Rob Thomas
Matchbox Twenty lead singer and solo performer Rob Thomas was born (February 14, '72) to military parents stationed in Landstuhl, West Germany.
Following the tour of duty, Rob's family returned to the U.S. and settled in the southeast. In high school Thomas fronted several bands and was influenced by R.E.M., Elvis Costello and Al Green. Between the ages of seventeen and twenty, Thomas roamed around hitch-hiking. His family had problems, his relationships had problems and inserting some distance (both physical and mental) seemed like a good idea. Later, these experiences/frustrations surfaced in his songs.
Thomas spent a lot of nights sitting on freeway on-ramps waiting for the next ride. He used this time to write songs or, if he was tired of that, just go a little crazy and start screaming. There was no one around. What did it matter?
Thomas eventually teamed up with Kyle Cook (guitar/vocals), Adam Gaynor (rhythm guitar/vocals), Brian Yale (bass) and Paul Doucette (drums) to form Matchbox Twenty. Yale and Doucette had played with Thomas in a couple bands.
"Yourself Or Someone Like You" was the group's debut effort, selling over ten million CDs. Riding that popularity, Thomas sang "Smooth" for Carlos Santana's "Supernatural" CD. He wrote the lyrics and co-wrote the music with Itaal Shur. It was '99's longest running #1 single (12 weeks) on the Billboard Hot 100. Next up was Matchbox Twenty's '01 release "Mad Season" and '02's "More Than You Think You Are."
Thomas took a full-on solo turn with "Something To Be" in '05. The album went ot #1 on the Billboard album chart. It was the first time a solo album released by a male artist from a group made its debut in the top slot. In addition, the single "Lonely No More" managed to crack the Billboard Top 10. "This Is How A Heart Breaks" didn't have much chart success but the song was chosen by ABC for their broadcasts of the NBA Play-Offs.
Aside from a solo tour, Thomas also appeared at '05's Live 8 in Philly and the MTV Katrina Relief Concert to benefit hurricane victims.
Thomas' solo set was followed by two Matchbox Twenty live offerings, "A Night In The Life Of Matchbox Twenty" and "EP." Matchbox Twenty issued their "greatest hits" in '07, "Exile From Mainstream." They also released a six-track EP of new songs produced by Steve Lillywhite (U2).
During a late '08 Billboard interview Thomas discussed his sophomore solo effort "Cradlesong." "(It's) the usual mish-mosh of styles, but hopefully just holding true to a bunch of good songs." Thomas added that he'd been influence by South American and African percussionists and that the album had a "more global, rhythmic direction." But true to Thomas' lyrical leanings many of the songs dealt with troubled relationships.
"Cradlesong" dropped in June, '09. In all, 24 tracks were recorded for the album with 14 making the final cut. Among them were the songs "Her Diamonds," "Give Me The Meltdown" and "Fire On The Mountain."
"Something To Be" touches Matchbox Twenty turf ("Ever The Same") but also Rocks with opening track "This Is How A Heart Breaks." In addition, there's the Folk influenced "Problem Girl" and the "Smooth-ish" "Lonely No More."
In '09, Rolling Stone magazine dubbed Thomas the "new" Phil Collins (Genesis) - the frontman from a "name" band who takes a pop turn and is remarkably successful at it. That's Thomas, though he is far less cloying than Collins was back in the '80s.
Anybody who uses African instruments and rhythms is inevitably going to be compared with Paul Simon's "Graceland." "Cradlesong" is not that - thankfully. What we have here is a pop album with some energy and commitment. "Her Diamonds" opens with a natch bass line and percolating rhythm. "Gasoline" and "Give Me The Meltdown" drive hard but without ruffling feathers.
"Mockingbird" is like an '80's post-Wave track that still sounds good. "Real World '09" is pure pop-Rock - and not bad at that. It's followed by "Hard On You" another well-executed pop shot. But the Phil Collin's moment is best captured in "Wonderful," an untempo song with horns and electric guitar yet so lean it kills.