REVIEW: matchbox 20, Yourself Or Someone Like You (Lava/Atlantic)
- Linda Scott
This album was a big surprise. The sleeve artwork is goofy; a fat man in a silly cap with ear warmers is looking in a window. You might think this is another silly teenage new-punk band. But put it in your cd player, and you have some lovely music. The surprise is that this is a *debut* album. Hard to believe that this is the first recording by matchbox20. Amazing.
The big standout for matchbox20 is Rob Thomas, songwriter and lead vocalist. The lyrics focus intensely on personal relationships. Not only are the songs wonderfully interesting, but Thomas also delivers a one-two punch with his delivery. The phrasing and emphasis are excellent. Thomas' voice is strong, filled with emotion, and is clearly the focal point of Yourself Or Someone Like You. If you've heard Counting Crows' Adam Duritz, Thomas writes and sings with that same distinctive power.
Thomas fronted matchbox20 from the time he recruited Paul Doucette on drums and Brian Yale on bass. Lead guitarist Kyle Cook and rhythm guitarist Adam Gaznor came along a bit later. The band's influences through Thomas are Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Al Green and R.E.M. The band was quickly signed by Lava/Atlantic, and Producer Matt Serletic (Collective Soul) was enlisted to record Yourself Or Someone Like You which was released last year.
By the end of April this year, the album had gone gold in U.S. sales. The first single, "Long Day", was a hit on the alternative singles charts. "Push" is the second single and is also doing well. Another they should select is the leadoff track, "Real World". For more information on matchbox20, check out their web site at http://www.matchbox20.com.
