Album Review: Matchbox Twenty - North

Matchbox Twenty's new album North comes out on the 3rd of September 2012 in the UK, but with thanks to Play.com, I have it two days early, and what a treat it was to see it on the doormat upon waking up this morning. It is a great album by an amazing band who can write both amazing songs musically and lyrically, with Rob Thomas writing a majority of the songs, and being the main vocalist.

Parade: A beautiful song, with harmonising voices which work really well with the electric guitar and drums, that slowly progresses to the chorus. The lyrics are with meaning and hold emotion.  The short guitar solo should be out of place, but it fits in with the rock feel of this lovely ballad. It is nothing too complex for a first album song.

She's So Mean: One of the catchiest songs of the year and a song to which I know every single word to thanks to the single being released a little while ago. It has a beat you can't help bob to with all its different sounds (pop-rock), which aptly flow into the other with it being so well produced. The lyrics are rather humorous if you listen to them, as well as again having a meaning of being drawn to 'bad' girl.

Overjoyed: This is one of the most beautiful songs I have heard this year, which you could just sit back, close your eyes and smile to as you listen to it; I've listened to it so much already that I know the lyrics. The lyrics are lovely and full of rich emotion, as well as the musical arrangement being perfect. This is one of those songs couples will say is 'their' song. I hope this song gets the recognition is really deserves! When you listen to it, just let it take over yourself - you'll get goosebumps.

Put Your Hands Up: Again this song has that pop-rock feel (reminiscent of the sort of songs on the recent Maroon 5 album), but is rather catchy and again a song you can't help but bob up and down to. A very fast song with a lot happening, but it's a great song.

Our Song: The lyrics of this song, just like all songs which are written by Rob Thomas, are taunt with meaning and emotion. The music is a little peculiar, and possibly does not match the feel of the lyrics, but you can't fault how catchy it is and how well sung it is by Rob.

I Will: It starts with the almost cliché '1, 2, 3, 4' which acoustic songs have. However, departing from that, this is a welcomed, toned down song with a guitar, piano and violin, and has no big production like the past couple of songs. The lyrics to this song are full of meaning, and sung with real emotion by the writer. The song builds wonderfully, and it is again a song you can close your eyes and smile with.

English Town: This song has eerie piano to it for the first minute, but then it just explodes unexpectedly into an amazing chorus, which is catchy and infection and cannot help but put a smile on your face with the great production which builds until the songs end; I think this would of made for a great first track for the album. The lyrics are just like every other song so far, and yet every song is original, with no overlap in meaning and emotion and sung incredibly well. This is another of my favourite song, as well as being the first song not written by Rob on the album, which sort of seems obvious.

How Long: This song has a unique sound, which I can only describe as being reminiscent to a fair ground. It's a slow song with lots of power and again meaning, with beautiful lyrics and is sung well. It's catchy and will keep going around in your head, and is noticeable as one not written by Rob Thomas, for reasons I can't put my finger on.

Radio: A rock song, which has that 80's ballad sound, mixed in with jazz. It has all been mixed to make a song which doesn’t have meaningful lyrics, but is a song which captures the power of radio. It's a landmark song for just over half way through the album and it has a big finish. It is quite incredible.

The Way: Another song not written by Rob Thomas, and is again noticeably different in its tone, but it is a really beautiful song, which has emotion and power and has been musically produced very successfully with the mixture of electric power and mellow acoustic sounds. It has what I call a very natural sound.

Like Sugar: In contrast to the last song, this has a mechanical sound (I know what I mean, even if you don't). This song is amazing again for the emotion and power that Rob Thomas expresses in his voice. The music works well and that is probably down to the consistently brilliant production to this album.

Sleeping At The Wheel: This is a slow song with the expected emotion of voice and lyric, which makes it yet another lovely song. However, it is not one that will have an effect on the listener, which I partly because of the repetition of lyric and beat. This is one of the weaker songs on the album.

I Believe In Everything: That last song is made up by this song, with it being faster paced with more of a musical progression which matches the lyrics, which are again beautiful. The song is also rather catchy; the first for a few songs. It's uplifting and has great power.

Straight For This Life: In tone, this song is similar to Sleeping At The Wheel. This has an acoustic sound, which works well with the voice, but this song lacks that something which makes it special despite the great lyrics. Forgetting that though, it is refreshing and poignant, but one the greatest songs they've done.

Waiting On A Train: For the last song, the pace is picked up, which is the sort of song Rob Thomas' voice suits. The progression in this song is great. The lyrics may not have much emotion, but it's not something needed for a song which is catchy and again, uplifting. This works as a great end for the album.

So, despite being a little too critical of a few songs, this is a great album by a band that hasn’t produced new music for 5 years, and first new album for 10. I became aware of them long after their last album, so to have new stuff to now listen to is nothing but a real treat. Rob Thomas is one of my favourite song writers and performers, with his solo work being some of my regular played albums.

In fact, this album is everything that I wanted from the Maroon 5 album this. It is consistently good, with a consistent sound which is instantly recognisable as them. The songs are mostly all beautiful, and all performed/produced/written as amazing three minute long master pieces.

I have to thank them all for doing what Maroon 5 failed to do in my eyes. This is a great album, and to those people who love their music - you will adore this album all because of the talent of Rob Thomas, as well as the other three band members, and the production of every song by Matt Serletic (who, interestingly, produced my favourite Rob Thomas album 'Cradlesong').