Compared to the concise songwriting of Girlfriend, Altered Beast is all over the place, both emotionally and musically. Ranging from piercing guitar rave-ups (“Dinosaur Act”) to gorgeous country-rock (“Time Capsule”), the album not only covers all sides of Matthew Sweet’s musical personality, but pastes them together haphazardly. Consequently, it takes a bit of time for all of it to make sense, but after a few listens, it falls together, and its best moments equal Girlfriend. – Stephen Thomas Erlewine