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Matchbox Twenty Heading 'North' With A Brand New Album
Monday, 21 May 2012 Written by Simon Ramsay
Matchbox Twenty Heading 'North' With A Brand New Album

Multi-Platinum US rockers Matchbox Twenty are set to release their long awaited new album on September 4th. Simply titled 'North', it's the band's fourth full-length offering since their 1996 debut 'Yourself and Someone Like You', and first album of original material for over a decade following 2002's 'More Than You Think You Are'. The first single, 'She's So Mean', is set to be unveiled in June and will give fans their first taste of brand new music since 'Exile On Mainstream', a best of compilation released 5 years ago which contained six tracks specifically recorded for the release.

ImageThe band – Rob Thomas, Kyle Cook, Brian Yale and Paul Doucette - penned the album last summer whilst living together in a shared house in Nashville, before hooking up with their long time Grammy award winning producer Matt Serletic at his Emblem Studios in Calabasas, California to record the material. The group had written such a large collection of tunes that they were initially unsure what kind of album they wanted to make. "The title refers to us finding our way," Doucette reveals "We went into this record with a lot of material. Many different songs that could have taken us in many different directions. It sort of overwhelmed us for a bit. But, at a certain point, we figured it out. We figured out where 'North' was."  The album looks set to continue the bands glorious knack of writing lyrically intelligent, contemporary rock music that isn't afraid to embrace commercial, melodic sensibilities whilst wearing it's heart well and truly on it's sleeve.  Other songs set to appear on the record include 'Overjoyed' and 'Put Your Hands Up'.
 
With the release of 'North' MB20 have taken their time to craft what they perceive to be an album worthy of their name and hugely successful back catalogue. Paul Doucette reveals they're aware of what a privileged position they're in and wanted to make this album something special: “It's a real important record for us. We haven't done anything in a long time. The older we get, the more we realize and appreciate the good fortune we have to do what we do at this level. Realistically, how many more times do we get? So we're going to really make this record the one we want it to be”.
 
Whilst Matchbox Twenty's activity has been limited the group's members have been busy working on a variety of side projects. Lead singer and principal songwriter Rob Thomas may be most famous on these shores for writing and singing on the Grammy Award winning song 'Smooth', a collaboration with the legendary Carlos Santana, but he's also released two successful solo albums;  2005's 'Something To Be' and 2009's 'Cradlesong'. Furthermore, his writing for other artists such as Willie Nelson, Mick Jagger, Pat Green and Daughtry saw The Songwriters Hall of Fame present him with a Starlight Award in 2004, which recognises young songwriters who have already had a lasting influence on the music industry. Meanwhile, Guitarist Kyle Cook has a side project named 'The New Left', works as a producer for other artists in and around Nashville as well as having co-written, performed and produced a number of tracks on British AOR veteran John Waite's latest album 'Rough And Tumble'. Not to be outdone, in 2008 rhythm guitarist and drummer Paul Doucette (who started life in MB20 playing skins but following the departure of original rhythm guitarist Adam Gaynor in 2005 for undisclosed 'personal reasons' decided he wanted to switch to the guitar as he was fed up being stuck at the back for their live shows! Whilst he still plays drums on the album his touring duties have been handled by Ryan Macmillan) made a stunning Beatles-esque album titled 'Milk The Bee' with his side project The Break And Repair Method. The album saw him awarded with the BMI's songwriter of the year in 2009.
 
Even though Matchbox Twenty are a long way from being a household name in Britain they have developed a large following of loyal and devoted fans in this country due to three wonderfully crafted, hook heavy albums specialising in emotional, soulful rock music and boasting timeless songs like 'Push', 'Real World, 'Long Day', 'Bent' and 'Disease'. The guys even shocked their own record company back in 2003 when they sold out Wembley Arena after being informed by the label that they weren't popular enough! A tour to support 'North' is expected to be announced at some point in the future.
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