Exile on Mainstream

Victorious march around the globe

When American alternative rock band Matchbox Twenty recorded their debut album Yourself Or Someone Like You in 1996 the critics didn't feel like making far going plans about it and unanimously attached the band to the army of other little-known post grunge acts. Nobody was going to set special hopes and the fact that the band's first single Push was gradually climbing up the charts was considered only as a temporary success. However, despite the competent opinions the album wouldn't leave the charts, quite on the contrary, the band's popularity began gaining ground with such a speed that Matchbox Twenty grew popular not only across US but far beyond the borders of the country in the short run. As a result, by 1998 Yourself Or Someone Like You sold five million copies, by 2000 ten millions, plus eight millions in Australia and some more in Canada. Considering that the band's promotion was not really pushing it wasn't just a mere success but a real victorious march around the globe. Then there were two following studio albums that occupied the entire media space and radio air but after that Matchbox Twenty unexpectedly disappeared. Of course, there were some news from the band's camp but they didn't release a single song since 2002. By all appearances this prolonged career gap made the musicians a little bored and they decided to return to musical ranks again with their new disc Exile On Mainstream.

Simplicity and confidence

In order to avoid unnecessary questions and misunderstanding it is worth to notify you at once, Exile On Mainstream is realized in a pretty unconventional format. It represents only six new songs, which is not quite enough for a full-fledged album, all the rest are the band's old hits. Well, let it be, it seems like this variant is the most effective: the album will be interesting to old fans, for casual listeners who know this band by their radio appearances and especially for those who want to get acquainted with them. The 11 songs selection reflects the progression of Matchbox Twenty as a mainstream band and their new songs crown it all with a new approach to songwriting. Unlike previous albums, which featured vocalist Rob Thomas as a leading composer, new songs were written by the whole band. Everything looks as if the main aim of the musicians was not to create another super popular album but to have some fun in the studio and remember their old days. The new songs sound really easy-going, positive and extremely confident. Nobody feels embarrassed by the simple to the point of primitivism parties; simplicity is raised to the second power here but it works, and it works really good.

Good mood domination

The album's first track How Far We've Come finds the newfound energy and liveliness of the band burning with readiness to become a leader of your playlist. Double-time, gleeful bass and unpretentious guitar – that's all this band needs to charge you with a good portion of positive mood. Everything is simple but you can't resist it, these melodies are simply too catchy. The band proceeds having fun on I'll Believe In You, which sounds so sunny and childishly sincere that you can't help dancing a little or at least moving some part of your body in time with the beat. All Your Reasons features lots of high pitched backing vocals, the entire band shouts pa-pa-pa and tu-tu-tu but it doesn't sound trite, the musicians' rejoicing is so infectious and true that it is impossible not to feel it. Of course, new songs include some slow numbers too. These are mainstream classic These Hard Times and nice ballad Can't Let You Go, played in a slow waltz tempo. As for the selection of Matchbox Twenty's singles, the album features all their radio hits represented in chronological order plus some less popular songs that failed to climb that high on the charts. Of course, there will always be somebody who will find this compilation incomplete but in reality everything looks more than just informative. So if you are still unfamiliar to Matchbox Twenty than Exile On Mainstream is the best album to start with.