The Consumer’s Corner

Has it really been five whole years since Matchbox Twenty released their last new material? I suppose with lead singer Rob Thomas’ solo album helping to bridge the gap it didn’t seem that long, but gosh. Here’s hoping for a shorter time span between ‘Exile On Mainstream’ and their next true major release.

‘True major release?’ Yeah, this isn’t a full album of brand new music. You could call it a greatest hits package with several new tracks, or a new EP with all their old hits bundled in for good measure. I’m not sure how to classify it. Six new tracks is a bit overkill for a ‘Hits’ album, and all the of older tracks make it an incredibly large EP. So I’ll let you decide independently on what you wish to call it.

The new material was excellent; innovative (they’re still growing as a band), but still Matchbox Twenty. As they’ve always been, they’re cool enough to maintain a teenage fan base, but not too cool for their parents to listen to. MB20 may be the best in the entire music industry at walking this fine line. They’ve walked for well for a long time posting more #1 hits, and more time spent at #1 than any other artist in the history of the Adult Top 40 charts. That’s a very nice feather to stick in your cap. Regardless of all that, I’m just excited to see them recording as a band again, and that Rob didn’t pull a Beyonce.

If you’ve just recently become a fan of Rob Thomas, or only caught on to the band after the release of their last album, this compilation is an absolute must have. My younger readers, trust me when I tell you Matchbox Twenty’s music is fairly timeless, and you’re going to like it. They blazed the trail for Maroon 5 and Fallout Boy, and they did it better (more Maroon than FOB). If you try it and don’t enjoy your listening experience, rip me a brand new one in the comments. I’m that confident in this recommendation.

Official Site

–Jeremy Hobbs

Exile on Mainstream - Buy It Now!

matchbox twenty, exile on mainstream, music, pop, rock

I was a big Kid Rock fan ‘way’ back in the day, when him and Limp Bizkit were the stuff. It’s too bad for Limp that the whole hardcore rock/rap thing didn’t stay afloat, but Kid was lucky enough to have some other musical talents to fall back on; i.e. he can sing.

In ‘Rock N Roll Jesus,’ Kid’s southern rock/alternative-country sound really shines through, and are without doubt the brightest spots on the disc. A bit of rap is still in the mix, but it’s been relegated to a very minor ingredient in the ’soup.’ And to be totally honest, even that little bit seemed really out of place. If he’s going to do the ‘new south’ sound, he needs to do it all the way and shed all of his old images.

The good tracks are really good; ‘Blue Jeans And A Rosary’ it’s just amazing, and will get air time on country, pop, and rock radio stations if it’s ever released as a single. If I were to make a mix CD of the best songs I’ve heard this year, ‘Blue Jeans’ would surely be on the short list of my selections.

‘Amen’ brings up some very relevant social issues that don’t often get mentioned in music a lot. Abuse in the Church, reverse racism, and overtly spiritual messages from a (very) secular artist. It’s a really nice track, gives quite a bit of depth and purpose to the album, and should be listened to carefully. I believe this one is scheduled to be a single at some point.

‘All Summer Long’ has the classic guitar riff from ‘Sweet Home Alabama.’ That will get just about any song an automatic thumbs up from me, but it’s still a great, classic styled rock track. Lyrically, the song reminds me a lot of Bob Seager’s ‘Night Moves.’ Drop me a comment and let me know if you got that vibe as well.

‘Roll On’ is another nice ballad, nothing earth shaking, but is a track that will get you thinking about things. Life is hard, and this track adds perspective to that fact; you should enjoy every moment to it’s absolute fullest. Great saxophone work in the background as well.

‘New Orleans’ is definitely interesting, and ‘When You Love Someone’ is also quite catchy. Just good music, nothing too complicated.

Okay, those were my favorites. Now, tracks I’d avoid; ‘So Hott,’ and ‘Sugar.’ ‘Sugar’ is the ‘rap’ track, and it’s not his best work; on this album or in general. As I said earlier, when compared to the rest of the album, it just seemed entirely out of place. ‘So Hott’ just sucked. Sorry.

The rest of the album is kind of stuck in ‘ehh’ territory. ‘Rock N Roll Jesus’ on the whole gets a timid recommendation from me; I know it wont be for everyone, but a lot of folks will love it. I’ve certainly enjoyed it, it’s earned a spot on my iPod. Find an edited version if you’re buying for a kid, there are a few ‘f-bombs’ and ‘G.D.’s’ sprinkled throughout. Enjoy!

Official Site

–Jeremy Hobbs

Rock and Roll Jesus - Buy It Here!

kid rock, rock n roll jesus, rock, music, southern rock, alternative country