Matchbox Twenty was one of my favorite bands and I love their first 3 albums. I thought Exile on Mainstream was pretty good too even though it had more of a pop feel. I was hoping that this new album might go back to the roots of Matchbox Twenty's alternative rock albums that I liked so much. I haven't listened to any of the songs on this album before this including any singles. Here are some of my thoughts on each song without looking anywhere else or knowing what songs other people like.
Outline
- 1 Parade 8/10
- 2 She's So Mean 3/10
- 3 Overjoyed 5/10
- 4 Put Your Hands Up 4/10
- 5 Our Song 6/10
- 6 I Will 5/10
- 7 English Town 8/10
- 8 How Long 4/10
- 9 Radio 5/10
- 10 The Way 3/10
- 11 Like Sugar 5/10
- 12 Sleeping At The Wheel 5/10
- Conclusion
1. Parade 8/10
Great start. Feels a bit like old Matchbox Twenty songs that really make you think about something in your life even if the lyrics are slightly different. And it hits you hard emotionally like those old songs. Good to hear something more like the old Matchbox Twenty than the more pop songs on their Exile on Mainstream "short" album.
2. She's So Mean 3/10
Too much pop for me. Not my favorite song. Good lyrics though if it was sang with more alternative music. Even more pop than Exile on Mainstream. Actually made me laugh and reminded me of boy bands from 90s. Honestly they never would have gotten as popular if they started playing songs like this in the late 90s. But the chorus and the last part of the song does get a bit better with at least a little oomph. It could grow on me even if it's overproduced pop, but initial impression is it's too much pop and I don't really like it. And I still have to laugh a little that this is Matchbox Twenty after songs like on their first album.
3. Overjoyed 5/10
Shows off Rob Thomas' voice like he used to sing. I like his singing in it, but the song is just ok. It's a simple song with a nice lyrical sentiment but doesn't really hit you emotionally like the old Matchbox Twenty. But still gives you a good feeling listening to it. In general, women will probably like this song more than men, and it could be a favorite on the radio or with women.
4. Put Your Hands Up 4/10
Whoa is this dance music? I don't really like it, only because I was hoping for the old Matchbox Twenty. For a new sound I guess it's a decent song but not really my thing. Maybe this will be an eclectic album showing off lots of different styles because the first 4 songs all seem to have a different feel. Might not be a good sign. It's after listening to this I'm thinking this will be more of a pop album than going back to the old sound of their first 3 albums, even though the first song sounded good.
5. Our Song 6/10
Yeah this looks to be a pop album. Out of the tracks 2-5 pop songs I think this would be my favorite after the first few listens, as it isn't as crazy as the others. But none of these songs hit you emotionally like the old Matchbox Twenty even if the lyrics are still pretty good like the old Matchbox Twenty. Yeah this song is pretty decent for a pop song. Reminds me a bit of the songs on Exile on Mainstream, because even though it is a pop song, it at least has a bit of a rock feel and sounds ok.
6. I Will 5/10
Similar to Overjoyed. It's an ok song, with the best part being Rob Thomas' voice and the way he sings. If you wanted some pop ballads this and Overjoyed would make you happy. But I'm pretty sure at this point that I'm not going to love this album, even if I try to accept and embrace a new sound. Even their last album which was at least ok, Exile on Mainstream, had a harder pop feel to it that made you feel good. It's kind of a sweet song though. But the difference between a feel good pop song like this, and a more emotional ballad like 3 am or Last Beautiful Girl is large. And those are the songs I love, not simple pop tunes like this.
7. English Town 8/10
OK here we go. This is ok. A second song, like the opener, that has more of a heavier rock feel to it like the old Matchbox Twenty. I kind of like this song. The chorus hits you hard and you can actually hear guitars like a rock band instead of synthesizers or whatever you hear on the pop songs on the earlier tracks. The lyrics are vague so they don't tell a story as good as the songs from the old albums, or even some of the pop songs on this album. But this is definitely another song that I like, along with Parade.
8. How Long 4/10
I just can't like pop as much as rock. If I liked pop I bet I would like this song a lot. Still the synthesizers or whatever are a bit much. I just want to hear the melody and the singing, not a special effect. Once again good lyrics though. Considering their age, they are coming up with some good stories to tell. It's just too bad that the people that will like these songs will be 12 year old girls that wear dresses and go to church instead of 16 year old boys and girls that hate their parents and the world; that drink and try to figure out how to have fun; like any normal adolescent or young adult growing up in the 90s and listening to alternative music did. Yeah I don't like this song much and I'm just waiting to see if there are any more real songs on this album like Parade and English Town.
9. Radio 5/10
Maybe listening to this much pop starts to make you accept and like it, but I actually like this song more than most on this album. I guess there are a few different styles of pop on this album too which is interesting. The verses on this song feel like it has a bit of a 50s or 60s vibe to me. It's an ok song with a bit of a swing feel to it. Still can't endorse this as a great Matchbox Twenty song though. They definitely have a different style now, and for me it's for the worse, even if I had a feeling they may lighten up this much as they matured. Exile on Mainstream was ok, but this is too much pop for me to be a great album.
10. The Way 3/10
On this song, not only is the song soft without much soul, but Rob Thomas' voice is also countryized. If they continue down this path, I could see their next album being pop country with Thomas voice sounding like this on most songs. But yeah I don't like this song much. At least on some of the other songs you hear Rob Thomas' cool voice, but this just sounds like any generic pop or country song by anyone on the radio.
11. Like Sugar 5/10
OK at least we have the real Rob Thomas back here. This one may grow on me as it has a bit of soul to it, but it just doesn't seem to come together. It starts out ok, but the chorus just isn't good enough, and the whoa-oh-oh-oh and the effects that come in after the chorus ruin it a bit. At least it has a bit of soul to it, unlike most of the pop songs on the album.
12. Sleeping At The Wheel 5/10
Nice song to finish. Good build-up to the later part of the song. More good lyrics with a good message. Regardless of the rating I gave this, it could end up my third favorite songs after a few more listens, but like most songs on this album, I sadly don't love it and probably won't even after a few more listens.
Conclusion
I like the opener, Parade, and the other track that sounds like the old Matchbox Twenty, English Town. If I could embrace the new pop sound of the band maybe I could open my musical tastes and enjoy the album as it is a decent album of pop songs probably. But I can't recommend this album, and certainly not to an old Matchbox Twenty fan like myself. I like the alternative Matchbox Twenty that sang songs with emotion, soul, and a lyrical story that hit you like a ton of bricks. This is pop. And even though this album is listenable and I could learn to like it, I have to admit that I just like rock songs a whole lot more.