Matchbox Twenty

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

They're like the Steve Miller Band of the late 90's/00's. They don't seem quite interesting enough to get anywhere or become real superstars, yet they seem to get constant airplay with their ten or fifteen similar sounding hit songs. Also, I don't tend to turn the station when I hear either of them, even though I would not fathom in a million years paying money for a record.

I really like the singles from their new album, even though I've found them pretty hit or miss in the past. They're not distinctive or exciting or groundbreaking, but they've got a few nice tunes in there somewhere.

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Sunday, 11 May 2003 16:55 (twenty-two years ago)

The key difference on their newer singles is that Rob ahs learned how to sing.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 11 May 2003 17:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Dude, don't denigrate the Steve Miller Band. They had some choice early cuts.

― hstencil, Sunday, 11 May 2003 17:04 (twenty-two years ago)

The key difference is that you can tell a Steve Miller Band song apart from another Steve Miller Band song. "The Joker" doesn't sound like "Wild Mountain Honey"; whereas all matchbox 20 songs sound like...well, like a mix of Dave Matthews and Cootie and the Blowjobs.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Sunday, 11 May 2003 17:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Look, lets stop comparing Matchbox 20 to the Steve Miller Band, or Dave Matthews, or whoever, and just admit that they sound exactly like Moist.

Moist, of course, soundtracked 74% of chase sequences on Due South.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 11 May 2003 17:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Moist? I know not of this Moist of which you speak.
But if they sound anything like Matchbox/DMB then they should change their name to Damp.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Sunday, 11 May 2003 17:57 (twenty-two years ago)

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Sunday, 11 May 2003 17:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Matchbox=/= KC. Are ye daft? KC is classic classic classic. Matchbox is, um... who?

― JesseFox (JesseFox), Sunday, 11 May 2003 18:23 (twenty-two years ago)

They're like the Steve Miller Band of the late 90's/00's.

Steve Miller could at least play guitar with some semblance of style....a claim Matchbox 20 cannot make.

Mathbox == KC & The Sunshine Band?

KC & the Sunshine Band could at least make you want to dance....a claim Matchbox 20 cannot make.

Matchbox 20 = The Little River Band

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 11 May 2003 20:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, more like Matchbox 20 = Toto, Journey, REO Speedwagon.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 11 May 2003 20:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I like Toto, Journey and REO Speedwagon a lot more than I like Matchbox Twenty. (Especially Toto and Journey.)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 11 May 2003 21:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan seconded, I never can tolerate Matchbox 20 for very long and can't remember anything they've done with any clarity.

― Millar (Millar), Sunday, 11 May 2003 21:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Steve Miller's made too much genuinely strange music to be compared to Matchbox 20. I mean, "Fly LIke An Eagle" may not be that weird in the general scheme of things, but it's a whole lot weirder and more interesting (and funky) than any Matchbox 20 I've heard.

― xnelio (xnelio), Sunday, 11 May 2003 22:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Is this thread a joke? Hella dud.... dude.

― maria b (maria b), Monday, 12 May 2003 00:02 (twenty-two years ago)

OK, comparing Journey to Matchbox 20 is like comparing Cristal to fucking mud, yo.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 12 May 2003 01:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, now that I think about it, it's a pretty inapt comparison. I was thinking in terms of "Rockin' Me" and "Jungle Love" and "Take the Money and Run." "Fly Like an Eagle" and "Abracadabra" throws my all-their-songs-sound-the-same statement out the window.

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Monday, 12 May 2003 01:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Ick. Journey is horrible.
Toto is Worse.
REO Stationwagon is the worst of all.

Most wretched stuff from the 80s, hands down.
Makes me wanna pull tool.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 12 May 2003 01:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Journey is spectacular. I mean, come on, "Separate Ways"?

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 12 May 2003 01:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Rock n roll's supposed to make you wanna pull tool

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 12 May 2003 01:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Journey is spectacular. I mean, come on, "Separate Ways"?
(*saying this as a yack up a hairball*)
I'll acknowledge that Journey is Better than Toto and Toto is Better than REO Speedfreak, but thats not saying much. That just makes Journey the most gifted pinhead in the remedial toilet training class.
Still dire, dire stuff.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 12 May 2003 01:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Does "pull tool" mean what I think it means? (If so, it would make LC's post nonsensical but hilarious.)

Wasn't Journey one of the biggest bands in the world for a couple years at least? The original comparison wouldn't seem to apply to them. And, yeah, they are much more distinctive and much better than Matchbox 20. Matchbox 20 fucking dreams of making an "Escape" or "Don't Stop Believin'". Steve Miller and KC also much more accomplished.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Monday, 12 May 2003 01:53 (twenty-two years ago)

No, sundar. I mean I'm tempted to pull a firearm and randomly discharge it a psychotic rage whenever REO TotoJourney comes on the radio.
I only pull the OTHER tool, the MEAT gun* tool, for the bands I LIKE.

* copyright Warren Ellis, 1997

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 12 May 2003 02:08 (twenty-two years ago)

This thread has not developed into a serious involved discussion of the merits of Matchbox Twenty like I had hoped.

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Monday, 12 May 2003 02:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Okay, Kenny...name a virtue of Matchbox 20.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 12 May 2003 02:13 (twenty-two years ago)

*crickets chirping*

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 12 May 2003 02:14 (twenty-two years ago)

*ice age passes*

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 12 May 2003 02:14 (twenty-two years ago)

*sentient life evolves from cockroaches*

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 12 May 2003 02:14 (twenty-two years ago)

*elvis fans finally admit that elvis has GOT to be dead by NOW*

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 12 May 2003 02:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Um, the lead singer is kind of ok looking-ish?

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 12 May 2003 02:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I liked "Disease." It rocked. Kinda.

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Monday, 12 May 2003 02:30 (twenty-two years ago)

The lead guitarist comes from the same town I come from. This is quite the big deal in a nowhere town. When they first came out all the tasteless pricks at my school worshipped them, knew all the words, championing them as, like, the only rock band you need along side Puff Daddy in your [12 CD] collection. I was young, I was indie and I couldn't stand them. When the second album came out I heard the single and thought, "yeah they still suck worse than evah", but this time everyone else seemed to agree; their star had faded. When the third album came out I was able to look at it more objectively, "This is kinda okay in a sucky way", and I looked back at their older singles and thought, "this is really not so bad". And so with time they become more "not so bad" but less interesting, leaving more tolerance when their songs come on the radio but giving me no reaction. They are blah, pretty much bullshit. Charming fellows. Cos they're so smooth. That guitarist is very talented, too.

― Adam A. (Keiko), Monday, 12 May 2003 03:04 (twenty-two years ago)

I like that Rob Thomas charisma is apparently the virus no boomer rocker can resist.

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 12 May 2003 03:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Alright....I'll give you this: Matchbox 20 will never pull off something as sublimely hooky as "Separate Ways," so the Journy comparison was uncalled for. I think, however, the REO Speedwagon call was spot-on.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 12 May 2003 11:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, I fear you forgot to take into account "Don't Stop Believin'"

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 12 May 2003 12:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, I fear you forgot to take into account "Don't Stop Believin'"

No, I didn't.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 12 May 2003 13:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes. You did.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 12 May 2003 13:31 (twenty-two years ago)

http://killing-joke.com/bomb.gif NO. I. DIDN'T. http://killing-joke.com/bomb.gif

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 12 May 2003 13:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Damn dude. I see someone actually did stop believin'. One day, you'll see the error in this.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 12 May 2003 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I never stopped believin...in the utter pants-ness of Journey

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 12 May 2003 14:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Hmmm. Does Journey == worst parts of Van Halen plus the worst parts of Gino Vanelli?

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 12 May 2003 14:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Ally, when "Don't Stop Believin'" was in regular rotation as a new release, you were....what....six years old? You didn't have to live through it as an adolescent. Trust me. It's a vile, vile thing.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 12 May 2003 14:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Ageist!!

Anyway, it's not like I actually listen to "Don't Stop Believin'", people. Did you all click that link? It's all about that, not the song. Clearly it's fucking terrible, especially in comparison to "Separate Ways", which also has the greatest video of all time. In fact, I think that's my favorite song ever, at least right this second.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 12 May 2003 14:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Alex, I lived through it as an early adolescent (I was, what, eleven, when it was out). It was great! :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 May 2003 14:50 (twenty-two years ago)

You poor little monkey.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 12 May 2003 14:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh my god. Ned. Ned. Ned.
You dissapoint me.
I thought you had TASTE!

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 12 May 2003 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't say your combined sadness and pity is causing me to change my mind.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 May 2003 14:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I listen to "Don't Stop Believin'" sometimes. (It came out when? '81? I was 2. shrug) I like the melody and arrangement. I like all the following songs from Escape: "Don't Stop Beleivin'", "Stone In Love", "Escape", "Mother, Father", "Open Arms"

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Monday, 12 May 2003 17:22 (twenty-two years ago)

It came out in '81? Then I was 1, not 6.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 12 May 2003 17:23 (twenty-two years ago)

matchbox twenty is a dud, though I enjoy "If You're Gone." Here's the thing...the Counting Crows and Hootie & The Blowfish fell pretty far down the cultural radar since Rob Thomas et al provided America with what they enjoyed from both of those equally offensive groups (though I prefer the rare good Counting Crows song to the rare good m20 song). So should we be grateful to one annoying group for cancelling out two earlier annoying groups?

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 12 May 2003 17:29 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

"Push" is great, though.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 22 May 2004 00:14 (twenty-one years ago)

"Push" by the Cure is great.

"Push" by Matchbox Twenty is as melifluous as a lungful of warthog flattulence.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 22 May 2004 00:57 (twenty-one years ago)

"Pig farts" is more direct, y'know.

― David R. (popshots75`), Saturday, 22 May 2004 00:59 (twenty-one years ago)

more direct is dull...just like Matchbox Twenty

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 22 May 2004 01:03 (twenty-one years ago)

They've improved vastly. I hated "Push," but I love all the singles from all their last album.

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Saturday, 22 May 2004 03:35 (twenty-one years ago)

three months pass...

http://www.theonion.com/news/index.php?issue=4038&n=1

― amateur!!st, Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:08 (twenty-one years ago)

"Downfall," "Disease" and "Unwell" were great singles ("Bright Lights" I'm not sure about). I really should have checked out their last album.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:14 (twenty-one years ago)

The irony is they got more obnoxious and ambitious on Beige, I mean More Than You Think You Are!

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:16 (twenty-one years ago)

miccio are you like that lukas haas character in everyone says i love you who is all right-wing and then the doctor discovers a benign tumor in his brane and when it's removed he's back to being sensible again?

― amateur!!st, Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:16 (twenty-one years ago)

no, but seriously, you go girl etc. i admire your gumption

― amateur!!st, Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:19 (twenty-one years ago)

That Onion article is an instant classic!

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)

how am I not sensible? There's logic and reason to my opinions. They may be irreverent and to some people downright sacriligious, but I think I explain myself.

Compare the three singles I'm praising to AC Newman's The Slow Wonder and tell me which one is "watered down."

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)

"No matter how many times we recorded the new single 'Sitting Down (Hands At My Side),' there was still a certain 'oomph' coming through in the drums, a loud-ish, slightly gripping sound that we couldn't remove," drummer Paul Doucette said. "Finally, after running them through about two dozen filters, we managed to get that 'plastic spork hitting mashed potatoes' sound we were after."

There was a similar problem, band members said, with the guitar solos, some of which contained trace elements of what musicians call "passion." In addition, the interplay among bass, drums, and guitars occasionally produced uncomfortable polyrhythmic effects that provoked unintentional toe-tapping or head-bobbing in listeners. The problems were fixed through extensive re-recording.

― amateur!!st, Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:22 (twenty-one years ago)

That should be about the Shins.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:23 (twenty-one years ago)

you fascinate me

― amateur!!st, Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:25 (twenty-one years ago)

dude have you heard "Downfall"? The track is nuts! Gospel choirs and rave-ups and Mr. Donkey-Voice (how can something be bland when a DONKEY sings lead?) laying it on thick. I think first-album Matchbox 20 is pretty much entirely shit but they're getting better.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:29 (twenty-one years ago)

It's very "Like A Prayer"

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:30 (twenty-one years ago)

If anything the problem most people (including myself) have with radio rawk pap is that it's not bland and inoffensive enough! It's so obnoxious and oppressive!

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:31 (twenty-one years ago)

actually you have a point there

― amateur!!st, Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:32 (twenty-one years ago)

they're utterly worthless.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Nickelback's "Someday" is painful and hellish, for instance, but in a "dude, you're spitting on me" way rather than a "yawn, where's the excitement?" way.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:33 (twenty-one years ago)

actually i'd be interested to learn exactly why i find this band's music so utterly despicable but just thinking about it gives me a headache (that is not rhetorical--i actually have a headache now) so maybe not.

― amateur!!st, Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:33 (twenty-one years ago)

That headache is totally fitting with my theory. I am not a Matchbox 20 lover but they've been growing on me.

The irony of the Onion, which is probably staffed entirely by alt-country/indie-pop adorers, complaining about these qualities, is pretty heavy.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:35 (twenty-one years ago)

'The irony of the Onion, which is probably staffed entirely by alt-country/indie-pop adorers, complaining about these qualities, is pretty heavy.'

OTM on that point.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:37 (twenty-one years ago)

that's how i think of the radio during 1996-98, that headachey feeling. the rise of creed, matchbox 20, etc started this wave of unlistenable sludge (and not the good kind, the bland kind). just..echhh.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:41 (twenty-one years ago)

matchbox 20 records make me angry in a way creed et al completely fail to do. i even sort of like creed in my more sanguine moments.

i don't think, pace micio, that this makes mb20 good necessarily.

― amateur!!st, Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:45 (twenty-one years ago)

The vast improvement in Matchbox Twenty's songwriting, production and performance skills is staggering. ESPECIALLY "Downfall," which is still my favorite song of the year.

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:45 (twenty-one years ago)

i also have no idea what the staff at the onion is like, and frankly neither do you, miccio

― amateur!!st, Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:46 (twenty-one years ago)

i also have no idea what the staff at the onion is like, and frankly neither do you, miccio

I'd say that the Onion AV Club would support Miccio's assertion there.

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:48 (twenty-one years ago)

well read their reviews, its sort of obvious.

x-post

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:48 (twenty-one years ago)

latebloomer: yeah that mb20/3rd eye blind/etc. stuff gives me the same feeling as when you've spent about 7 hours in an airplane

― amateur!!st, Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:50 (twenty-one years ago)

haha i know what some of the staff at the onion is like

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:50 (twenty-one years ago)

latebloomer: yeah that mb20/3rd eye blind/etc. stuff gives me the same feeling as when you've spent about 7 hours in an airplane
-- amateur!!st (-...), September 21st, 2004.

i think partly because i mostly heard it in doctor's offices, airports, the dmv, mcdonald's etc. -- sterile places where no one wishes to spend much time

― amateur!!st, Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:53 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, for me it was waiting in my car with my mom while picking up my sister from school (i was homeschooled for two years during high school).

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:55 (twenty-one years ago)

i don't think i remember a single matchbox twenty song, but that santana song is burned into my brainhole for all time

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 20:56 (twenty-one years ago)

(Jesus Christ, I am old.)

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 21:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Matchbox 20 = The Little River Band

C'mon. "Night Owls" sounds nothing like "Cool Change". And there's nothing bland about the intro to "Reminiscing".

None of these songs, however, sound like the lead vocalist is holding a pine cone in his anus like the lead vocalist of Matchbox 20 does.

And hell. At least Toto had Jeff Poconos or whatever his name was.

― Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 21:14 (twenty-one years ago)

frankly neither do you, miccio

actually I know people who know onion staffers. heard plenty anecdotes. not to mention what people are saying re: av club reviews. where do you get off assuming I don't?

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 21:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Dude, it's ILM.

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 02:42 (twenty-one years ago)

MB20 seem to be nice guys. "Bright Lights" is no worse than some of the Scissor Sisters piano-based tunes.

that's really all I've got.

― Gear! (Gear!), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 03:06 (twenty-one years ago)

fuck this bs

― Free the Bee (ex machina), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 03:07 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll second the motion that they have some alright singles ("Bright Lights" being my favorite actually, and I don't remember "Downfall" at all, or at least the title isn't ringing a bell. what did the video look like?)

― Al (sitcom), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 03:41 (twenty-one years ago)

apologies to miccio re. the onion, since i don't really give a shit about the musical tastes of onion staffers

― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 03:43 (twenty-one years ago)

The video for "Downfall" looked like you didn't see it, because I don't think it ever got played.

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 03:58 (twenty-one years ago)

a Matchbox 20 video that doesn't get heavy rotation on VH1 is like a tree that falls in the forest with noone around to hear it.

― Al (sitcom), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 04:38 (twenty-one years ago)

yesssss

― Free the Bee (ex machina), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 04:47 (twenty-one years ago)

a soggy tree that's got a giant family of termites living inside of it

― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 05:07 (twenty-one years ago)

that makes no sense

― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 05:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Sure it does, because like the music of matchbox 20, termites EAT WOOD.

― Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I hate them! Hate them hate them hate them hate them hate them hate them HATE THEM HATE THEM!!!

...but I really love that "Smooth" song the lead singer did with Carlos Santana. Why? 'Cause it has an AWESOME GUITAR SOLO!! I guess.

― Mr. Snrub, Wednesday, 22 September 2004 15:00 (twenty-one years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.

Matchbox Twenty - C or D?