AMG Review of Always Stay Sweet

Heather Phares
All Music Guide

A 21-song compilation spanning the group's first five albums, Always Stay Sweet emphasizes the darker undercurrents of the band's sound. Many tracks, like "How Ghosts Affect Relationships" and "Are We Still Married?" come from Livonia and Home Is in Your Head. A previously unreleased song, "Underwater," is a different take of "Honey Babe, My Blue Eyed Babe" from King of Sweet, and "Sitting Still Moving Still Staring Out," (featured on the Jerry Maguire soundtrack) is also included. Though it doesn't paint a complete portrait of His Name Is Alive, Always Stay Sweet presents many aspects of the band in a compelling, well-edited collection.