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There's quite a funk intro to "Something To Be" that promises much more than the previous few tracks and certainly delivers. It's a mid-tempo pop-funk song that grooves along quite happily and helps to remind you where Rob Thomas has come from although it's again a little more pop influenced ... Read review
Advantages: A wide range of influences that keeps the album interesting Disadvantages: It would have been nice to have "Smooth" included
...break for him to do something completely different or, as the main songwriter in the band, is it going to be an album so much like his usual work that he could have released it as Matchbox Twenty and no-one would have been able to tell the difference.
From the opening track, "This is How a Heart Breaks", it seems that the latter is likely to be true. It's a mid-tempo pop track with a slight rock edge, particularly in the ... ...this, however, it turns into something a little more like a 1980s synth-pop song, which isn't quite as interesting as it promised to be. It's a decent enough mid-tempo pop track, with vague pop-dance leanings, but nothing that really stands out.
"When the Heartache Ends" has a mid-tempo acoustic guitar intro that is more towards the Matchbox Twenty sound, although it's really just a pop song than having the slightly rockier ... more
What goes around comes around, or so it's been said. For the first time, I'm managing to think about the statement in musical terms. After all, the first time I heard of Rob Thomas, it was when he was singing without his band, as a guest vocalist on Santana's "Smooth". As it was the only way to hear more from him, I picked up a couple of albums of him and his band, Matchbox Twenty and became a huge fan, more or less immediately.
Now, about four years later, the time has come to listen to Rob Thomas singing solo again. This time, he's not got Matchbox Twenty with him and there's no Santana. But having enjoyed hugely the summery Latin feel of "Smooth" and the catchy pop-rock of Matchbox Twenty, I can't help but wonder what we're going to get from his solo material. Is this a break for him to do something completely different or, as the main songwriter in the band, is it going to be an album so much like his usual work that he could have released it as Matchbox Twenty and no-one would have been able to tell the difference.
From the opening track, "This is How a Heart Breaks", it seems that the latter is likely to be true. It's a mid-tempo pop track with a slight rock edge, particularly in the chorus that is perhaps more pop-rock as opposed to the more rock-pop sound of Matchbox Twenty, but certainly wouldn't have been too out of place on their most recent album.
The first single from the album, "Lonely No More", opens with a little more of a dance feel although it's really a largely pop influenced track. It's a decent choice for a debut single, not sounding too much like Matchbox Twenty, having more of a pop edge to it.
With a low key, largely piano based intro, "Ever the Same" starts sounding a little like one of the ballads from Matchbox Twenty's "Mad Season". However, it doesn't quite build up in the same way, so essentially what you get here is a very pop influenced ballad, which isn't too bad, but isn't terribly memorable either. It does finish with a little more of a pop-rock flourish, but it's a bit too late by that stage.
There's an interesting part tribal, part gospel feel to the beginning of "I am an Illusion". After this, however, it turns into something a little more like a 1980s synth-pop song, which isn't quite as interesting as it promised to be. It's a decent enough mid-tempo pop track, with vague pop-dance leanings, but nothing that really stands out.
"When the Heartache Ends" has a mid-tempo acoustic guitar intro that is more towards the Matchbox Twenty sound, although it's really just a pop song than having the slightly rockier edge that the band have. However, if this were to be a Matchbox Twenty song, it wouldn't be too out of place on the "Mad Season" album, although it would be one of the weaker tracks on that album, as it goes nowhere in particular and then simply ends.
There's quite a funk intro to "Something To Be" that promises much more than the previous few tracks and certainly delivers. It's a mid-tempo pop-funk song that grooves along quite happily and helps to remind you where Rob Thomas has come from although it's again a little more pop influenced than his work with the band.
"All That I Am" is another fairly insipid ballad. It's a down-tempo pop song with some interesting synth sounds over the back and some Eastern sounding music in parts. But apart from the variations in instruments, the song doesn't really go anywhere in particular.
It's back to the almost tribal sounding drum intro for "Problem Girl", although these fade quickly, leaving you with an up tempo pop-rock number which is certainly going to appeal to Matchbox Twenty fans. As with "Lonely No More", it's more towards the pop end of the spectrum than most of the band's work, but the overall sound, particularly when the backing vocals get involved is very reminiscent to some of their lighter moments, such as on the "Mad Season" album.
There's more of a laid back funky feel to "Fallin' to Pieces". It's a mid-tempo song with a decent grove to it, although it's more of a pop-funk song than a true funk number. It's not the most impressive track here, although it does pass by quite nicely, without really imprinting itself on the memory.
It's back to the pop ballads for "My, My, My", with some of the synth sounds in the intro making it sound a little like the Beatles. Overall, though, it's a largely forgettable pop ballad that Westlife could have done without anyone really noticing the difference.
Fortunately, the next track is "Streetcorner Symphony", my personal favourite from the album. It's another with a really cool laid back funky groove and at least musically, it sounds like something Joss Stone could have come out with. It's an up beat pop-funk tune, with a very light and summery vibe that I simply can't help tapping my feet to.
Sadly, after the previous track, there's another ballad to finish. "Now Comes the Night" is a piano led pop ballad that worked so well on "Mad Season", but simply doesn't have the same effectiveness here and closes the album with a whimper. Sadly, however, that does fit in very well with the album as a whole. As a performance, it's not bad, but as a song, it does nothing for me.
I suspect that whether you're going to like this album is going to depend on how big a Matchbox Twenty fan you are. This could prove to be a bit of a shame for many, as it's likely to be mostly fans of the band that will buy Rob Thomas' solo album, having recognised the name. These people are likely to be a little disappointed as, although there are some nice touches and some moments that remind you where he came from, the album as a whole isn't as strong as some of their efforts.
If you're a fan of decent pop music, however, without knowing much about Matchbox Twenty, you may find that "Something to Be" is worth a listen. After all, it's all nicely crafted pop music, if a little insipid, with influences taken from pop-rock, funk and 1980s synth-pop in various places giving the album plenty of variation in the sound. It's not always an interesting album, but it is frequently pleasant, without being anything special and stands no chance in a pop chart that has recently been controlled by the more haunting James Blunt.
My one major disappointment with the album was that he didn't include "Smooth", the song he did with Carlos Santana, as that would have fitted in with a couple of the tracks on here and is such a great song that it would have hugely increased the value for money you get from the album. Indeed, on that front, it doesn't score too badly, with 52 minutes of fairly decent pop based music, which can be found for £8.75 at CD Wow and £6.99 from Play.com. However, you'd need to be a pretty big fan to pay that and I'm not happy that I did. More reasonable is the £4.49 copies have sold for at the Amazon Marketplace or the 99p from eBay.
Generally, though, I would recommend that if you're a fan of Matchbox Twenty, to keep listening to Matchbox Twenty. If you prefer James Blunt, keep listening to James Blunt. If you quite like your pop music largely influenced by ballads, or with a little bit of an edge to mix with the pop, this might not be such a bad idea, really.
From my point of view as a Matchbox Twenty fan, the major plus point to this album is that the relative lack of punch in the album may well mean that our next release from Rob Thomas will be a fourth Matchbox Twenty album. A prospect I would greet with far more enthusiasm that with news of a second solo album.
Advantages: Mellow, easy on the ear, interesting blend, Rock but not too Rock! Disadvantages: Rob Thomas's voice gets lost in the music on one or two songs, maybe a bit ot eclectic for some tastes.
...band feel and making it something granny will happily sing along with. This is a beautiful and elegant blend of different sounds, a musical afternoon tea. Jazz, blues, rock, pop, funk and big band all combine to make a happy, smiley, upbeat summer song that is bound to be a hit! Whereas Rob Thomas's voice was drowned out a bit by the upbeat edge to "fallin' to pieces." it is complimented greatly by this particular track, as close to a perfect please-all ... ...doubting that "Now Comes The Night" is a ballad from the first notes played softly on a piano through to the soft, wistful vocals that Rob breathes over them. This song is the opposite of the one that comes before. It is stripped down, simple and truly moving, bringing a tear easily to my eye. This is a celebration of Rob Thomas's mellow, angst ridden sound and the perfect way to end an album full of wistful longing and yearning. This album is distinctive ...
VickyVickster 05.06.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Something To Be - Rob Thomas
Advantages: Good strong lyrics, diverse and its Rob Thomas!!! Disadvantages: I know he has more to give!!!
Okay my first CD review, I have not read anyone else's review on this CD due to the fact that I didn't want any outside influence and that it was made up purely of my own thoughts! I am no musician so tell it how I feel it and nothing else!
Rob Thomas is the voice of my teenage days, he's voice takes me back to being eighteen and discovering the world, what a beautiful and powerful voice - he has one of those voices that manages to capture beautiful ... ...band that played at my local club, they loved the matchbox 20 albums and did a lot of covers, Gavin the lead singer had an almost spot on Rob Thomas voice! If I want to smile all I do is stick on some Matchbox 20 or now my new Rob Thomas….something to be. His music inspires me to want to do amazing things, and when he sits down at a piano it gives me tingles in chest and a beautiful warm feeling.
A little background on the man himself:
Rob Thomas ...
jessica801127 09.04.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Something To Be - Rob Thomas
Advantages: Amazing!!!!!!!!! Disadvantages: N O N E
This has to be one of my favourite, favourite albums of the moment!! I first heard Rob Thomas on the radio with his track "Lonely No More". I hadn't heard of Matchbox Twenty beforehand, and I still to this day, haven't heard of them. Then I heard "This is how a heart breaks", which instantly made me go out and buy the album, and I have not been disappointed!!
When I first got the CD, I was aprehensive, as I know I liked the 2 songs I had heard, ... ...boring, and unimaginative. However, I was wrong, and every no single track stands out as being my favourite, simply because they're all fantastic!!
"This is how a heart breaks" starts the album off with a bang, and is a true guage of just what is to follow! Then there is "Lonely No More", which is the most played on the radio. Both of these songs are high tempo, pop songs, that you would expect on most radio stations. However, once you get deeper ...
klapaucius 12.11.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Something To Be - Rob Thomas
Advantages: Easy to Listen Disadvantages: Not touring in GB
In 1997 I moved to New York to start a year long Gap year where I would spend the nect twelve months looking after an American family's two children.
While there I was introduced to MatchBox 20. A rocky sounding band that I had previously had no interested in. I soon became addicted to Matchbox 20's music and have followed their pregression since coming back to the UK. All their albums have been really good to listen to. The only downside is not ... ...When Rob Thomas the lead singer from Matchox 20, brought out his own song "I don't want to be lonely..." I immediatly purchased his full album. Its fantastic. A little bit softer that the Matchbox 20 stuff but probably far more suited to the British Music general taste.
My favourite songs are Ever the same, Somehting to be and All that I am. I don't over analyse the words I just enjoy the sound they create. I hope he comes touring the UK and would ...
Caylen 15.08.2005 (28.08.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Something To Be - Rob Thomas
Advantages: All songs better than 8/10 Disadvantages: Still thinking of one!
...part of Matchbox 20. Something to be is a mix of Daniel Powter, Bryan Adams, and to a certain extent, Carlos Santana. If you are a fan of Lonely No More, and would like to hear more like it, this is the album for you. Every song has a really catchy blend of ballad style singing and rock rhythm, it won't be long before you know the words to each one. It's a complete album, only faultering on about two songs, "All That I Am" , for example in which ... ...lost within the beat. Something to be is definitely an album that I go back to listen to when I want something with meaning (you know the effect lonely no more has on a person!), and I'd recommend it to anyone, especially those with melow rock tastes, or who like r'n'b or pop even. A bargain at under a tenner! ...
Danny76 15.08.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Something To Be - Rob Thomas
Product Information for "Something To Be - Rob Thomas" »
Product details
Title
Something To Be
Performer
Rob Thomas
Genre
Rock & Pop
Release Date
30/05/2005
Recomended Retail Price
16.99 GBP
Original Release Year
2005
Label / Distributor
Melisma/Atlantic / Cinram Logistics
Engineer
Jimmy Douglass; Greg Collins; Mark
Producer
Matt Serletic
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
75679343529
Catalogue Number
7567934352
Additional notes
Album Notes
When Matchbox Twenty's first album became a hit, some critics lumped the band in with flash-in-the-pan rock acts of the day. What these early naysayers missed, of course, is that in vocalist Rob Thomas, Matchbox Twenty had one of the finest mainstream pop/rock songwriters in the business. Not only did Thomas rack up a string of hits with the Florida group, but he also co-penned "Smooth" from Santana's Grammy-winning 1999 comeback album, SUPERNATURAL. With SOMETHING TO BE, his solo debut, Thomas pulls out all the stylistic stops, revealing that Matchbox Twenty's alternative-rock format provided a somewhat limited forum for his considerable talents. "Lonely No More" mixes an insistent dance beat with an insanely catchy chorus that sounds straight out of the boy-band textbook. The title track is a sly lyrical dig at poseurs of all stripes, backed by an 1980s electro-funk groove, while the burbling synths and Eastern percussion of "All That I Am" recall the world fusion experiments of Peter Gabriel and David Byrne. An ambitious effort by a guy who knows his way around a hit single, SOMETHING TO BE is the sound of an artist breaking out.
Album Reviews
Rolling Stone (p.72) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[T]he fare here is significantly spicier, with Latin and even funk undertones."
Titles on disc 1
1.
This Is How A Heart Breaks
2.
Lonely No More
3.
Ever The Same
4.
I Am An Illusion
5.
When The Heartache Ends
6.
Something To Be
7.
All That I Am
8.
Problem Girl
9.
Fallin' To Pieces
10.
My My My
11.
Streetcorner Symphony
12.
Now Comes The Night
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05/06/2005
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