Rob Thomas - Rob Thomas: Something to Be
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Rob ThomasEdition: Music CD
Format: Dual Disc
CD Release Date: 2005-04-19
Music Label: Atlantic / Wea
Soundtracks:
- This Is How A Heart Breaks
- Lonely No More
- Ever the Same
- I Am An Illusion
- When the Heartache Ends
- Something to Be
- All That I Am
- Problem Girl
- Fallin' To Pieces
- My My My
- Streetcorner Symphony
- Now Comes The Night
Free Music Notes for Rob Thomas: Something to Be
Free Music Review: "Nobody Wants to Be Just One Thing"
Hit: 5 Stars
Granted, this album is a departure from what Matchbox 20 fans are used to, but that's because this isn't a MB20 album.
"I didn't want to go into this record with any idea of what it was going to be like. My only pre-conceived idea was that I didn't want to make a matchbox record with different musicians. I'm already in a great rock band, so if I just made another rock record with two guitarists, a bass player, a drummer, and keyboards, it would be redundant and I wouldn't have been using my time to do something creative and new. It was about having done this for so long at a really high level and still having no idea what I was capable of doing. It was the idea of really finding out things about myself that I've never touched on. I don't want to be just one thing; nobody wants to be just one thing. This record is me trying to step out of that. It is about me trying to find... something to be."
By now, we know to expect quality songwriting from Rob Thomas, and this album delivers no matter how you feel about a particular track's style. This album is really incredible, largely due to Thomas smashing genre rules to simply write and play good music.
Here are my musings...
1: This Is How A Heart Breaks
Initially, this was my least favorite song. I felt that the background vocals were lacking. However, the song's full of energy, and I couldn't help but enjoy it. After listeing to the album several times, I really like this because it sets the tone for the album--introsepctive musings on what life's all about.
2. Lonely No More
MB20 fans, the intro alone might scare you off, but try to get through it! Now, I admit this song is a little... boy bandish, and not at all my usual preference of style. It really does have an Enrique Iglesias ring to it, and during the chorus you might think of the Backstreet Boys. BUT... Rob prevails in writing a truly good song--it's catchy with great lyrics. And it sounds like he had a lot of fun with this track. When I listen to this song, I feel like it would be used in a film soundtrack--some fun spot where the character are singing along. You really can't stay in a bad mood with this song playing.
3. Ever the Same
Definitely one of my favorite tracks of this album. Fabulous Rob Thomas lyrics and a beautiful melody. . And this is much more of a love song than most of his previous endeavors. Definitely one for the wifey--instead of his more usual musings on wanting love from someone else, he sings on the flipside, about being the person than can be counted upon.
4. I Am An Illusion
For whatever reason, this strikes me as the most experimental track. While again, you've got classic Rob Thomas lyrics, this edgey and driven song features a more dissonant accompaniment (that sometimes reminds me of cars honking). Listen for the sample of Bessie Jones's "O Death". Overall, this song makes me think of the fairy in moulin rougue that visits the guys after they've taken too much absens, but I enjoy that.
5. When the Heartache Ends
Acoustic guitar! This song is another favorite--it made me realize that one reason I like Rob Thomas so much is that he sings tunes a lot of men might shy away from. There are parts of this song where I could totally see a female singing this--think Eva Cassidy covering Time After Time. But he doesn't worry about being too sappy or emotional, and really with his incredible voice he doesn't need to worry. This has a little retro singer/songwriter feel--the kind of track where you can't help but sway along.
6. Something to Be
We hear Rob in a little higher pitch here, which he carries out beautifully. Obviously, this title song is not an earth shattering concept by any means. But it's genuine and universal. It might give a glimpse into his life, but most everyone who hears it should be able to identify with these lyrics. Interestingly, instead of the more usual crooning about a relationship being his entire hope and salvation, he turns inward and contemplates the person he's become or should be. I really enjoy this song.
7. All That I Am
Wow--this is much different than anything we've ever heard from Rob, and it's my favorite song on the entire album. This is like experimental world music. It features the shofar (Hebrew ram's horn), kanun (Turkish stringed instrument), and duduk (Armenian wind instrument). The resulting sound is just gorgeous--it often gives an Asian feel. Think Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon). Besides this being an exceptionally beautiful piece of music with meaningful words, the music truly complements the lyrics--the use of metaphor and nature just soaks up the accompanying sound. You'll fall in love on this track.
8. Problem Girl
Another beautiful melody, another favorite of mine. The lyrics bring me back to the days of You or Somone Like You--I think of the song "Kody". Really, what's a Rob Thomas album without an emotional true to life piece written to a girl? So many girls are going to listen to the words and love it--it's another universal message.
9. Fallin' To Pieces
When this track starts up, it's lightly U2esque. For a lot of people, it might be the kind of song that you'll skip over if you don't give it some time to grow on you. There's a definite tune here, but it wanders a little more than most of the other tracks. If I had to pick a least favorite track--this would be it, but it's just because it doesn't resonate with me like the other songs.
10. My My My
MY MY MY is RIGHT! Oh, I just adore this song--Thomas' signature sexy voice grabs you right from the start. He gets so emotional, yet never whiny. This is likely my personal fave style for Rob to sing, because it makes such good use of his talent. Along with his truly incredible songwriting skills, his voice is one of the most incredible voices out there. He's not just making sounds and flat notes, I mean, he uses his voice as an instrument that imparts actual depth and feeling. Lyrically, it's along the lines of Something to Be without the grittiness--this is a much softer reflection, also sung to another rather than about himself and his own struggles with becoming.
11. Streetcorner Symphony
Oh my gosh, this song rocks and it's soo much fun! I totally see a car commercial using this... the lyrics could probably be called cheesy but it's a very good variety of sappiness. Rob just kinda belts this out, and it's great. It's definitely once of those people-come-together-rock-out-love-one-another kind of tunes, but it's actually one that works!
12. Now Comest the Night
And he does it again, folks! What a perfect last song. Slow ballad, reminiscent of early matchbox 20 with an extra bit of soul and (we all love this!) prominent piano. This is a cafe song. A goodnight song. A goodbye song.
You know, I can't express how incredible this album is--I just don't think I expected this venture to be so much better than the MB20 work! It's the kind of album that I listen to all the time now, and I can't imagine how I was living without it :) It's the perfectly rare solo album.
Rob Thomas: Something to Be Poster
As the lead singer to the multi-platinum group matchbox 20, Rob Thomas penned a remarkable string of chart-topping hits. Rob has also collaborated with a select list of artists-most notably Santana, for whom he wrote and sang the smash pop single, "Smooth," which earned Thomas three Grammy Awards.It's common knowledge that solo albums are simply an excuse for a frustrated band member to indulge their experimental sides and Rob Thomas, singer for decidedly M.O.R. multiplatinum rockers Matchbox Twenty is not one to pass on the opportunity. Having already explored the classic rock thing through his collaborations with Mick Jagger and Santana, Thomas goes the other way here with results that are unexpected, and, sometimes totally unbelievable. He veers from modern R&B on the Justin Timberlake-aping "Lonely No More" to vintage prog-rock in "All That I Am," touching on all points in between. There are a few nods to the Matchbox canon with "Ever the Same" and "This Is How a Heart Breaks" but, as the title suggests, this is an album about finding himself. For the moment, Thomas is still searching. The DualDisc portion features 5.1 surround sound, a 20-minute documentary on the making of the album by filmmaker Gillian Grisman, plus the holiday tune, "Christmas in New York." --Aidin Vaziri
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