My favourite greatest hits collections and the ones that really deliver nicely are those which come with some new material, and that is exactly what Matchbox Twenty has done with their return to the music scene; Exile on Mainstream.
The album’s name isreference to the Rolling Stones’ 1972 double album; Exile on Main St. and where the standard greatest hits compilation usually only includes one or two new tracks (if you’re lucky) MB20 clearly still love what they do; including six brand spanking new tracks and soon to be sure favourites.
Described as a ‘retrospective album’, Exile on Mainstream comes just over 11 years after their first album, Yourself or Someone Like You. In addition to the new tracks there are also 11 of their previous best, which makes this album great for people who don’t yet own a Matchbox Twenty album and a perfect addition to any die-hard Matchbox Twenty fan’s collection.
The new tracks are freakin’ hot, they mark the bands first recording together in five years as well as their first with only four members in the band, but whatever happened, it is good. The foursome have taken Matchbox Twenty and turned their 90s folksy-rock into something that reintroduces their sound to a whole new generation.
The first single appears in the form of the semi-nostalgic, and somewhat rhetorical, “How Far We’ve Come”. The song is strong with punchy lyrics and a lively rhythm. Thomas’ vocals become an instrument changing tempo and range from fast paced pop to the darker folk. “How Far We’ve Come” is most definitely the way to launch a new album.
The new stuff is more daring, “I Will Believe You When” and “If I Fall” are lighter and more dexterous than MB20 have ever been. However not losing their original pop-rock feel, they present solid earnest ballads with “Can’t Let You Go” and “These Hard Times”.
Then of course all the great classics are also here; the immensely popular “Push”, the inspired “3 A.M.”, the darker “Bent”, “Mad Season”, “Unwell” and “Disease” (co-written by Mick Jagger) are all here for your listening a pleasure, and what a pleasure.
With a nice combination of sizzling hot new tracks and the best of their older smouldering glory, Exile on Mainstream is indeed a greatest hits collection, suggestive of the fact that the best of Matchbox Twenty is still to come. |
