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Get a Moog On

Matt Sharp pays the Rentals

By John Papageorge

Late one night, the ghostly spirit of New Wave past escorted Wheezer bass player Matt Sharp to an ancient synthesizer junkyard, found him a couple of Moogs and encouraged him to form the Rentals. The 26-year-old Sharp, with the assistance of various L.A.‚based musicians (among them Cherielynn Westrich), created a band that echos the synth stylings of Gary Numan and the Cars. The Rentals' use of roaring guitar, infectious female "ooh-hoo-hoo" background vocals and soaring violin, however, separates the group from the more two-dimensional sounds of the New Wave movement.

Although the music press has focused on the group's daring and generous use of the Moog, Sharp explains that keyboards were an afterthought in the creation of the band's musical identity.

"I initially wanted a straightforward record with no violins, no keyboards and no second guitar," Sharp says. "I recorded all the songs in one take. Then I went on the road with Wheezer, sat on it, decided that I didn't like it and put it on the shelf. I then came back after a friend of a friend of a friend at a small label wanted to put it out. I re-evaluated the songs and decided to have more fun with the album and make it a low-fi Jeff Lynne record. Then I added the keyboards and violin and female backup harmonies."

Sharp points out that the group isn't a side project, a novelty retro-concept or a single-album experience. Strong financial backing by Madonna's Maverick Records proves that the band is taken seriously. That's not to say the Rentals are taking themselves too seriously. Sharp's smart lyrics and sense of humor have made the band a hit with MTV and college radio, althogh that success surprises Sharp. "I didn't expect either band to go past college radio," he huffs. "I didn't intend the record to be any sort of deal. It wasn't suppose to released on a major distributed label. It's not a big-budget record. There wasn't meant suppose to be any sort of hype."

On the Rentals' debut release, Return of the Rentals, catchy sugar-coated songs like "The Love I'm Searching For" and "Friends of P" feature smart lyrics: "I'm a good guy for a gal/Why don't you read my palm over; I've got time for a chat/So why don't you read me my future."

Sharp explains his recipe for a good song: "I think as long as the melody and lyrics are nice--that's the main thing. There's a lot of stuff melodically that I don't like lyrically. The weirdest and hardest thing to do is finding someone who's talented with a good voice who can write a good melody, good lyrics and have a unique sound and good taste--it's a really rare thing. That's something that Bjork does. She can write great lyrics. PJ Harvey does the same thing. She writes great lyrics. I know I don't have a good voice."

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