Written by Susie Salva
After a brief hiatus in 2007, Matchbox Twenty has re-emerged with the bands new released “North” on Atlantic Records– their fourth album which made it its debut at #1 on the Billboard 200. After a career spanning 17 years this pop rock, alternative, post grunge band has still got what it takes to produce a fine record and “North,” has been receiving outstanding and rave reviews for this new record.
The Deluxe Version has 12 Tracks plus 2 bonus tracks, “I Believe in Everything,” and “Straight for This Life,” including the video for single “She’s So Mean” if you purchase it on iTunes.
Recently the band performed at the Gibson Amphitheater playing hits from all their gold and platinum albums “Yourself and Someone Like You,” “Mad Season,” “More than You Think You Are,” “Exile on Mainstream,” and many selections from “North.” Matchbox Twenty shared the stage with fellow alumni the Goo Goo Dolls for one spectacular evening.
One sad note…the Gibson Amphitheater will be closing down and a Harry Potter ride will take it’s place. A sad comment about the way music is being heard in Los Angeles.
Originally from Orlando, Florida the band learned early how to create original pop rock music and to carry on for 17 years minus a few hiatuses. Matchbox Twenty released their debut album, Yourself or Someone Like You, in 1996. While their first single, “Long Day”, was a rock radio-only success, the album soon spawned several Top 40 singles throughout 1997 and 1998, including “Push”, “3 A.M.”, “Real World”, and “Back 2 Good”. “Push” and “3 A.M.” did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 chart due to the rule in effect prior to 1998 that required a song to be released as a single in order to appear on the Hot 100. “Real World” and “Back 2 Good” proved to be the band’s first entries into the Billboard Hot 100, after the rule was terminated. The album eventually sold more than 12 million copies in the U.S. alone, achieving a diamond certification.
Matchbox Twenty
During 2000, Matchbox 20 renamed themselves to Matchbox Twenty and released their second album, Mad Season. The album, on the strength of several successful singles, including “Bent” (which peaked No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart) and “If You’re Gone”, was certified 4x platinum in the United States.
For their third album, More Than You Think You Are, the band revived more of a rock sound. Thomas shared the songwriting efforts with the other band members on several songs. The album again spawned successful singles “Disease” (written with Mick Jagger), “Unwell”, and “Bright Lights”. The album was not as successful commercially as the previous two, and received mixed reviews from critics. However, the album had an enormous radio presence for well over a year.
Between 2007-2010 the group was on hiatus but then the group reunited and began performing with the release of their ‘retrospective’ album Exile on Mainstream, on October 2, 2007. “How Far We’ve Come” was the first single from the new album, which was followed by the second single, “These Hard Times”. “Exile on Mainstream” included four other new songs and a complete collection of all eleven of their previously released singles.
From 2011-Present the band got their mojo back and released “North,” on Atlantic records. This album has all of the features that Matchbox fans have been clamoring for. It just exemplifies their fine writing skills easily producing some of the best songs available with this Deluxe version. The first single and video is of the song “She’s So Mean,” with a catchy hook and driving guitar wizardry. It’s so infectious you find yourself slapping your knees all along. Great new effort.
The album starts off with a song called “Parade” and was the first song performed at their gig on July 17th. The song is a coming to terms with the things needed to be worked out if the lover could only stick around..You don’t want that Parade to leave you now as so the lyrics go.
“Put Your Hands Up,” partying the night away with a breezy sing along promising never to fade away. Rob Thomas’s vocals are superior and it reminds you of why they have been successful for these 17 years. Hard to believe it’s been that long. “Our Song,” another up beat track suggesting that you will alway be their for the other person and never fade away. The band forces you to sing along with this track. “I Will,” an acoustic ballad espousing about times sliding away through the dead of night falling apart but always being by her side.
“English Town,” suggests that everyone makes mistakes pulling away from that bad dream where I am never going back. “Radio,” a Rockabilly/Country tinged track about being up all night listening to all our favorite songs on the radio. “The Way,” suggest a love torn romance and the way it was handled not turning out with the way he wants it to be.
“Like Sugar,” the dichotomy of wanting to leave your lover but all you can think of is how they taste like sugar and that ends up bringing yourself around again.
Round off the disc is “Sleeping at the Wheel” calls for a reckoning where we all have to face any wrongdoings that we may have done in the past where the sun is shining in our faces and we must walk the fine walk nearing the end.
The following are the members of the band:
Rob Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano (1995–present)
Brian Yale – bass guitar, backing vocals (1995–present)
Paul Doucette – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1995–2007, 2012–present) (studio) ; rhythm guitar, piano, percussion, backing vocals (live) (2007–present)[8]
Kyle Cook – lead guitar, banjo, vocals (1995–present)
Thomas is so poignant and his smooth voice speaks to all following listeners. There is just something so organic that Matchbox Twenty’s music takes you on a journey offering up some hard hitting tracks along with sentimental ballads. They has proved why they are truly esteemed among their contemporaries and produced finely tuned tracks that are memorable among the sea of other artists who have not weather as long as they have.
