Crowbarred's Mellow Mix Volume 2: MM Vol 2 - 130

MM Vol 2 #130

Matchbox 20

"Bed Of Lies"

(2000)

Genre:Alt Pop

This is one of my gratuitous leftovers from Mellow Mix Volume 1. In other words, not good enough for Mellow Mix 1, but good enough not to discard completely and definitely adequate to fill Vol 2. Now, don't feel to bad for Matchbox 20, they didn't even release this song as a single. I just happened to like the song when compiling for MM Vol 1.

Out of the 13 songs featured on Matchbox 20's 2000ad album "Mad Season" they released 5 songs as singles, which isn't shabby is it? But ah, some of the singles they released, to be honest, were far inferior than "Bed Of Lies". Take the song "Angry" the 4th single released of the album ... it sold 5 copies and they were all purchased in Staton Island NY.

You have to feel sorry for the non lead singers of Matchbox 20, having to put up with a good looking bastich who knows he can leave the group anytime to persue a solo career and reap the rewards alone. But wait, thats what actually happened. Oh well, thank God for Greatest Hits releases.

I never inhaled ... honest

On Yourself or Someone Like You, Matchbox Twenty's ability to craft sturdy, mainstream rock was overshadowed by their reliance on loud guitars, colorless production, and bombastic vocalizing. They trade that sound for a varied, accomplished, smooth production on their second album, Mad Season. Throughout this record, Matchbox Twenty seem unashamed that they sound their best when they're simply a mainstream rock band. They exploit this strength by expanding the production, adding horns and layers of keyboards to their sound, opening up the mix, and emphasizing their melodies. That shift in direction may disarm some fans of the debut, which was pretty much just guitars, but the band winds up with a big, bright, shiny album that's livelier than its predecessor. That alone makes Mad Season more engaging than the debut, but the real surprise is the group's growth as craftsmen and Rob Thomas' progression as a songwriter and singer.

forget shopping ... lets buy the building!

Prior to this album, Thomas had a tendency to oversell his songs, not just in the delivery but in the writing, and the band followed him along. Here, they tone down their performances and while the end result is heavily produced, the overall feel is more relaxed and welcoming than the debut. Of course, it also helps that they have a solid set of songs -- a set that eclipses their previous effort, even if there are a few dull moments here and there. Even with those occasional missteps, the end result is a strong, unabashedly mainstream record that finds the band coming into their own. ~ [Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide]

For more Matchbox 20 visit Mellow Mix Vol 1 #010

For Rob Thomas visit The Def 1000 Songs of all Time #781

This song has a crowbarred rating of 71.3 out of 108

performed by ctrlaltrock

Zuko's Bed of Lies -FINAL-