Mad Season

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The long-awaited second Melisma/Lava/Atlantic release from matchbox twenty, stands as a great leap forward for one of today's most compelling rock n' roll groups. Following the stunning success of their explosive 1996 debut, YOURSELF OR SOMEONE LIKE YOU, this soul-infused collection of modern classics amply demonstrates the band's remarkably expressive range and power. Having spent nearly 600 nights on the road since the release of YOURSELF OR SOMEONE LIKE YOU, matchbox twenty has grown into a creative musical machine firing on all cylinders. Thomas' rich vocals have ripened in both strength and maturity, as have Kyle Cook and Adam Gaynor's heartfelt harmonies and chiming twin guitar arrangements. Binding these elements together is the inventive, propulsive rhythm section of bassist Brian Yale and drummer Paul Doucette. mad season by matchbox twenty highlights the continuing development of Thomas' gifts as a writer, with songs focusing on the binding elements of our increasingly unconnected world. In addition, the album features a no-holds-barred sonic approach which incorprates new musical texture - such as intricate orchestrations and fierce horn sections. Recorded in Atlanta and Nashville during the second half of 1999, mad season by matchbox twenty was produced by Matt Serletic, the man behind the board for YOURSELF OR SOMEONE LIKE YOU. Late last year, that album - a Billboard Top Five smash - earned the RIAA's prestigious Diamond Award, marking certified U.S. sales in excess of 10 million units. Certified Multi-Platinum (4 times) by the RIAA. (10/01) .com ---- Sell 10 million copies of your debut album and you might find yourself putting on a few airs. Evidence that it's happened to matchbox twenty can be found in the new, spelled-out format of their all-lowercased name and the pretentious insertion of that name into the title of this, their sopre set. The level of popularity achieved by their 1996 debut, Yourself or Someone Like You ( /exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002JWU/%24%7B0%7D ), posed a more profound problem, though--should they follow in the footsteps of that smash effort, or strike out in a different direction? To their credit, the Orlando quintet puts their massive popularity on the line by opting mostly for the latter course: there are no obvious retreads here of earlier hits such as "Push," "3 a.m.," and "Real World"--or of "Smooth," the multiple-Grammy-winning Santana ( /exec/obidos/ts/artist-glance/124372/%24%7B0%7D ) hit penned and sung by matchbox frontman Rob Thomas. Instead, the album sports a nice mix of material that is catchy, but may take a little longer to settle into your memory banks, such as the moody yet intense "Bent," the horn-driven rocker "Black & White People," and several songs examining various aspects of relationships, "If You're Gone," "Rest Stop," and "Bed of Lies." Whatever the members of matchbox twenty want to call themselves, these guys may yet be able to have it all--artistic growth as well as massive sales. They're not headed for Hootieville just yet. --Daniel Durchholz