Matchbox 20 – Exile On Mainstream (2007)

Exile On Mainstream by Matchbox 20

Career Overview
Anyone who couldn’t relate to the agitated sounds of late-’90s/early-’00s alt-rock but still wanted to hear something new found solace in such “mature” alternative acts as Matchbox 20. Taking the anthemic rock and balladry of Pearl Jam and smoothing out the edges, the band (led by pretty boy Rob Thomas) hit paydirt right off the bat with their monster-selling debut album, 1996′s YOURSELF OR SOMEONE LIKE YOU. Thomas’s guest vocal on the Santana smash “Smooth” didn’t hurt Matchbox 20′s profile either.

Biography
Popular US rock band formed by Rob Thomas (b. 14 February 1971, Germany; vocals), Kyle Cook (b. 29 August 1975, Indiana, USA; guitar), Adam Gaynor (b. 26 November 1964; guitar), Brian Yale (b. 24 October 1968, USA; bass), and Paul Doucette (b. 22 August 1972, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; drums). Thomas, Doucette and Yale formed Tabitha’s Secret in 1995, but quickly left that band to join forces with Cook and Gaynor. The new quintet’s extensive touring schedule, aided by several demo tapes recorded for producer Matt Serletic, brought them to the attention of Lava, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. Now known as Matchbox 20, the band’s debut album was given a boost when, on the day it was released, Lava was brought under the major label’s auspices.

Given greater promotion and access to Atlantic’s marketing departments, Yourself Or Someone Like You quickly gained a tenacious foothold in the Billboard Hot 200, eventually peaking at number 5 and achieving multi-platinum status. The promotional single, “Long Day“, also proved a minor hit on America’s modern rock radio formats. The follow-up, “Push“, was an even bigger radio hit, although Thomas was forced to hastily explain the rationale behind lyrics relating to emotional and physical abuse.

Matchbox 20 continued to tour heavily on the US club circuit, helping push the album to its exalted position on the Hot 200. Thomas enjoyed even greater success as the featured vocalist on Santana’s US chart-topper “Smooth“, the surprise hit single of 1999. Undergoing a slight name change (from Matchbox 20 to Matchbox Twenty), the band released their sophomore collection Mad Season the following May. “Bent“, a shining example of the band’s inoffensive mature rock sound, climbed to the top of the Hot 100 two months later. The band’s third album More Than You Think You Are, although eagerly awaited by the fans, delivered less than anticipated.

Matchbox Twenty was subsequently put on hiatus as various members embarked on solo projects. Guitarist Adam Gaynor announced he was leaving the band at the start of 2005. Shortly afterwards, Rob Thomas’ solo single “Lonely No More” broke into the US Top 30, while the attendant album … Something To Be debuted at number 1 in April.
Copyright Muze UK Ltd. 1989 – 2005

 

How Far We?ve Come

 

Exile On Mainstream album tracklists are:

Disc: 1

1. How Far We?ve Come

2. I?ll Believe You When

3. All Your Reasons

4. These Hard Times

5. If I Fall

6. I Can?t Let You Go

Disc: 2

1. Long Day

2. Push

3. Real World

4. 3am

5. Back 2 Good

6. Bent

7. If You?re Gone

8. Mad Season

9. Disease

10. Unwell

 

Buy the CD album Exile on Mainstream

Full Mp3 Downloads Exile On Mainstream

 

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This entry was posted on Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 4:35 pm and is filed under Alternative, Rock. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.