Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 73
 Rob Thomas Explores a Fresh New Sound with "cradlesong" June 30, 2009
Michael Yovkovich
35 out of 42 found this review helpful
After reuniting with matchbox twenty for 2007's "Exile on Mainstream," Rob Thomas returns to his solo work with his new offering "cradlesong," and the result is a fresh mix of tunes that blends 80's synth-pop with today's current pop sound. The album plays out as such.
1. Her Diamonds- 8/10
The first single off the album, "Diamonds" is a feel-good midtempo number that builds to a rousing chorus. A great summer song that is sure to continue growing at radio.
2. Gasoline- 10/10
Starts off with a digitized drum beat before breaking into an all out 80's power pop ballad that is brought up nicely to today's modern pop standards. The chorus is very simple, yet extremely catchy.
3. Give Me The Meltdown- 9/10
The jangling guitar riffs during the verses of this song remind me very much so of David Bowie's "Let's Dance." This is an uptempo number with solid backing vocals and an extremely catchy chorus. Once again, the 80's synth-pop influence is present in this one. This is sure to be a favorite at Thomas' live shows.
4. Someday- 9/10
A beautifully arranged song with heartfelt lyrics, "Someday" represents what Rob Thomas does best as an artist. An emotional mid-tempo ballad with a memorable piano riff echoing throughout and a solid sing-a-long portion at the end, this is a sure-fire single.
5. Mockingbird- 10/10
Plain and simple, one of the best uptempo songs Rob Thomas has put out to date. The verses build up amazingly well to an undeniably catchy chorus filled with solid backing vocals and the on-point emotional delivery of Thomas' phrasing. The lyrics in this song are extremely easy to relate to and the 80's synth-pop is once again present throughout.
6. Real World 09'- 7/10
For those like me expecting this to be a new interpretation of the hit Thomas had with matchbox twenty in 1997, you will probably be a bit disappointed to hear that it is not. "Real World 09'" is an uptempo synth-pop song that is pleasant enough, but suffers from having so many catchy songs surrounding it.
7. Fire On The Mountain- 9/10
This song starts off with an almost tribal drumbeat that keeps the pace slow through the verses before building up to a soaring chorus. The guitar riffs during the chorus give this song an almost epic feel to it.
8. Hard On You- 7/10
A pleasant midtempo number that maintains a very relaxing sound throughout.
9. Still Ain't Over You- 8/10
This is a completely new type of sound for Rob Thomas. An uptempo number that builds well to a chorus that is chalk full of searing guitar riffs and emotional phrasing.
10. Natural- 8/10
A haunting midtempo tune that's tone can be best described as raw emotion.
11. Snowblind- 8/10
A beautifully written midtempo song with solid backing vocals.
12. Wonderful- 9/10
This song melds together big band instruments, searing guitar riffs, and well crafted melodies seamlessly. The result is one of the most unique and fresh songs on the album.
13. Cradlesong- 9/10
A song that begins with nothing more than an acoustic guitar, Rob Thomas tugs at the heartstrings with this emotional tearjerker. Throw in some beautiful backing vocals and amazing lyrics and you have a truly exceptional song.
14. Getting Late- 7/10
This slow tempo folksy ballad is a nice reflective tune to end the album with.
BONUS TRACKS
15. Years From Now- 8/10
Another solid midtempo number that Thomas fans will definitely want in their collection.
16. Remembered Well- 8/10
Similar to the big band sound of "Wonderful" but slowed down to an almost 50's style sound, this is another solid midtempo tune.
After the success of 2005's "Something to Be..." you have to give Rob Thomas credit for not sticking to the same formula with "cradlesong." Rob takes a creative leap of faith with his latest release, and the result is a fresh batch of songs that are sure to get tons of airplay over the next couple of years. "cradlesong" serves as another entertaining chapter in the story of one of the best songwriters in the business today.
Just what I needed! July 3, 2009
S. Pederson (Batavia, IL USA)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I disagree that he's breaking any new ground on this one (he's not) but I don't WANT any new ground broken! I am LOVING this CD - a few tracks caught me making an audible approving comment - on the first listen!
If you are a RT (or MB20) fan, you cannot go wrong with this one - it's a great listen.
It seems that there is so little going on right now to make people happy - this CD makes me happy.
Another Winner from Rob Thomas! July 1, 2009
LaLuna (Phoenix, AZ USA)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
With Cradlesong, Rob Thomas once again demonstrates that he is among the top songwriters and musicians of a generation. This album will appeal to a vast audience with its vintage pop inspired sound and lyrics that are widely relevant to everyday issues that people face in this world, like crazy politics and faltering relationships. Don't expect a Matchbox Twenty or Something to Be sound from this album; Rob is expanding his talents and walking a bit of new ground here, but his deftness with melody and lyrics provide the quality and depth that one would expect. In my opinion, every track is a winner, but I personally can't stop playing "Give Me the Meltdown." Rob's vocals on Cradlesong are excellent and he displays some range not seen before, like the high notes in "Snowblind," proving that he has as much talent with performing his songs as he does with writing them. In short, Rob Thomas/Matchbox Twenty fans will love this album, and so will anyone else.
Another Triumph August 7, 2009
M. Peters (Altamonte Springs, Florida United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I have never sung a song with Robert Kelly Thomas on stage, been a member of one of his bands, nor was present when won his Grammys, but we are however old friends of some twenty years and in that time I have seen him progress from playing his little Casio keyboard (writing brilliantly even then) to being a bright, shining star. Cradlesong is just another step in what will be a long and successful career. This is not a CD for just his or Matchbox Twenty fans, it is one for anyone who loves well crafted music. One of the songs may be titled "Her Diamonds," but this is one of his. I will not go into a song by song review. I will say however that once you add this CD to your collection, it will be one that you will play often and for many years to come. Songwriters like Kelly come along rarely and he very well may be the best of his generation, do not miss this CD. Being someone who has known him for many years, you might think I am biased, but he would be the first to tell you that if I thought something he produced was crap, I would say say so. I am happy to say that I cannot say that about this CD or indeed any of the songs thereon.
Full of Great Music July 17, 2009
Irishgal (Arizona, USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Four years after the success of his first solo album, 'Something to Be', Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas is back with its follow-up, 'Cradlesong'. As with the first record, this one is full of great music, though with a slightly different sound.
Like all records that Thomas has been a part of (both with the band and as a solo artist), this album has quite a few top songs - I wouldn't be surprised to see radio singles off of it for the next few years. First single 'Her Diamonds', written about Rob's wife's struggle with an auto-immune disorder, is catchy if slightly darker than his previous fare. 'Gasoline' and 'Mockingbird' both mix '80s rock with modern music, though the former also brings to mind Matchbox Twenty's 'Last Beautiful Girl'. 'Someday' mixes delightful lyrics with an addictive melody, while 'Snowblind' has a slightly more alternative feel. Though 'Give Me the Meltdown' and 'Real World '09' are the most similar to Matchbox Twenty fare - and no, the second is not a remake of MB20's 1990s hit - they remain slightly more polished here.
On his last album, Rob Thomas explored more types of music than he had done with the band. There was a great heap of Latin soul, some big band, and a little R&B. On this one, nearly all of the songs are modern rock with a decidedly '80s influence, though there are unexpected treats, such as a rhythmic, near-tribal beat on 'Fire on the Mountain'; 'Cradlesong' is a sweet ballad that may well end up being a radio hit.
One thing I love about listening to Rob Thomas is that his albums are always full of good music. There aren't any filler tracks, and this one is no exception. All of the songs are amazing, and I would be surprised if fewer than five of them end up being radio hits. No matter what, it's a delight to listen to, as always.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 73
|
