career
In the 1970s, Baby Dee began her musical career as a street performer, but soon decided to take work as an ...
– produced by Sweeney with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (2008)
Drag City
*''
Focus Level'' – by
Endless Boogie
''Endless Boogie'' is a studio album by American blues musician John Lee Hooker, released in 1971 through ABC Records. Produced by Bill Szymczyk and Ed Michel, the double album was recorded at Wally Heider Recording with session musicians such a ...
– uncredited production by Sweeney (2008) No Quarter
*''Full House Head'' – by
Endless Boogie
''Endless Boogie'' is a studio album by American blues musician John Lee Hooker, released in 1971 through ABC Records. Produced by Bill Szymczyk and Ed Michel, the double album was recorded at Wally Heider Recording with session musicians such a ...
– uncredited production by Sweeney (2010) No Quarter
*''Sexual Harassment'' – by
Turbonegro
Turbonegro (Turboneger in Norway) is a Norwegian rock band, active from 1989 to 1998 and from 2002 to the present. The band combines glam rock, punk rock, and hard rock into a self-described "deathpunk" musical style.
History
Early years ( ...
– produced by Sweeney (2012) Volcom Entertainment
*''Optimisme'' – by
Songhoy Blues
Songhoy Blues is a desert blues music group from Timbuktu, Mali. The band was formed in Bamako after being forced to leave their homes during the civil conflict and the imposition of Sharia law. The band released its debut album, ''Music in Exile' ...
– produced by Sweeney (2020)
Transgressive Records
Transgressive Records is an independent record label based in London, formed in 2004. Its founders, Tim Dellow and Toby L, first met at a Bloc Party gig organised by Toby's Rockfeedback website.
The label's debut release was "1am" by the Subway ...
*''
I'll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute to The Velvet Underground & Nico'' – "European Son" produced by Sweeney (2021)
Other collaborations
*''
The Covers Record
''The Covers Record'' is the fifth album by Cat Power, the stage name and eponymous band of American singer-songwriter Chan Marshall. It was released in 2000 on Matador Records.
The album consists entirely of cover songs, with the exception of ...
'' – by
Cat Power
Charlyn Marie "Chan" Marshall ( ; born January 21, 1972), better known by her stage name Cat Power, is an American singer- songwriter, musician and model. Cat Power was originally the name of her first band, but has become her stage name as ...
– featuring Sweeney on guitar (2000)
Matador
A bullfighter (or matador) is a performer in the activity of bullfighting. ''Torero'' () or ''toureiro'' (), both from Latin ''taurarius'', are the Spanish and Portuguese words for bullfighter and describe all the performers in the activit ...
*''Spun'' motion picture soundtrack feat. "Number of the Beast" uncredited w/ William Corgan
*''
Ease Down the Road'' – by
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Joseph Will Oldham (born January 15, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded in collaboration with dozens of other musicians under variations of Palace (Palace, Palace Flophouse, Palace Br ...
– featuring Sweeney on guitar, vocals (2001)
Palace Records
Drag City is an American independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois. Established in the city in 1990 by Dan Koretzky and Dan Osborn, its first release was a Royal Trux single ("Hero Zero" - DC1).Howland, Don (1993)Drag Kings: Chicago's ...
*''
American V: A Hundred Highways'' – by
Johnny Cash
John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American Country music, country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later s ...
– featuring Sweeney on guitar (2006)
American Recordings
*''
Taking the Long Way
''Taking the Long Way'' is the seventh studio album by American country music group Dixie Chicks. Released on May 23, 2006, through Columbia Nashville, it was also the group's last album released under the “Dixie Chicks” name. The album debut ...
'' – by
The Dixie Chicks
The Chicks (previously known as Dixie Chicks) are an American country music band from Dallas, Texas. Since 1995, the band has consisted of Natalie Maines (lead vocals, guitar) and sisters Martie Maguire (vocals, fiddle, mandolin, guitar) and E ...
– featuring Sweeney on guitar (2006)
Columbia
Columbia may refer to:
* Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America
Places North America Natural features
* Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region in ...
*''
Close Calls with Brick Walls'' – by
Andrew W.K.
Andrew Fetterly Wilkes-Krier (born May 9, 1979), known professionally as Andrew W.K., is an American conceptual Performance Artist, performance artist, Rock music, rock singer, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and actor. Raised in Michi ...
– featuring Sweeney on guitar, vocals (2007)
Universal Japan
, often referred to as just Universal Music Japan or UMJ, is a Japanese subsidiary of the Universal Music Group founded in 1990. It is the largest subsidiary for a foreign company in the country regarding music distribution. The company is resp ...
*''
I'll Sleep When You're Dead
''I'll Sleep When You're Dead'' is the second solo studio album by American hip hop artist El-P. It was released through Definitive Jux on March 20, 2007. It peaked at number 78 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, selling about 11,000 copies in its f ...
'' – by
El-P
Jaime Meline (born March 2, 1975), better known by the stage name El-P (shortened from his previous stage name El Producto), is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Starting his career as a member of Company Flow, he has been a ...
– featuring Sweeney on guitar (2007)
Def Jux
Definitive Jux was a record label based in New York City. It was co-founded in 1999 by El-P and Amaechi Uzoigwe.
History
Definitive Jux was initially known as Def Jux. However, popular hip hop label Def Jam Recordings sued Def Jux over the nam ...
*''
Hell's Winter
''Hell's Winter'' is the second solo studio album by American rapper Cage (rapper), Cage. It was released by Definitive Jux on September 20, 2005. It peaked at number 26 on the ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Heatseekers Albums chart, as well a ...
'' – by
Cage Kennylz
Christian Palko (born May 4, 1973), better known by his stage name Cage, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor from Middletown, New York. With a majority of his career being spent with record labels Definitive Jux and Eastern Confere ...
– featuring Sweeney on guitar (2005)
Def Jux
Definitive Jux was a record label based in New York City. It was co-founded in 1999 by El-P and Amaechi Uzoigwe.
History
Definitive Jux was initially known as Def Jux. However, popular hip hop label Def Jam Recordings sued Def Jux over the nam ...
*''
Home Before Dark
''Home Before Dark'' is the twenty-seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond. Released on May 5, 2008, it was the artist's second album for American Recordings.
''Home Before Dark'' received generally positive reviews f ...
'' – by
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. He has sold more than 130 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. He has had ten No. 1 singles on the Hot 100 and Adul ...
– featuring Sweeney on guitar (2008)
American Recordings
*''
Shelter from the Ash
''Shelter from the Ash'' is the tenth album by experimental indie rock band, Six Organs of Admittance
Six Organs of Admittance is the primary musical project of American guitarist Ben Chasny. Chasny's music is largely guitar-based and is ofte ...
'' – by
Six Organs of Admittance
Six Organs of Admittance is the primary musical project of American guitarist Ben Chasny. Chasny's music is largely guitar-based and is often considered new folk; however, it includes obvious influences, marked by the use of drones, chimes, and ...
– featuring Sweeney on guitar (2008)
Drag City
*''
Jukebox
A jukebox is a partially automated music-playing device, usually a coin-operated machine, that will play a patron's selection from self-contained media. The classic jukebox has buttons, with letters and numbers on them, which are used to selec ...
'' – by
Cat Power
Charlyn Marie "Chan" Marshall ( ; born January 21, 1972), better known by her stage name Cat Power, is an American singer- songwriter, musician and model. Cat Power was originally the name of her first band, but has become her stage name as ...
– featuring Sweeney's guitar on "Song to Bobby" (2008)
Matador
A bullfighter (or matador) is a performer in the activity of bullfighting. ''Torero'' () or ''toureiro'' (), both from Latin ''taurarius'', are the Spanish and Portuguese words for bullfighter and describe all the performers in the activit ...
*''Birth Canal Blues Live'' – by
Current 93
Current 93 are an English experimental music group, working since the early 1980s in folk-based musical forms. The band was founded in 1982 by David Tibet, who has been Current 93's only constant member.
Background
Tibet has been the only cons ...
– featuring Sweeney on guitar (2008)
Durtro
Durtro was a British independent record label established by the British poet, singer, songwriter, and visual artist David Tibet in 1988, to publish his own work and that of fellow friends and musicians. It was replaced by one of Tibet's earli ...
*''
Leaving on a Mayday'' – by
Anna Ternheim
Anna Ternheim (born 31 May 1978) is a Swedish singer-songwriter.
Early life
Ternheim was born 31 May 1978 in Stockholm, Sweden. When she was 10 years old she began playing the guitar, writing songs and performing. During a year abroad in Atlan ...
– featuring Sweeney on guitar on "Terrified", "Losing You", "Off the Road" and "Black Sunday Afternoon" (2008)
Universal
Universal is the adjective for universe.
Universal may also refer to:
Companies
* NBCUniversal, a media and entertainment company
** Universal Animation Studios, an American Animation studio, and a subsidiary of NBCUniversal
** Universal TV, a ...
*''
Aleph at Hallucinatory Mountain'' – by
Current 93
Current 93 are an English experimental music group, working since the early 1980s in folk-based musical forms. The band was founded in 1982 by David Tibet, who has been Current 93's only constant member.
Background
Tibet has been the only cons ...
– featuring Sweeney on guitar (2009)
Durtro
Durtro was a British independent record label established by the British poet, singer, songwriter, and visual artist David Tibet in 1988, to publish his own work and that of fellow friends and musicians. It was replaced by one of Tibet's earli ...
*''
Cherish the Light Years
''Cherish the Light Years'' is the second studio album from the American band Cold Cave, released on April 5, 2011 on Matador Records.
Release and reception
''Cherish the Light Years'' was released on April 5, 2011. The album was released by Mat ...
'' – by
Cold Cave
Cold Cave is the moniker for the music of Wesley Eisold, described as a "collage of darkwave, noise, and synthpop." A number of reviewers note the affinity with early 1980s post-punk and early synthpop, in particular Joy Division and New Orde ...
– featuring Sweeney on bass guitar on "The Great Pan is Dead" (2011)
Matador
A bullfighter (or matador) is a performer in the activity of bullfighting. ''Torero'' () or ''toureiro'' (), both from Latin ''taurarius'', are the Spanish and Portuguese words for bullfighter and describe all the performers in the activit ...
*''
21'' – by
Adele
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins (, ; born 5 May 1988), professionally known by the mononym Adele, is an English singer and songwriter. After graduating in arts from the BRIT School in 2006, Adele signed a reco ...
(2011)
XL
*''
Run the Jewels
Run the Jewels, also known by the initials RTJ, is an American hip hop super-duo composed of Brooklyn-based rapper and producer El-P and Atlanta-based rapper Killer Mike. They released their critically acclaimed self-titled debut studio album ...
'' – by
Run the Jewels
Run the Jewels, also known by the initials RTJ, is an American hip hop super-duo composed of Brooklyn-based rapper and producer El-P and Atlanta-based rapper Killer Mike. They released their critically acclaimed self-titled debut studio album ...
– additional guitar on "No Come Down" (2013)
Fool's Gold
The mineral pyrite (), or iron pyrite, also known as fool's gold, is an iron sulfide with the chemical formula Fe S2 (iron (II) disulfide). Pyrite is the most abundant sulfide mineral.
Pyrite's metallic luster and pale brass-yellow hue gi ...
*''
Shangri La
Shangri-La is a fictional place in Asia's Kunlun Mountains (昆仑山), Uses the spelling 'Kuen-Lun'. described in the 1933 novel ''Lost Horizon'' by English author James Hilton. Hilton portrays Shangri-La as a mystical, harmonious valley, ge ...
'' – by
Jake Bugg
Jake Bugg (born Jake Edwin Charles Kennedy on 28 February 1994) is an English singer-songwriter. His self-titled debut album, '' Jake Bugg'', some of which was co-written with songwriter Iain Archer, was released in October 2012 and reached num ...
– Rhythm Guitar on all tracks (2013) Mercury (UK)/Island (U.S.)
*''
Run the Jewels 2
''Run the Jewels 2'' is the second studio album by American hip hop duo Run the Jewels, which consists of Killer Mike and El-P. The album was released early for free on October 24, 2014, and the following day on iTunes. It was made available on CD ...
'' – by
Run the Jewels
Run the Jewels, also known by the initials RTJ, is an American hip hop super-duo composed of Brooklyn-based rapper and producer El-P and Atlanta-based rapper Killer Mike. They released their critically acclaimed self-titled debut studio album ...
– additional guitar on "All My Life" (2014)
Mass Appeal
* ''False, True, Love'' – 2014 Whitney Biennial short film with
Emily Sundblad, Sweeney, and Mariko Munro that features a cover version of the
Shirley Collins
Shirley Elizabeth Collins MBE (born 5 July 1935) is an English folk singer who was a significant contributor to the English Folk Revival of the 1960s and 1970s. She often performed and recorded with her sister Dolly, whose accompaniment on pi ...
song "False True Love"
* "Emmar" by
Tinariwen
Tinariwen (Tamasheq: , with vowels , pronounced ''tinariwen'' "deserts", plural of ''ténéré'' "desert") is a collective of Tuareg musicians from the Sahara Desert region of northern Mali. Considered a pioneer of desert blues, the group's guita ...
(2014) guitar
* "Zipper Down" by
Eagles of Death Metal
Eagles of Death Metal is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, formed in 1998. Founded by Jesse Hughes (vocals, guitar) and Josh Homme (drums), the band also includes a wide range of other musicians who perform both on the band's ...
(2015) additional guitar
* "Digging for Windows" by
Zack de la Rocha
Zacharias Manuel de la Rocha (born January 12, 1970) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, rapper, and political activist. He is best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Rage Against the Machine. Through both Rage Against ...
(2016) additional guitar
* ''
Elwan
''Elwan'' is the seventh album by the Tuareg band Tinariwen, released in 2017. The title means "elephants" in Tamashek and the term is used as a metaphor for militias and corporations that have trampled the fragile natural and human ecosystems of ...
'' by
Tinariwen
Tinariwen (Tamasheq: , with vowels , pronounced ''tinariwen'' "deserts", plural of ''ténéré'' "desert") is a collective of Tuareg musicians from the Sahara Desert region of northern Mali. Considered a pioneer of desert blues, the group's guita ...
(2017) additional guitar
* "Vols. 11 & 12" for
The Desert Sessions
The Desert Sessions are a musical collective series, founded by Josh Homme in 1997. Artists such as Brant Bjork, PJ Harvey, Twiggy Ramirez, Dave Catching, Nick Oliveri, Mark Lanegan, John McBain, Ben Shepherd, Josh Freese, Chris Goss, Al ...
(2019)
* ''
Traditional Techniques'' by
Stephen Malkmus
Stephen Joseph Malkmus (born May 30, 1966) is an American musician best known as the primary songwriter, lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band Pavement. He currently performs with Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks and as a solo artist ...
(2020)
* ''
RTJ4
''RTJ4'' is the fourth studio album by American hip hop duo Run the Jewels. It was released digitally through their own Jewel Runners imprint via BMG Rights Management on June 3, 2020, two days earlier than scheduled, with physical editions rele ...
'' – by
Run the Jewels
Run the Jewels, also known by the initials RTJ, is an American hip hop super-duo composed of Brooklyn-based rapper and producer El-P and Atlanta-based rapper Killer Mike. They released their critically acclaimed self-titled debut studio album ...
– additional vocals, performer, and guitar on "A Few Words for the Firing Squad (Radiation)"
* ''
I'll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute to The Velvet Underground & Nico'' – bass guitar and electric guitars on "European Son" with
Iggy Pop
James Newell Osterberg Jr. (born April 21, 1947), known professionally as Iggy Pop, is an American singer, musician, songwriter and actor. Called the " Godfather of Punk", he was the vocalist and lyricist of proto-punk band The Stooges, who w ...
(2021)
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sweeney, Matt
American male singers
Living people
Drag City (record label) artists
Zwan members
Guitarists from New Jersey
American male guitarists
Chavez (band) members
1969 births