[_brad_]

Band Matchbox 20
Album More than you think you are
Released 2002
Submitted by _brad_

Matchbox 20 have had great hits like 3am and When you're Gone in the past, but the one thing they didnt have was an album that could be enjoyed until right till the end. More than you think you are is just that. Every song on the album has its good points and apart from a few dislikes in some songs the album is as close to perfect as any modern rock bands can get to.

The first song on the album, Feel is a great, upbeat heavier song by the band,it really gets the blood flowing for the rest of the CD, and some great singing by Rob Thomas is his usual standard of singing, full of emotion to say the least.

The second song, Disease was the 1st single released off this album, although it seemed like a different approach from matchbox 20 when first heard, after listening to it on repeat for a few days, you notice it is classic matchbox 20. Very Different from the earlier songs "When Youre Gone" and "Push" but still an amazing song and show of great musicians in the band.

3rd and we have Bright Lightsand the newest single. It starts with a beautiful piano sound played by Rob Thomas. This song is very commercial and should go far with record sales. Although it sounds a lot like another song (dont know exactly what one) it is still a great song and again full of emotion singing. A well Played quick solo and the song is as close to perfect as a song can get.

Unwell, the biggest hit off the album so far and the 4th song on the album. This song is equally amazing as the others and is my favorite song from the band yet. What stands out for me in this song is the words/lyrics have been written very well. Matchbox 20 are known for writing great lyrics in 3am and real world, but this is the peak so far.

Cold is another upbeat rock song, and great dynamics with going from distorted guitars to piano. There is nothing wrong with this song, it isnt in my best songs for the album but it isnt a total loss, its very radio friendly and well written, and full of emotion filled playing.

All I need the 6th song, I think is the biggest let down on this album. The Music sounds like a christmas carol and the song sounds very cheesey. I can't say anything else about this song because I feel it is the worst song on the album.

The 7th song, Hand Me Down, starts with relaxing sounds before any other music, then the real magic of this album is shown, This song shows Rob Thomas's true songwriting abilities, then not just with the lyrics, but with the music and the emotion felt in this song. Everything in this song from the solo to the singing is in the exact right place. And this song was the reason i kept listening to the album after track 6. This song is recomended by me as a great influencial song.

The sweet piano start for Could I be You give the right tone, this song to me has a great modern rock feel to it, and the dynamics in this song is great. And again I have said it throughout this piece and I'll say it again, the emotion in Robs singing is tremendous. Towards the end, you can see a bit of Blues coming out in the song. But overall this song is another masterpiece on Robs Shelf.

Downfall. Track 9. A rock song, and a very enjoyable rock song, probably the loudest song on the album and guitar filled power driven song by the band in a while. There is absolutly nothing wrong with this song. The tempo changes through the song, and gives it a creepy song to it, before building back up to the rock anthem that it was at the start of the song.

Soul is the 10th song and it shows a different sounding matchbox 20. This is a pop sounding piece with only a touch of rock in the chorus. The words are heart felt and this track is listenable to say the least.

You're so Real starts with a bass riff to start off it, then a kinda RHCP sounding riff after that. Fast tempo with a funky guitar sound, shows the variety of the band. It proves the band arent just a boring genre but can display different sides of music in 1 album without alienating their fans with different sounding songs.

The last new song from the band is a classical outro for a great band and great album. This song wraps up what the rest of the album started, very commerial and radio friendly emotion filled lyrics with great music to back that up.

This album is in my view their best. They show new sounds while keeping the great Matchbox 20 sound we grew to love with the other albums. Also a Nice little ending at the end of the song, a hidden track at the end of track 12.

[dadfad]

I'm moving this topic from Guitar Questions and Answers to Influential Albums where it probably fits the forum better. I'll leave this link here for a little while.

[_brad_]

thanks dadfad, ur a big help


cheers

[dadfad]

No problemo!



(I know that album influenced me heavily! )

[_brad_]

No problemo!



(I know that album influenced me heavily! )

that was so much sarcasm in one post ever dadfad, u didnt even try to hide it

[cichlid_dmb]

My mom bought it when it came out and I gave it a listen.

I think, with the exception of Hand Me Down, that it's terribly bland.

But Hand Me Down is a great song. Not much for the bridge, but the verses are great.

[randomorwhat]

A very good album a mon avis and a very good summary too!

[_brad_]

thanks random at least someone agrees hehe

[ziophils]

an interesting summary and an awful album

[galrash]

I'm a big Matchbox Twenty fan too, and I think you did a good job writing this

[_brad_]

I'm a big Matchbox Twenty fan too, and I think you did a good job writing this

thanks dude

[bobchild44]

I'm a huge Matchbox 20 fan and the review is very accurate and detailed. I do think All I Need deserves more credit. Of course, Hand Me Down is much better. I don't think there's a bad track on the album.

[iamoneasyour3]

You have the ######tiest taste in music.

[randomorwhat]

You have the ######tiest taste in music.

Hah, taste the irony

[rbasstones513]

Well written review, yet a very generic "post grunge" band that plagued our radios in the 90's.

[tele1214]

I'm a huge Matchbox fan, but you really gotta look past the pop side and see that they're really good musicians. Most people see them as generic, formulaic rock that is created solely for the purpose of corporate radio, which isn't the case at all. They've really got their own style and Rob Thomas is a fantastic writer, but unfortunately are usually grouped into the "crap" category a lot. This album in particular is what started me on guitar, as it has a lot of great riffs and little licks in the songs, and while the band may not be exactly guitar-driven, lead guitarist Kyle Cook kicks asss.