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Say this for Matchbox Twenty -- they've gotten better the longer they've stuck around. And that's not just their music, either: they've dropped the pretense of spelling their name as matchbox 20, they've gone away from cumbersome album titles, and they've embraced their status as MOR rockers. All of this is evident on Exile on Mainstream, which is not only the first of their albums to bear a simple yet clever title, it's a collection of hits that traces their progression into a good, solid mainstream band and is also buttressed by an EP that finds them livelier than ever. Bolder, too, especially on the rockabilly of "I'll Believe You When" and the slow oldies beat of "Can't Let You Go," which are light and dexterous in a way they've never been before. These are balanced by a few cuts that don't stretch quite as far, but the propulsive pop "If I Fall," charging anthem "How Far We've Come," and earnest ballad "These Hard Times" are smooth, accomplished mainstream pop that are better constructed in every respect than their earliest hits. That much is evident by this EP's juxtaposition with the 11-track greatest-hits disc, which has all their big radio hits presented in chronological order. There are a few minor hits missing -- "Angry," "Last Beautiful Girl," "Downfall," none of which climbed that high on the charts -- so this has everything that a modern rock or adult contemporary radio listener would know, and the striking thing about listening to the disc is to hear how they abandoned the angst-ridden cartwheels that weighed down "Push" and built upon the snappy hooks of "Real World" and "3 AM," developing a sense of melodic craft that flourished in the smooth ballad "If You're Gone" and the arena rocker "Unwell." These were highlights on their respective albums, but when these moments are put together as a hits collection, it makes for a surprisingly entertaining batch of mainstream rock -- but the real story is the bonus disc, which suggests that after this collection is out of the way, Matchbox Twenty may have their first very good studio album on the way.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer - Matchbox Twenty, MainArtist - Gavin Lurssen, MasteringEngineer - Kyle Cook, Mandolin, Backing Vocals, Writer, Lead Guitar - Steve Lillywhite, Producer, MixingEngineer - C.J. Eiriksson, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Fox Phelps, AssistantEngineer - Brian Yale, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer - Paul Doucette, Drums, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Backing Vocals, Writer - Ryan Mac Millan, Drums - Willy Donica, Guitar Technician
© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer - Matchbox Twenty, MainArtist - Gavin Lurssen, MasteringEngineer - Kyle Cook, Backing Vocals, Writer, Lead Guitar - Steve Lillywhite, Producer, MixingEngineer - C.J. Eiriksson, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Fox Phelps, AssistantEngineer - Brian Yale, Bass Guitar, Writer - Paul Doucette, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, Backing Vocals, Writer - Ryan Mac Millan, Drums - Matt Beck, Drums
© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer - Matchbox Twenty, MainArtist - Gavin Lurssen, MasteringEngineer - Kyle Cook, Mandolin, Backing Vocals, Writer, Lead Guitar - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - C.J. Eiriksson, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Fox Phelps, AssistantEngineer - Brian Yale, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer - Paul Doucette, Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer - Ryan Mac Millan, Drums - Willy Donica, Guitar Technician
© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer - Matchbox Twenty, MainArtist - Gavin Lurssen, MasteringEngineer - Kyle Cook, Backing Vocals, Writer, Lead Guitar - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - C.J. Eiriksson, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Fox Phelps, AssistantEngineer - Brian Yale, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer - Paul Doucette, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Backing Vocals, Writer - Ryan Mac Millan, Drums
© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer - Matchbox Twenty, MainArtist - Gavin Lurssen, MasteringEngineer - Kyle Cook, Solo Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer, Lead Guitar - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - C.J. Eiriksson, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Fox Phelps, AssistantEngineer - Brian Yale, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer - Paul Doucette, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Backing Vocals, Writer - Ryan Mac Millan, Drums - Matt Beck, Organ
© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer - Matchbox Twenty, MainArtist - Gavin Lurssen, MasteringEngineer - Kyle Cook, Solo Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer, Lead Guitar - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Stevie Blacke, Strings - C.J. Eiriksson, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Fox Phelps, AssistantEngineer - Brian Yale, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer - Paul Doucette, Percussion, Piano, Backing Vocals, Writer - Ryan Mac Millan, Drums - Matt Beck, Organ - Willy Donica, Guitar Technician
© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Raymond Douglas Davies, Composer - Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Melodica - Matchbox Twenty, Producer, MainArtist - Ray Davies, Writer - Gavin Lurssen, MasteringEngineer - Kyle Cook, Mandolin - C.J. Eiriksson, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Fox Phelps, AssistantEngineer - Brian Yale, Bass Guitar - Paul Doucette, Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals - Willy Donica, Mandolin
© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Matt Serletic, Producer, Keyboards, Percussion, MixingEngineer - Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer - Matchbox Twenty, MainArtist - Stephen Marcussen, MasteringEngineer - Kyle Cook, Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar - JEFF TOMEI, Engineer - Malcolm Springer, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Don C. Tyler, Editing Engineer - Adam Gaynor, Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals - Brian Yale, Bass Guitar - Paul Doucette, Drums - Greg Archilla, MixingEngineer - Craig Poole, Guitar Technician - John Nielsen, AssistantEngineer - Jan Smith, Coach Vocals - Tony Adams, Drum Technician - Travis McGehee, MixingEngineer
© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Matt Serletic, Producer, Keyboards, Percussion, Writer, MixingEngineer - Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer - Matchbox Twenty, MainArtist - Stephen Marcussen, MasteringEngineer - Kyle Cook, Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar - JEFF TOMEI, Engineer - Malcolm Springer, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Don C. Tyler, Editing Engineer - Adam Gaynor, Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals - Brian Yale, Bass Guitar - Paul Doucette, Drums - Greg Archilla, MixingEngineer - Craig Poole, Guitar Technician - John Nielsen, AssistantEngineer - Jan Smith, Coach Vocals - Tony Adams, Drum Technician - Travis McGehee, MixingEngineer
© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Matt Serletic, Producer, Keyboards, Percussion, MixingEngineer - Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer - Matchbox Twenty, MainArtist - Stephen Marcussen, MasteringEngineer - Kyle Cook, Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar - JEFF TOMEI, Engineer - Malcolm Springer, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Don C. Tyler, Editing Engineer - Adam Gaynor, Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals - Brian Yale, Bass Guitar, Writer - Paul Doucette, Drums - JOHN JOSEPH Stanley, Writer - JOHN LESLIE Goff, Writer - Greg Archilla, MixingEngineer - Craig Poole, Guitar Technician - John Nielsen, AssistantEngineer - Jan Smith, Coach Vocals - Tony Adams, Drum Technician - Travis McGehee, MixingEngineer
© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Matt Serletic, Producer, Keyboards, Percussion, MixingEngineer - Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer - Matchbox Twenty, MainArtist - Stephen Marcussen, MasteringEngineer - Kyle Cook, Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar - JEFF TOMEI, Engineer - Malcolm Springer, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Don C. Tyler, Editing Engineer - Adam Gaynor, Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals - Brian Yale, Bass Guitar - Paul Doucette, Drums - Greg Archilla, MixingEngineer - Craig Poole, Guitar Technician - John Nielsen, AssistantEngineer - Jan Smith, Coach Vocals - Tony Adams, Drum Technician - Travis McGehee, MixingEngineer
© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Matt Serletic, Producer, Keyboards, Percussion, Writer, MixingEngineer - Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer - Matchbox Twenty, MainArtist - Stephen Marcussen, MasteringEngineer - Kyle Cook, Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar - JEFF TOMEI, Engineer - Malcolm Springer, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Don C. Tyler, Editing Engineer - Adam Gaynor, Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals - Brian Yale, Bass Guitar - Paul Doucette, Drums - Greg Archilla, MixingEngineer - Craig Poole, Guitar Technician - Amy Porter, Flute - John Nielsen, AssistantEngineer - Douglas Smith, Bass Clarinet - Jan Smith, Coach Vocals - Ted Gurch, Clarinet - Tony Adams, Drum Technician - Yvonne Powers, Oboe - Travis McGehee, MixingEngineer - Elizabeth Burkhardt, Section Leader
© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Matt Serletic, Producer, Orchestral Conductor - Rob Thomas, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, Rhythm Guitar - Matchbox Twenty, MainArtist - David Thoener, MixingEngineer - Stephen Marcussen, MasteringEngineer - Mark Dobson, Editing Engineer, Pro-Tools Engineer, AdditionalEngineer - Kyle Cook, Vocals, Lead Guitar - Stewart Whitmore, MasteringEngineer - Greg Fogie, Assistant Recording Engineer - Kevin Szymanski, Assistant Mix Engineer - Shawn Grove, Assistant Recording Engineer, Pro-Tools Engineer - Adam Gaynor, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Rhythm Guitar - Brian Yale, Bass Guitar - Paul Doucette, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Craig Poole, Guitar Technician - Robert Hannon, Assistant Recording Engineer - Tony Adams, Drum Technician
© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Matt Serletic, Producer, Orchestral Conductor - Rob Thomas, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, Rhythm Guitar - Matchbox Twenty, MainArtist - David Thoener, MixingEngineer - Stephen Marcussen, MasteringEngineer - Noel Golden, RecordingEngineer - Mark Dobson, Editing Engineer, Pro-Tools Engineer, AdditionalEngineer - Kyle Cook, Vocals, Lead Guitar - Stewart Whitmore, MasteringEngineer - Greg Fogie, Assistant Recording Engineer - Kevin Szymanski, Assistant Mix Engineer - Shawn Grove, Assistant Recording Engineer, Pro-Tools Engineer - Adam Gaynor, Backing Vocals, Rhythm Guitar - Brian Yale, Bass Guitar - Paul Doucette, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Craig Poole, Guitar Technician - Robert Hannon, Assistant Recording Engineer - Tony Adams, Drum Technician
© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Matt Serletic, Producer, Orchestral Conductor - Rob Thomas, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, Rhythm Guitar - Matchbox Twenty, MainArtist - David Thoener, MixingEngineer - Stephen Marcussen, MasteringEngineer - Mark Dobson, Editing Engineer, Pro-Tools Engineer, AdditionalEngineer - Kyle Cook, Vocals, Lead Guitar - Stewart Whitmore, MasteringEngineer - Greg Fogie, Assistant Recording Engineer - Kevin Szymanski, Assistant Mix Engineer - Shawn Grove, Assistant Recording Engineer, Pro-Tools Engineer - Adam Gaynor, Backing Vocals, Rhythm Guitar - Brian Yale, Bass Guitar - Paul Doucette, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Craig Poole, Guitar Technician - Robert Hannon, Assistant Recording Engineer - Tony Adams, Drum Technician
© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Matt Serletic, Producer - Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer - Sarah Adams, Viola - Matchbox Twenty, MainArtist - Crystal Garner, Viola - Barry Finclair, Violin - MICK JAGGER, Writer - Greg Collins, MixingEngineer - Kyle Cook, Lead Guitar, Background Vocals - Jan Mullen, Violin - Chris Testa, AssistantEngineer - Pat Woodward, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Donna Tecco, Violin - Ricky Sortomme, Violin - Sue Pray, Viola - Vaneese Thomas, Background Vocals - Jon Belec, AssistantEngineer - Mark Dodson, Editing Engineer, Pro-Tools Engineer, AdditionalEngineer - Carol Webb, Violin, Strings Concertmaster - Enrico DiCecco, Violin - Jonathan Dinklage, Violin - Adam Gaynor, Rhythm Guitar, Background Vocals - Brian Yale, Bass Guitar - Paul Doucette, Drums, Percussion - Lydia Mann-Jaime, Background Vocals - Bill Synan, AssistantEngineer - Craig Poole, Guitar Technician - Vincent Lionti, Viola - Maura Giannini, Violin - Tony Adams, Drum Technician - Sebastian Nicolet, AssistantEngineer
© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Matt Serletic, Producer - Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer - Matchbox Twenty, MainArtist - Greg Leisz, Pedal Steel Guitar - Greg Collins, MixingEngineer - Kyle Cook, Banjo, Lead Guitar, Background Vocals - Chris Testa, AssistantEngineer - Pat Woodward, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Jon Belec, AssistantEngineer - Mark Dodson, Editing Engineer, Pro-Tools Engineer, AdditionalEngineer - Adam Gaynor, Rhythm Guitar, Background Vocals - Brian Yale, Bass Guitar - Paul Doucette, Drums, Percussion - Eric Ralske, French Horn - Jerome Ashby, French Horn - Bill Synan, AssistantEngineer - Craig Poole, Guitar Technician - Tony Adams, Drum Technician - Sebastian Nicolet, AssistantEngineer
© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Matt Serletic, Producer - Rob Thomas, Piano, Lead Vocals, Writer - David Campbell, String Arranger - Matchbox Twenty, MainArtist - Greg Leisz, Pedal Steel Guitar - Greg Collins, MixingEngineer - Kyle Cook, Lead Guitar, Background Vocals - Chris Testa, AssistantEngineer - Pat Woodward, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Jon Belec, AssistantEngineer - Mark Dodson, Editing Engineer, Pro-Tools Engineer, AdditionalEngineer - Adam Gaynor, Rhythm Guitar, Background Vocals - Brian Yale, Bass Guitar - Paul Doucette, Drums, Percussion - Bill Synan, AssistantEngineer - Craig Poole, Guitar Technician - Tony Adams, Drum Technician - Sebastian Nicolet, AssistantEngineer
© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
Album review
Say this for Matchbox Twenty -- they've gotten better the longer they've stuck around. And that's not just their music, either: they've dropped the pretense of spelling their name as matchbox 20, they've gone away from cumbersome album titles, and they've embraced their status as MOR rockers. All of this is evident on Exile on Mainstream, which is not only the first of their albums to bear a simple yet clever title, it's a collection of hits that traces their progression into a good, solid mainstream band and is also buttressed by an EP that finds them livelier than ever. Bolder, too, especially on the rockabilly of "I'll Believe You When" and the slow oldies beat of "Can't Let You Go," which are light and dexterous in a way they've never been before. These are balanced by a few cuts that don't stretch quite as far, but the propulsive pop "If I Fall," charging anthem "How Far We've Come," and earnest ballad "These Hard Times" are smooth, accomplished mainstream pop that are better constructed in every respect than their earliest hits. That much is evident by this EP's juxtaposition with the 11-track greatest-hits disc, which has all their big radio hits presented in chronological order. There are a few minor hits missing -- "Angry," "Last Beautiful Girl," "Downfall," none of which climbed that high on the charts -- so this has everything that a modern rock or adult contemporary radio listener would know, and the striking thing about listening to the disc is to hear how they abandoned the angst-ridden cartwheels that weighed down "Push" and built upon the snappy hooks of "Real World" and "3 AM," developing a sense of melodic craft that flourished in the smooth ballad "If You're Gone" and the arena rocker "Unwell." These were highlights on their respective albums, but when these moments are put together as a hits collection, it makes for a surprisingly entertaining batch of mainstream rock -- but the real story is the bonus disc, which suggests that after this collection is out of the way, Matchbox Twenty may have their first very good studio album on the way.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 18 track(s)
- Total length: 01:09:31
- Main artists: Matchbox Twenty
- Composer: Raymond Douglas Davies
- Label: Atlantic Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2007 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
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