Ralphy's C.D. Reviews

Review date 07-03-2001: Matchbox Twenty - C.D. Mad Season

First I have to tell you that I did not actually buy the CD "Mad Season by Matchbox Twenty" as it is officially entitled, I downloaded the MP3's from the Internet and had someone make me an audio-CD of it. This isn't the first time I have done that and usually the quality is rather good, but in this case especially at a higher volume you hear a lot of disturbing noise in the background. In spite of this the album made such an impression that I decided to write this review, admittedly much too late, but I do have other things to take care of occasionally and let's stick with the old saying 'Better late than never'. The first thing you notice looking at the sleeve is the change in name of the band, they decided to replace the number 20 with the word 'Twenty'. I have no clue to why. For more information about the band members I refer you to my review of their first album "Yourself or someone like you".

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That first album surprisingly sold over 10 million copies, so writing and making a successor to that, could not have been an easy job. Yet singer/songwriter Rob Thomas and the other 4 guys have done so admirably, because I believe "Mad season" to be superior to its predecessor. This album is more balanced and smooth. Matchbox Twenty have found the perfect mix between rock and pop and are an ideal representation of - what Americans call - mainstream rock, in this way they remind me a lot of the band that the Goo Goo Dolls have become. Compared to their first effort you will also find less loud guitar riffs in the songs, because the band has paid more attention to the melodies. Usually the guitar is my favourite instrument, so I'm not opposed to hearing it, but here this move has paid off, especially the last song on the album "You won't be mine" is an perfect example for this change.

I also have to be a little critical and the criticism is placed at the same point as before, the lyrics. Although the lyrics have a poetic quality to them and they sure as hell are very catchy they lack a deeper meaning. In fact in reading and listening to the words of this CD I get the idea that Rob Thomas has met and been with a lot of women with very undesirable qualities and emotional issues or at least that he wasn't able to meet the demands of the females he has been with in the past. Almost every song is about a relation that didn't work out and it describes the reason why the characters didn't blend, mostly laying blame with the girl for not understanding or using the male and only occasionally there is mention of a little self-criticism of the male, which would not be a bad idea for a man (Rob Thomas?) who had all the split ups described in these songs. You only have to look at some of the titles to get this: 'Angry', 'If you're gone' (the second single), 'The burn', 'Bed of lies' and 'Leave' (two of my favourites) and 'Stop'. But the last I've heard is that Thomas is happily married so maybe the facts have been a bit overstated from an emotional viewpoint. However what I would really like him to do is write songs about some serious issues (not that love isn't serious), since it is undeniable that he has talent in the songwriting department and is improving it gradually.

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What seems to in opposition to this previous statement is the fact that my favourite song on "Mad season" is "Rest stop". Why? I heard that "Rest stop" had been written even before the previous album. It is (again) about a woman who decides to dump a guy "just 3 miles before the rest stop", because she suddenly realizes that he isn't all that she wants from a man. Another favourite of mine is "Crutch", maybe the catchiest song. The 2 singles that have been taken from this CD, "Bent" and "If you're gone", have both became Top 10 hits in the USA and I don't even count them between my personal favourites. Other songs that I haven't mentioned are the title song 'Mad season', 'Black and white people' and 'Last beautiful girl'. Especially the last two are good. All in all I'm seriously considering actually buying a genuine copy of this album, which should probably be the biggest compliment for the music of Matchbox Twenty, because never before have I bought an album that I previously downloaded over the web (the poor quality also plays a deciding role in this consideration) and therefore I rate this CD with an 8.0 .

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