MUSIC REVIEWS
MATCHBOX TWENTY’S MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE

Matchbox Twenty’s newest release, More Than You Are, is a sensational release that contains something for fans of all music genres. The 12 cut CD, released in late 2003, contains the bands newest hit song “Disease,” but also features songs that appeal to newer music fans, as well as older more conventional rock fans. The second half of the CD is especially appealing to the more mature listener. The song “All I Need” is a fabulous song about starting over after a relationship gone bad. The music is reminiscent of great songs from the 1970s and could have been played by almost any 70s great band. The song “Hand Me Down” is a great slow tune that really features the unique sound of the band’s singer Rob Thomas. The final three cuts, “Soul,” “You’re So Real,” and “The Difference” also feature great instrumentation and vocals that appeal to all listeners.

Matchbox Twenty consists of Kyle Cook and Adam Gaynor on guitars, Brian Yale on bass, Paul Doucette on drums and Rob Thomas on vocals. This CD also features guest musicians such as Greg Leisz on the pedal steel guitar, Eric Ralske and Jerome Ashby on French Horns, and Matt Serletic on congas. The song “Disease” features a small orchestra led by Carol Webb.

More Than You Are was produced by Mott Serletic and mixed by Jim Scott. This CD definitely shows an evolving and maturing Matchbox Twenty. It is possibly their best CD to date.

The new Van Morrison CD, What’s Wrong With This Picture, will be of interest to fans of Van Morrison. While this CD does not open any new windows for the artist, the tune “Once in a Blue Moon” will catch the listener’s ear along with several other songs on the CD. The collection contains the typical Van Morrison style blues tunes and rock songs that have made him a staple on the music circuit for over three decades. However, unless you are a real fan, you may want to give this CD a listen before you invest in it.

Jack Bruce aficionados will be happy with his new release, More Jack Than God. This 2003 CD contains 14 cuts including remakes of Cream favorites “I Feel Free” and “Politician.” The CD mixes both conventional and not so conventional British Blues sounds on great songs such as “Kelly’s Blues,” “Uh, No!” and “Lost in the City.” The initial cut on the CD, “So They Invented Race,” is a unique look at the concept of racism in the world, and how race has been used unfairly in the modern persona.

Several early Jack Bruce solo albums have made their way from vinyl into CD form. The artist’s third solo LP Harmony Row (1971) and his 1974 release, Out of the Storm, were re-released in 2003 and are now out and available from the online music stores. Out of the Storm was always one of my favorite Jack Bruce LPs. It included several wonderful songs such as “Into the Storm,” “Pieces of Mind,” and “Golden Days.” The album was an excellent collection of music, but due to its subtlety, it was overlooked at the time of its release. Jack Bruce also has a “best of” collection, “Willpower,” that includes 17 songs ranging from his days with Cream to 1990. Songs on the CD include, “Theme from an Imaginary Western” (that was covered by Mountain), “How’s Tricks,” and “Ships in the Night.”