Matt Sharp’s cutesy, tongue-in-cheek, sythn-pop Weezer side project, The Rentals, turned into a full-time job after he left the Weezer-mothership in early 1998. But after 1999’s underwhelming sophomore record, Seven More Minutes, Sharp disbanded The Rentals and moved out to the boondocks of Tennessee.
About the same time that Sharp released a weird self-titled solo EP of mostly folk music on the In Music We Trust label, Sharp reunited briefly on stage with Rivers Cuomo in 2004. The two started writing songs together, but Sharp doubts they’ll ever see the light of day due to the pair’s “special brand of dysfunction.”
Last October, Sharp regrouped with original Rental Rachel Haden of That Dog and a slew of new members: Sara Radle (vocals/multi-inst), Ben Pringle (synth master), Lauren Chipman (viola/vocals) and Dan Joeright (drums) to record a five song EP, entitled Last Little Life, which is due out August 14.
A summer tour begins in August with Copeland and Goldenboy.