If we are to go by what usually happens in the inner sanctum of a music label, the story of Exile on Mainstream by matchbox twenty may have happened like this. Label wants to have a new album released by the last quarter of the year, which is traditionally the big buying period. A greatest hits collection would be nice. matchbox twenty still has to release one and the band has more than enough big sellers to make an impressive package.
Artist though decides on an album of all new materials, because it has been five years since the last one, and goes to work. But come September or earlier it was obvious that with only six songs in the can, that album will not be finished. Label decides on going with the greatest hits but artist still prefers the new songs. So they reach a compromise. The album will have 11 of the old hits and the six new songs. The end. Everybody happy.
That includes the fans. And there are a lot of them out there. matchbox twenty is one of the most successful groups from the past decade. Made up of Rob Thomas on vocals, Paul Doucette on guitars, Kyle Cook also on guitars and Brian Yale on bass, it is a band, which never had to prove its musicality. It was right there so in your face from the moment that Yourself or Someone Like You was released 10 years ago.
The band was proof that rock didn’t have to be an assault on the senses to be considered great. And the rocking never faltered over the years as matchbox twenty just kept on turning out good solid rock music again and again. Truth to tell, all of the hits included on Exile on Mainstream made it to the US Top 10, with some spending several weeks in the No. 1 slot. Push, 3am, If You’re Gone, Bent, Disease, Unwell, Real World, Back 2 Good, Mad Season and Bright Lights are supreme examples of mainstream rock.
These songs make up the bulk of the CD, which honestly is one of the best greatest hits compilations ever heard. Even better is the fact that the new tracks all sit well with the old. Among the new cuts, These Hard Times is the biggest winner of them all. The beat is vintage matchbox and Rob’s strong vocals is just fantastic. The other new songs are How Far We’ve Come, I’ll Believe You When, All the Reasons, If I Fall and Can’t Let You Go. Hopefully, matchbox twenty would be able to come up with an all new package soon. Six songs are just not enough from a band that sounds the way this one does.
By the way that story is not true. The fact is matchbox twenty actually wanted to give an extra something to the buyers by adding one new song to the greatest hits CD. But they so enjoyed themselves during the recording that they decided to do more and finished instead with six. One thing more. Do not look for Lonely No More on the album. That hit is Rob’s solo effort. The same thing goes for Smooth. This great number is Rob’s collaboration with the legendary Santana and is in fact one of the cuts in another not-to-be-missed greatest hits collection, the Ultimate Santana, that has just been released.
New albums to watch out for
Meanwhile, other goodies to watch out for late this year are the new albums by Britney Spears’ excellent Blackout with the single Gimme More, Kylie Minogue with the song 2 Hearts, and Long Road Out of Eden, first studio album in nearly 20 years by The Eagles. Expected to be in the local stores soon are Magic by Bruce Springsteen and Rock and Roll Jesus by Kid Rock. Already released are Wild Hope by Mandy Moore; Songs of Mass Destruction by Annie Lennox; The Ultimate Collection by Whitney Houston; and Noel the Christmas Album by Josh Groban. Incidentally, Noel became the first Holiday album to enter the Top 10 in Billboard Magazine’s Albums Chart on its first week out.
Billboard’s album hit list is as follows: Magic by Bruce Springsteen; Rock N’ Roll Jesus by Kid Rock; Still Feels Good by Rascal Flatts; Noel by Josh Groban; Chase the Light by Jimmy Eat World; Reba Duets by Reba McEntire; High School Musical 2 Soundtrack by Various Artists; Ultimate Santana by Santana; Graduation by Kanye West; and Coco by Colbie Caillat.