Matchbox Twenty strives for 'More'

Matchbox Twenty is out to change your mind. On its third album, More Than You Think You Are, the band tries to prove two things -- it's not just Rob Thomas and his band, and there's far more depth to it than radio-friendly singles like "Mad Season" or "Real World" would indicate.

For the first time in the band's history, members other than Thomas made significant contributions to the songwriting. Drummer Paul Doucette and guitarist Kyle Cook both co-wrote songs with Thomas, and one track was written exclusively by Doucette. This newfound cooperation has led to the tightest Matchbox Twenty album yet. The strings and horns that made their last CD, Mad Season, seem overproduced are gone on all but two tracks, replaced by a new emphasis on guitar riffs and Rob Thomas's distinct vocals.

The lyrical content on this disc has also changed drastically. While Mad Season's lyrics were inspired by the insanity that had surrounded Thomas in the short time since the band rose to the top of pop music, More Than You Think You Are returns to the topics that made the first disc, Yourself or Someone Like You, one of the best-selling debuts of all time. The lyrics are almost all drawn from the breakdown of relationships, a topic that everyone relates to.

The disc kicks off with "Feel," one of the band's most straightforward rock songs yet, and then goes into the first single, the disco-influenced "Disease," which was co-written by Mick Jagger. From there, every track seems to have a unique mix of influences. The hidden track, "So Sad, So Lonely," is reminiscent of late-'90s swing bands such as the Brian Setzer Orchestra or Cherry Poppin' Daddies, while "You're So Real" features Thomas's rapid-fire vocals over a trippy, guitar-driven groove evocative of '60s psychedelic rock.

"Downfall" stands out against the rest of the songs on this disc, however. It begins as a simple track with a David Gray-like drumbeat by Doucette, with Thomas pining over a love that might have been. But by the end of the track, Thomas is belting out: "Be my savior/ and I'll be your downfall," backed by a gospel choir. On this album, Thomas justifies yet again his position as one of the hottest young songwriters in music today. The rest of the band keeps pace lyrically and musically, however, making this record the first real indication of this band's potential.

Unfortunately, the band fails to expand upon the potential it showed in its first two albums, instead choosing to go in a different direction yet again. Rest assured, if Matchbox Twenty ever does fulfill its potential, the pop charts will take notice. For now, these 13 pop gems will satisfy any of the band's fans.