Matchbox Twenty (yes folks, unlike the last album cover, the "20" has been spelt out for us just in case we weren't sure about its correct wording) has proven that great song-writing skills and strong vocals *can* come together in one package, harmonizing isn't only reserved for the teeny-bopper boy bands anymore and rock isn't dead..it's been redefined. This album may be a bit more "popish" than "Yourself or Someone Like You", but who's to say you shouldn't evolve with time?

While most albums focus on one element of life (mainly love), Rob Thomas has written and co-written a variety of tunes that appeal to a mixture of feelings all at once. "Bent" and "Mad Season" remind us that we often feel incomplete and unsure of where we stand in the world. "Black and White People" leaves you thinking about the hypocrisy that people often show. "Angry" is great to play when you want to vent about certain frustrations in your life. "Stop" and "Crutch" talk about one-sided relationships. "Rest Stop" "Last Beautiful Girl", "Leave", "If You're Gone", "You Won't Be Mine" and the soft-sung "Bed of Lies" all deal with break-ups.

Mad Season won't disappoint you, and will offer much food for thought. After listening to it at least once, you'll come up with a conclusion; Hey, BEEN there..


Not What I Expected......But Still Great!   May 26, 2000
 46 out of 47 found this review helpful

When I first listened to "mad season by matchbox twenty" I felt like all the songs kind of ran together and sounded the same. After a few more runs through the album I have found that my first impressions of the album while driving down the highway were wrong. What is on this album is a CD full of interesting songs, great harmonies (far better than the first album), and wonderful lyrics. As far as the criticism that it is over produced, well, four years can do that to an album. At first I felt the horns were a mistake, but they grow on you. They give the songs a richness that wasn't present on the first album. "Last Beautiful Girl" and "Rest Stop" are very touching songs and "Black and White People" perks you much the same as "Real World" did, without rehashing the same sound. If there is only one thing to say about this album it would be that it certianly dosen't feed back the same songs that were on the first. As a die hard fan, I was a little confused when I first heard it, but upon further inspection I would have to give this album two VERY enthusiastic thumbs up. If there are any similarities between this and the first album it would be that this, like the first, is great to turn up in the car and rock rock down the highway with. I would recomend it to any pop/rock, modern/rock fan. BUY BUY BUY!


Mad Season by matchbox Twenty   June 2, 2000
 18 out of 25 found this review helpful

I was a huge MB20 fan after their 1996 release, and I thought it had to be in the top 10 albums of the 90s with Nevermind, Ten, Dirt, and Superunkown. After I heard "Bent" a month ago on the local radio station, I had really high expectations for "mad season by matchbox Twenty". Here's the bottom line: this album appeals to a much narrower audience than YOSLY. That album was bought by people anywhere from grunge and metal fans, through people who buy the top 40 albums that the "mix" stations are playing, and even by soft rock fans. Anyone who is a big metal and grunge fan who bought YOSLY for Long Day, Push, Argue, and Busted, but couldn't stand Back 2 Good, Cody, and Hang, here's my message: DON'T BUY IT! If you liked the last album because of its variety between hard and moderate rock, you'll probably like it okay. If you liked the last album especially for Back 2 Good, Cody, and Shame, because of their heartfelt lyrics and soft music, you'll love this album even more.

Songs like "Bent", "Angry", "Crutch", and "Stop" are the best for metal fans who were waiting for more "Long Day"s and "Busted"s. For people who liked the varitety of the last album, this album stays on the Shame and Hang-ish side of the spectrum for a lot of the album, so you'll like it okay, just don't expect a lot of standard modern rock elements. If you liked Shame and Hang a lot, you may not be crazy about Bent, but this album is for you! Buy it.

BOTTOM LINE: I think they could have done a better job to keep their general audience satisfied by making more tracks like "Bent" and "Angry", but if they are going to be obsessive about being a "more mature band", then they can do so, but the sales of their next album may not quite be record breakingS


Surprisingly strong effort   May 24, 2000
 17 out of 19 found this review helpful

Given the whirl of attention that Rob Thomas has had to deal with, as well as the distractions and label projections that plague every band's sophomore effort, I was really pleased with this record. This is the sound of a group of musicians growing with each other. There doesn't seem to be any evidence of one ego overpowering the rest, or any hint of these guys trying to make a buck before going their separate ways. The musicianship is richer, less folksy than the first album, which sacrifices some of the charm that "Yourself" had, but after a few listens, I have to say that it's a much more gratifying experience than I thought. A must for anybody that loves heartfelt, well-written pop music. I'm already looking forward to album #3.