Matchbox Twenty: Okay any which way

I am confused. How do I write down the name Matchbox Twenty? That is how it is written on the cover of North, the new album by the popular band. But I still recall a time when it was matchbox twenty, quite chic with all small letters. Or maybe Matchbox 20 or what about matchbox 20, or whatever. Well, I guess these guys would be okay even if you write their name any which way as long as it reads Matchbox Twenty and as long as they keep making their kind of music.

Matchbox Twenty is made up of lead songwriter Rob Thomas on piano and vocals; Paul Doucette on drums; Kyle Cook on lead guitar and vocals; and Brian Yale on bass guitar. The band was a huge success from the start with its hit-studded debut album Yourself Or Someone Like You in 1996. Remember how almost all that you heard on the radio were Long Day, Push, 3 am, Real World and Back 2 Good by the then exciting new group.

Matchbox Twenty had some of the most incredible hooks ever heard and more big sellers happened in the ensuing years. Mad Season yielded Rush, If You’re Gone and my favorite of all Matchbox Twenty songs, Bent. More Than You Think You Are was the third and I believe also the best album by the band. The music was evolving and moving from alternative rock to luscious emo. It included Disease, Unwell and Bright Lights. Exile On Mainstream came four years ago. It was a greatest hits collection with six new songs as bonus tracks. How Far We’ve Come was the hit single. And now here comes North, which debuted at No. 1 when it was released in the US a few months ago.

That was not a surprise. It is so easy to like Matchbox Twenty and these guys just keep getting better. That is the reason why they have already sold over 30 million records worldwide. I like it that they always seem to be having fun with their songs while also being serious with the music.  They like to please their listeners. This is very obvious in the way they put together their albums. They give them something to dance to, some romantic turns and even little quirks that keep everybody interested. Listen to North and I am sure you will agree that while strange, those robot sounds do keep you alert for whatever it is they are up to.

North is the band’s first all-new studio album in nearly a decade and its 12-song line-up trumps all previous releases. This must be due to the fact that the boys of Matchbox Twenty came into the project after a long period of just being themselves. Thomas recorded two solo albums with his own No. 1 sellers. Doucette also had his own bands, The Break and Repair Method. Cook fronted the New Left.  Yale just played golf and relaxed. 

As a result they all approached North with fresh eyes and ears. The results are superb. The hooks are all there with the well-thought out lyrics. The performances are confident throughout and the vocals, mostly Rob’s and sometimes by Kyle are strong and heartfelt. The variety of styles is also amazing with the band going from big rockers like Parade to sensitive acoustic ballads like I Will, to the dance powered Put Your Hands Up or going all sexy as in Like Sugar. 

She’s So Mean, the first single is an up-tempo, hook-filled piece with a pronounced beat in the tradition of Bent and Disease. Definitely a strong candidate for the charts is the sweet ballad Overjoyed. Thomas is surely one of those vocalists who project such intense expression whether he is rocking the house or being shyly lovelorn as in this one.  Smooth, his Grammy-winning duet with Santana is a fine example of Thomas singing at his best. It was ranked No. 2 in Billboard Magazine’s tabulation of the Most Popular Song Ever behind The Twist.

And now Thomas is back singing again with Matchbox Twenty in North. He sounds great and so does the whole album. Also included are Our Song, English Town, How Long, Radio, The Way and Sleeping At The Wheel.