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Listening to cradlesong, the second album from Matchbox Twenty singer/songwriter Rob Thomas, it's hard not to think of him as a man out of time, making big music for a world of miniature niches. Thomas makes music as if it was the turn of the millennium, when there were cross-demographic radio formats and stores to goose sales to diamond status, traits that still serve him well when he's constructing sonic skyscrapers, even if the results don't necessarily feel at home in the modern skyline. With its urgent hooks and surging sincerity, cradlesong is recognizably Thomas' work, right down to its lower-case typography, but with the assistance of longtime producer Matt Serletic he's tweaked the formula of his 2005 solo debut Something to Be in judicious ways, using his worldbeat inflections as an underpinning instead of flair, something that ties the album together even when it lends the album a self-conscious sobriety that's a bit oppressive, despite Thomas' enveloping hooks. Still, those hooks go a long way toward opening up a somewhat hermetically sealed album, a record built on careful details in its productions and lyrics, a record constructed with discipline and eager to be taken seriously. This dogged sense of purpose does result in a tighter, better record than Something to Be and even it's not a lot of fun, it's not meant to be: it's big music about big issues, even inflating personal issues to the universal. If it seems somewhat out of step with its year, that almost makes Thomas' somber, determined craft admirable -- he's doing this not because it'll give him a hit but because he believes in it.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Tim Pierce, Guitar - Matt Serletic, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards, Organ, Programmer - Victor Indrizzo, Drums - Rob Thomas, Keyboards, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Sean Hurley, Bass Guitar - Lenny Castro, Percussion - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin - Tom Bukovac, Guitar - Keith Armstrong, AssistantEngineer - Nik Karpen, AssistantEngineer - Andrew Schubert, AdditionalEngineer - Brad Townsend, AdditionalEngineer - Mark Dobson, Audio Recording Engineer, AdditionalEngineer - Alex Arais, AdditionalEngineer - Alex Arias, AssistantEngineer - Mike Leisz, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Pat Woodward, AdditionalEngineer - Jason Dale, AssistantEngineer - Jess Sutcliffe, AdditionalEngineer - Chris Lorde Alge, MixingEngineer - Adam Tilzer, AssistantEngineer - Hal Winer, AssistantEngineer - Robyn Troup, Background Vocals - Sherree Brown, Background Vocals
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation
James Grundler, Background Vocals - Matt Serletic, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer - Victor Indrizzo, Drums - Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer, Background Vocals, MainArtist - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - CHRIS LORD-ALGE, MixingEngineer - Tom Bukovac, Guitar - Keith Armstrong, AssistantEngineer - Nik Karpen, AssistantEngineer - Andrew Schubert, AdditionalEngineer - Brad Townsend, AdditionalEngineer - Mark Dobson, Audio Recording Engineer, AdditionalEngineer - Alex Arias, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Jack Daley, Bass Guitar - Mike Leisz, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Pat Woodward, AdditionalEngineer - Abe Laboriel Jr., Drums - Robyn Troup, Background Vocals - Sherree Brown, Background Vocals
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation
James Grundler, Background Vocals - Tim Pierce, Guitar - Matt Serletic, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, Writer, Background Vocals - Rob Thomas, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, Background Vocals, MainArtist - Rusty Anderson, Guitar - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - CHRIS LORD-ALGE, MixingEngineer - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar - Tom Bukovac, Guitar - Keith Armstrong, AssistantEngineer - Nik Karpen, AssistantEngineer - Andrew Schubert, AdditionalEngineer - Brad Townsend, AdditionalEngineer - Mark Dobson, Audio Recording Engineer, AdditionalEngineer - Alex Arias, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Jack Daley, Bass - Mike Leisz, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Abe Laboriel Jr., Drums - Adam Tilzer, AssistantEngineer - Robyn Troup, Background Vocals - Sherree Brown, Background Vocals - Dejan Stanjevic, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation
Butch Walker, Background Vocals - James Grundler, Background Vocals - Matt Serletic, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards, Piano, Programmer, Writer, Background Vocals - Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer, Background Vocals, MainArtist - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - CHRIS LORD-ALGE, MixingEngineer - Tom Bukovac, Beats, Guitar, Bass Guitar - Keith Armstrong, AssistantEngineer - Nik Karpen, AssistantEngineer - Andrew Schubert, AdditionalEngineer - Brad Townsend, AdditionalEngineer - Mark Dobson, Audio Recording Engineer, AdditionalEngineer - Alex Arias, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Mike Leisz, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Abe Laboriel Jr., Drums - Jason Dale, AssistantEngineer - Hal Winer, AssistantEngineer - Robyn Troup, Background Vocals - Sherree Brown, Background Vocals - Shy Carter, Writer
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation
James Grundler, Background Vocals - Tim Pierce, Guitar - Matt Serletic, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards, Programmer, Background Vocals - Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Rusty Anderson, Guitar - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Patrick Warren, Chamberlain Strings - CHRIS LORD-ALGE, MixingEngineer - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin - Tom Bukovac, Guitar - Keith Armstrong, AssistantEngineer - Nik Karpen, AssistantEngineer - Andrew Schubert, AdditionalEngineer - Brad Townsend, AdditionalEngineer - Mark Dobson, Audio Recording Engineer, AdditionalEngineer - Stevie Blacke, Strings - Alex Arias, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Jack Daley, Bass Guitar - Mike Leisz, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Pat Woodward, AdditionalEngineer - Abe Laboriel Jr., Drums - Jason Dale, AssistantEngineer - Adam Tilzer, AssistantEngineer - Sherree Brown, Background Vocals
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation
James Grundler, Background Vocals - Matt Serletic, Arranger, Keyboards, Programmer, Background Vocals - Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - CHRIS LORD-ALGE, MixingEngineer - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin - Tom Bukovac, Guitar - Keith Armstrong, AssistantEngineer - Nik Karpen, AssistantEngineer - NELLEE HOOPER, Writer - Andrew Schubert, AdditionalEngineer - Brad Townsend, AdditionalEngineer - Mark Dobson, Audio Recording Engineer, AdditionalEngineer - Alex Arias, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Jack Daley, Bass Guitar - Mike Leisz, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Matt Sereltic, Writer - Jason Dale, AssistantEngineer - Hal Winer, AssistantEngineer - Robyn Troup, Background Vocals - Sherree Brown, Background Vocals
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation
James Grundler, Background Vocals - Tim Pierce, Guitar - Matt Serletic, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards, Programmer, Background Vocals - Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Jimmie Lee Sloas, Bass Guitar - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Patrick Warren, Chamberlain Strings, Keyboards, Organ - CHRIS LORD-ALGE, MixingEngineer - Tom Bukovac, Guitar - Keith Armstrong, AssistantEngineer - Nik Karpen, AssistantEngineer - Andrew Schubert, AssistantEngineer - Brad Townsend, AssistantEngineer - JUstin Niebank, Audio Recording Engineer - Mark Dobson, Audio Recording Engineer, AssistantEngineer - Alex Arais, Pro Tools Editing, AssistantEngineer - Mike Leisz, Pro Tools Editing, AssistantEngineer - Jason Dale, AssistantEngineer - Michael Bland, Drums
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation
Matt Serletic, Organ, Programmer - Victor Indrizzo, Drums - Rob Thomas, Keyboards, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Sean Hurley, Bass Guitar - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Lenny Castro, Percussion - CHRIS LORD-ALGE, MixingEngineer - Michael Landau, Guitar - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin - Keith Armstrong, AssistantEngineer - Nik Karpen, AssistantEngineer - Andrew Schubert, AdditionalEngineer - Brad Townsend, AdditionalEngineer - Mark Dobson, Audio Recording Engineer, AdditionalEngineer - Alex Arias, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Mike Leisz, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Pat Woodward, AdditionalEngineer - Matt Sereltic, Producer - Jason Dale, AssistantEngineer - Seth Morton, AssistantEngineer - Adam Tilzer, AssistantEngineer - Hal Winer, AssistantEngineer - Robyn Troup, Background Vocals - Sherree Brown, Background Vocals
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation
James Grundler, Background Vocals - Tim Pierce, Guitar - Matt Serletic, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards, Piano, Programmer - Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Sharlotte Gibson, Background Vocals - Jimmie Lee Sloas, Bass Guitar - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - CHRIS LORD-ALGE, MixingEngineer - Tom Bukovac, Guitar, Bass Guitar - Keith Armstrong, AssistantEngineer - Nik Karpen, AssistantEngineer - Andrew Schubert, AdditionalEngineer - Brad Townsend, AdditionalEngineer - JUstin Niebank, Audio Recording Engineer - Mark Dobson, Audio Recording Engineer, AdditionalEngineer - Alex Arias, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Mike Leisz, Pro Tools Editing, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Pat Woodward, Background Vocals - Jason Dale, AssistantEngineer - Michael Bland, Drums - Adam Tilzer, AssistantEngineer - Robyn Troup, Background Vocals
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation
James Grundler, Background Vocals - Tim Pierce, Guitar - Matt Serletic, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards, Organ, Programmer - Victor Indrizzo, Drums, Percussion - Rob Thomas, Keyboards, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Sean Hurley, Bass Guitar - Sharlotte Gibson, Background Vocals - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Michael Landau, Guitar - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar - Tom Bukovac, Guitar - Keith Armstrong, AssistantEngineer - Nik Karpen, AssistantEngineer - Andrew Schubert, AdditionalEngineer - Brad Townsend, AdditionalEngineer - Mark Dobson, Audio Recording Engineer, AdditionalEngineer - Alex Arais, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Mike Leisz, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Pat Woodward, AdditionalEngineer - Matt Sereltic, Writer - Hal Winer, AdditionalEngineer - Robyn Troup, Background Vocals - Ben Peeler, Pedal Steel Guitar
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation
James Grundler, Background Vocals - Tim Pierce, Guitar - Matt Serletic, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards, Programmer - Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Rusty Anderson, Guitar - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Lenny Castro, Percussion - CHRIS LORD-ALGE, MixingEngineer - KENNY ARONOFF, Drums - Tom Bukovac, Guitar - Keith Armstrong, AssistantEngineer - Nik Karpen, AssistantEngineer - Andrew Schubert, AdditionalEngineer - Brad Townsend, AdditionalEngineer - Mark Dobson, Audio Recording Engineer, AdditionalEngineer - Alex Arias, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Jack Daley, Bass Guitar - Mike Leisz, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Pat Woodward, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Jason Dale, AssistantEngineer - Jess Sutcliffe, Audio Recording Engineer - Hal Winer, AssistantEngineer - Robyn Troup, Background Vocals - Sherree Brown, Background Vocals
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation
Tim Pierce, Guitar - Matt Serletic, Arranger, Programmer - Rob Thomas, Keyboards, Lead Vocals, Writer, Background Vocals, MainArtist - Jimmie Lee Sloas, Bass Guitar - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Patrick Warren, Piano - Kim Hutchcroft, Bass Guitar, Tenor Saxophone - Lee Thornburg, Trumpet - Tom Bukovac, Guitar - Keith Armstrong, AssistantEngineer - Nik Karpen, AssistantEngineer - Andrew Schubert, AdditionalEngineer - Brad Townsend, AdditionalEngineer - JUstin Niebank, Audio Recording Engineer - Mark Dobson, Percussion, Audio Recording Engineer, AdditionalEngineer - Alex Arias, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Mike Leisz, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Keith Fiddmont, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone - Michael Bland, Drums - Hal Winer, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Dino Soldo, Tenor Saxophone
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation
James Grundler, Background Vocals - Tim Pierce, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Matt Serletic, Producer, Arranger, Organ, Programmer - Rob Thomas, Arranger, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Rusty Anderson, Guitar - Jim Keltner, Drums - Lee Sklar, Bass Guitar - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Lenny Castro, Percussion - Bryan Sutton, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin - Keith Armstrong, AssistantEngineer - Andrew Schubert, AdditionalEngineer - Brad Townsend, AdditionalEngineer - Mark Dobson, Audio Recording Engineer, AdditionalEngineer - Jordan Stilwell, AssistantEngineer - Alex Arias, AdditionalEngineer - Mike Leisz, AdditionalEngineer - Pat Woodward, AdditionalEngineer - Abe Laboriel Jr., Drums - Jason Dale, AdditionalEngineer - Jess Sutcliffe, AdditionalEngineer - Hal Winer, AdditionalEngineer - Robyn Troup, Background Vocals - Sherree Brown, Background Vocals - Ben Peeler, Bouzouki, Guitar - Marisol Thomas, Arranger, Background Vocals
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation
Tim Pierce, Acoustic Guitar - Matt Serletic, Producer, Arranger - Rob Thomas, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Patrick Warren, Organ - CHRIS LORD-ALGE, MixingEngineer - Tom Bukovac, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar - Keith Armstrong, AssistantEngineer - Nik Karpen, AssistantEngineer - Andrew Schubert, Engineer - Brad Townsend, AdditionalEngineer - JUstin Niebank, Audio Recording Engineer - Mark Dobson, Audio Recording Engineer, AdditionalEngineer - Alex Arias, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Mike Leisz, AdditionalEngineer, AssistantEngineer - Jason Dale, AssistantEngineer - Michael Bland, Drums
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation
Album review
Listening to cradlesong, the second album from Matchbox Twenty singer/songwriter Rob Thomas, it's hard not to think of him as a man out of time, making big music for a world of miniature niches. Thomas makes music as if it was the turn of the millennium, when there were cross-demographic radio formats and stores to goose sales to diamond status, traits that still serve him well when he's constructing sonic skyscrapers, even if the results don't necessarily feel at home in the modern skyline. With its urgent hooks and surging sincerity, cradlesong is recognizably Thomas' work, right down to its lower-case typography, but with the assistance of longtime producer Matt Serletic he's tweaked the formula of his 2005 solo debut Something to Be in judicious ways, using his worldbeat inflections as an underpinning instead of flair, something that ties the album together even when it lends the album a self-conscious sobriety that's a bit oppressive, despite Thomas' enveloping hooks. Still, those hooks go a long way toward opening up a somewhat hermetically sealed album, a record built on careful details in its productions and lyrics, a record constructed with discipline and eager to be taken seriously. This dogged sense of purpose does result in a tighter, better record than Something to Be and even it's not a lot of fun, it's not meant to be: it's big music about big issues, even inflating personal issues to the universal. If it seems somewhat out of step with its year, that almost makes Thomas' somber, determined craft admirable -- he's doing this not because it'll give him a hit but because he believes in it.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:53:28
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Rob Thomas
- Label: Emblem - Atlantic
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
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