Something To Be Listened To! (Something To Be - Rob Thomas)

Member Name: English Lady

Product:	Something To Be - Rob Thomas
Date:	27/09/05 (240 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: mellow, easy on the ear,interesting blend.

Disadvantages: Maybe to eclectic for some, Rob Thomas' voice gets lost under the music on some songs.

“Well, I don’t wanna be lonely no more, I don’t wanna have to pay for this.”

This song line had embedded itself in my mind and after a weekend of hearing Rob Thomas’s “Lonely no more” everywhere I went I just had to sample more than the one song and on seeing an advert for “Something to be” on the telly I knew I had to get a copy of the album.

On first listen I was struck by the Latino sound to many of the pieces with Rob Thomas’ voice sounding like a pleasing mix of Sting, Jon Bon Jovi, Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin. In fact this eclectic mix of sounds is reflected in every song upon this album and extends to the variety of song genres mixed up through all twelve album tracks.

It wasn’t till later I found out that Rob Thomas was the lead singer from Matchbox Twenty, not split from the band but having a go at the solo artist market for a change, which has become so popular of late. Matchbox Twenty have been around doing the pop-rock thing since 1996 and have garnered a rather substantial following, and so I was surprised not to have been more struck by the rock edge of “Something to be.” first time round. However, Matchbox Twenty fans should not write this album off, as there is a rock edge there, that becomes more apparent the more you listen!

“This Is How A Heart Breaks” has a tribal feel to it, right from the thumping drum intro, through the far funkier chorus and to it’s very end. As the song progresses you pick up on the pop-rock edge. This song is edgy, filled with anger and pent up frustration, you can hear it dripping from every lyric that drops from his mouth which you might not get from an artist with a less gravely, rock suited voice than Rob Thomas. A good start, which promises much.

“Lonely No More” is the track that prompted me to buy the album and is still undoubtedly my favourite. Right from the slow, sensual thumping drum intro, this song has a sexy feel to it, and as the synthesized whistle kicks in under the jazzy mellow rhythm you cannot help but sway your hips to this Latino, Salsa influenced song. The music caresses his voice, really complimenting it’s breathy, gravely nature. For a perfect seduction, catch your potential lover’s eye and dance to this song, and you’ll be kissing before the second chorus!

“Ever the Same” starts out the same with more drums but a sweet piano adds an instant ballad feel. This is a raw and aching song, breathy vocals and keening music set your heart to aching for those you love. Intense but soothing, typical rock ballad in it’s contradictory nature.

The chanting voice intro makes the beginning of “I Am An Illusion” sound like a “swing lo, sweet chariot.” type slave song, however when the intense electric guitar riff kicks in, it begins to sound like a cheesy 80’s drama series theme tune, knight rider jumps to mind in fact. This strong riff completely dominates this song, squashing Rob Thomas’s breathy, edgy voice and making this my least favourite track of the album.

Slow soft violins open “When The Heartache Ends” making you wonder if your CD changer has swapped edgy, angst ridden Rob Thomas for the soft, sweet ballad sound of Westlife! However, as the lyrics kick in you feel that melancholic edge, magnified by his low, growling voice and you realise that this is in fact a lot rockier than a Westlife track.

A great classic rock beginning that sounds like a band warm up leads in to big style eighties rock guitar accompanied by a heavy rocking drumbeat. “Something To Be” is rock and nothing but rock. Yes it has a more mellow edge making it more Bon Jovi than say Guns’n’Roses, but it cannot be confused with any other genre, which is a surprise in this eclectic mix of an album where all other songs seem to be a hybrid of different sounds. If anything, this song sounds most like his Matchbox Twenty stuff, distinctive but inoffensive, working well with his voice.

The Xylophone makes you wonder what on earth you’re in for on this track, then you realise it’s a soft melancholic ballad as Rob Thomas whispers as much as sings his lyrics over that and the accompanying piano and guitar. “All That I am” has a feel of Bon Jovi’s “Bed of Roses”, a soft, sensual song with a raw passionate edge. More Frustration and angst, and not a particular favourite of mine, though it seems to grow on me.

With “Problem Girl” We’re back to the drums, though these have an almost country feel as they’re joined by soft edged guitars which lead into a full throttle rock hit as the song progresses. It starts out faltering but gets better and more confident as it progresses. Very pop, a little rock and country influenced. It however is an instantly forgettable song. It just isn’t as distinctive as the other tracks on this album.

Again on this next track, you get a slight hit of country, with the drum and electric guitar making this sound like a more modern song from “Oh brother where art thou!” Soggy bottom boys, eat your heart out! However, “Fallin’ To Pieces” isn’t a twangy, yee haw country song, it’s a rocky, country-pop offering that bounces happily along, making you tap your foot to the beat. The tune is big and brassy and seems to drown out Rob Thomas’s voice which is too smooth and gravely, too wistful, for this up beat song.

“My, My, My” Hush now, let him sing you a lullaby, this starts out as a song to fall asleep to, though a rock edge creeps in later on, as seems to happen on the majority of these tracks. I am not sure it’s the lyrics or the tune but probably more his voice that makes this soft ballad sound a touch melancholic. There is a definite feel of longing and regret that makes you feel a little uncomfortable, mellow but with an edge that makes your heart ache.

As the title of “Streetcorner Symphony” suggests you get a whole orchestra of sounds in this song, giving it a big 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 song as you can get.

There is no 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 in sound, mellow, jazzy and easy on the ear, the perfect music for a party or a date. It’s Edgy but in a subtle way, the emotions of longing and yearning coming out the more you play it and are not as in your face as with bands like Finch, this is not hardcore teenage angst, it’s is older, more matured frustration.

An amalgam of sounds, this album could so easily have failed to please anyone, but rock, jazz, blues, country, Latino and more have been mixed in such a skilful way that, by the majority, it works well. If you are coming in as a matchbox Twenty fan you will here a lot of their influence in Rob Thomas’s solo offering, but if you are not, but you like pop - rock, you should also be well pleased.

As this is a new album, you’re looking at paying £9.99 on Amazon for it, although you can get copies from £5.68 on the marketplace, but as yet it’s too early to get any real bargains on Ebay. I think just shy of £10 is a bargain for just over 47 minutes of consistently pleasing, genre-transcending music.

Summary: Mellow album with a pop rock feel from the Matchbox twenty front man,Rob Thomas.