Rob Thomas - "Pieces"

[intrinsicthoughts]

ventsmagazine.com/2016/04/11/rob-thomas-sets-busy-spring-summer%E2%80%8F/ 

Looks like it should be out soon and he might sing it tonight on I Zombie's Season Finale. The article also says he is touring with The Counting Crows in support of The Great Unknown CD this summer/fall. Also in other articles and on twitter Rob has stated that Matchbox 20 would not do anything to celebrate 20 years and now Kyle Cook has left the band. Rob says he wants to devote more attention to this album, so i imagine if "Pieces" does well another single could happen like "Heaven Help Me" or "I Think We'd Feel Good Together". I doubt he would put all this on hold for 1 single. Also he is doing CMT Crossroads in July. I think "Pieces" will do well on Hot AC and AC.

[No Brake$]

What would have happened if this was released first, even with a little more upbeat remix? Totally different era in my opinion. The gem of a rough album that I'll never understand.

[intrinsicthoughts]

Apr 12, 2016 18:13:12 GMT -5 No Brake$ said:

What would have happened if this was released first, even with a little more upbeat remix? Totally different era in my opinion. The gem of a rough album that I'll never understand.

I know! Agree 100% I will never understand why they released "Trust You". The only thing i can think of is the Ryan Tedder parts. To me this era could have done a 360 if "Pieces' was 1st. "Hold On Forever" would have done better as a 1st single or released after a successful 1st single. If they wanted an uptempo to lead the album "I Think We'd Feel Good Together" or "Absence Of Affection" would have been better choices imo.

[someguy]

I like this a lot, but it's probably too little too late at this point.

[funguy10]

WOW! I had no idea Kyle left the band. It'll be interesting to see where their sound will go from here. They lost that harder rock edge they had when Adam left. I know there's a lot of rumors that they might break up. Judging from Rob's Facebook message, I doubt it. It's interesting in the fact that now the band is down to the original 3 who came from Tabitha's Secret.

[Kyle]

So wait, 20th Anniversary of Matchbox is completely not happening?

It's sad to hear that Kyle left the bad, it'll be interesting to see where the band goes now, especially since Kyle was the lead guitar. Songs like "So Sad, So Lonely," "Hang," "The Way," will probably not be played live anymore :/

[intrinsicthoughts]

www.completemusicupdate.com/article/rob-thomas-sticks-with-sonyatv/

This article says "Pieces" will be out in July. All the articles i have been reading make it seem like Rob wants to see this project through and he believes in it. I know his wife has been ill and he has had some set backs which makes me wonder if the time between singles is like starting over fresh or if he is doing a re-release. Any thoughts? I'd love for "Pieces" to hit big on HOT AC & AC and allow a single or 2 more from the cd. I'd love to hear "Heaven Help Me", "I Think We'd Feel Good Together" & "Absence Of Affection' on the radio. The bonus track "All The Best Things" is great as well!

[Rumors]

I would love for Pieces to be a hit on HotAC, but this isn't the HotAC of 10 years ago? Heck even five years ago. My HotAC has a song battle everyday at noon. Today the challenge song was something by Pitbull. I think that says it all. I don't follow the charts anymore but isn't AC basically a mirror of the HotAC chart. If it doesn't go high on the HotAC chart, AC probably won't touch it?

As for Kyle leaving MB20, I wasn't sure how the band would ultimately "break up" or go on "hold" as Rob put it but who is truly surprised that it happened somehow. Even though Kyle was the one who left, I guess it was Rob's lack of interest in doing MB20 this year that was probably the final straw. Kyle called it a lack of democracy in the band....my take....Rob didn't really want to go back to MB20 and this may have been a way out. Again, my personal opinion only. And if they had gotten back together I think it would have been for a tour only...not a new album. It finally caught up with this band that Paul and Kyle wanted to write for MB20 and that was leaving Rob more and more on the sidelines as the band's primary writer. I also think it was the amount of time it takes Rob away from his wife and family when he is with Matchbox. I don't think it was really him not liking the guys in the band or vice versus. The distance the band members lived apart from each other might have also been a contributing factor (NYC, Florida, LA, and Nashville.) Rob had to spend a lot of time in Nashville and LA making North. I'm sure all that traveling gets old especially when he can write most of his own stuff in his own basement and record mostly in NYC. Makes a difference when you are 44 and not 28 anymore. I still think down the road that Rob and Paul may get together and do some writing together. Paul and Kyle may also work together sometime. They seem to be a lot closer than Rob was to Kyle. Sad ending to a great band but not unexpected by this fan.

[intrinsicthoughts]

Apr 20, 2016 17:56:38 GMT -5 Rumors said:

I would love for Pieces to be a hit on HotAC, but this isn't the HotAC of 10 years ago? Heck even five years ago. My HotAC has a song battle everyday at noon. Today the challenge song was something by Pitbull. I think that says it all. I don't follow the charts anymore but isn't AC basically a mirror of the HotAC chart. If it doesn't go high on the HotAC chart, AC probably won't touch it?

As for Kyle leaving MB20, I wasn't sure how the band would ultimately "break up" or go on "hold" as Rob put it but who is truly surprised that it happened somehow. Even though Kyle was the one who left, I guess it was Rob's lack of interest in doing MB20 this year that was probably the final straw. Kyle called it a lack of democracy in the band....my take....Rob didn't really want to go back to MB20 and this may have been a way out. Again, my personal opinion only. And if they had gotten back together I think it would have been for a tour only...not a new album. It finally caught up with this band that Paul and Kyle wanted to write for MB20 and that was leaving Rob more and more on the sidelines as the band's primary writer. I also think it was the amount of time it takes Rob away from his wife and family when he is with Matchbox. I don't think it was really him not liking the guys in the band or vice versus. The distance the band members lived apart from each other might have also been a contributing factor (NYC, Florida, LA, and Nashville.) Rob had to spend a lot of time in Nashville and LA making North. I'm sure all that traveling gets old especially when he can write most of his own stuff in his own basement and record mostly in NYC. Makes a difference when you are 44 and not 28 anymore. I still think down the road that Rob and Paul may get together and do some writing together. Paul and Kyle may also work together sometime. They seem to be a lot closer than Rob was to Kyle. Sad ending to a great band but not unexpected by this fan.

I agree with everything you wrote. Hot AC is definitely not the same as it was 5 years ago, however i really think for a select few like P!nk, Maroon 5 & Rob Thomas they will live on based on the quality of music they put out. I still stand by my opinion that if "I Think We'd Feel Good Together" or even the 2nd single "Hold On Forever" was released 1st instead of the forgettable "Trust You", the whole era would have been so much different. "Trust You" sucked especially coming from a legendary songwriter like Rob Thomas. Either of the singles i mentioned i strongly believe would have cracked the Top 10 of Hot AC and made more of a splash on AC because it mirrors Hot AC. I believe they might have even grazed Top 50-60 territory on Pop as well. That would've set up "Pieces" & "Heaven Help Me" to be successful follow up singles. This CD had 4 obvious singles from the beginning and "Trust You" wasn't one of them and it just missed the Top 10 at Hot AC. Still that's what if's and HOT AC will continue to evolve and change but at this moment The Goo Goo Doll's have a Top 40 hit that's been most added 2 weeks in a row and has a +300 bullet. The song is very good and i think if Rob along with P!nk, Maroon 5 and OneRepublic continue to put out strong material they will continue to have success. Whether they will out peak new staples like Adele, Justin Beieber, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars & Charlie Puth remains to be seen though. I would be satisfied as a loyal fan of Rob Thomas to see him put out 3-4 Top 20 hits after 20 years in the biz! ;)

[Rumors]

Rob said two things about Pieces a while back on Twitter.

It won't come out until his tour with the Counting Crows starts in July and it will be a radio mix. I'm not sure how I feel about the radio mix thing because I hate when artists change the song from the album to better fit today's radio but it's what most artists do so I guess I shouldn't hold Rob to a higher standard. I mean Kelly Clarkson is pretty well respected and she has had several radio versions of her hits (even turned some of her pop songs into country songs for country radio).

Also, he has the songs already written for his next album. He said it will be acoustic based - it will be his "Nebraska." An album that I've never listened to but I'm assuming the production is rather stark on it.

[Kyle]

May 14, 2016 11:22:36 GMT -5 Rumors said:

Rob said two things about Pieces a while back on Twitter.

It won't come out until his tour with the Counting Crows starts in July and it will be a radio mix. I'm not sure how I feel about the radio mix thing because I hate when artists change the song from the album to better fit today's radio but it's what most artists do so I guess I shouldn't hold Rob to a higher standard. I mean Kelly Clarkson is pretty well respected and she has had several radio versions of her hits (even turned some of her pop songs into country songs for country radio).

Also, he has the songs already written for his next album. He said it will be acoustic based - it will be his "Nebraska." An album that I've never listened to but I'm assuming the production is rather stark on it.

What's the source for the acoustic album?

[DJ General]

I'm really curious to hear this remix.

[Kyle]

Rob played a new song at a show a few days ago, I'm curious how far off another album is going to be. He's been writing a lot recently and with the potential of the band breaking up, I wonder what the plan of action is

[intrinsicthoughts]

"Pieces" impacts HOT AC July, 11 according to All Access!
www.allaccess.com/hot-modern-ac/future-releases

[Kurt]

The radio mix of this, produced by J.R. Rotem, is at radio now - sent out via HitDisc today. (I don't get that, so I haven't heard it.)

[No Brake$]

Really rooting for this, praying the remix doesn't kill the song. I really think they are putting this out to show RT can still put quality music after arguably one of the most puzzling new album first released songs, "Trust You". Seriously, it might be the biggest disaster even a year later thinking back. That song was HORRIBLE.

He is too good for radio to ignore.

[Kurt]

The radio mix and the remixes are out digitally tomorrow, according to Noise11.

[intrinsicthoughts]

Just bought the radio mix from Amazon. I love it! If this doesn't get Rob a top 10 adult pop hit nothing will! I was right about my Goo Goo Dolls prediction on "So Alive" going Top 20 easily. It's hovering around 15-17 now with a healthy bullet. I am going to predict a peak of #8 at HOT AC for this!

[DJ General]

Ooh. Need to hear it

[No Brake$]

Wow, I just don't get it. This radio remix is almost a troll it's so bad. I don't see any potential for even chatting, it almost sounds like it was made from 2002-2004 dance beat era.mhorrible, just horrible

[intrinsicthoughts]

[No Brake$]

All right, just to clarify, there is actually two remixes out for this, a radio remix, and another radio remix made by some Dutch DJ. The one above is absolutely fine, I pray radio goes with that but you can never know these days. Would be nice for a comeback single.

This reminds me on an unrelated note about ten years ago when Howie Day had like four versions of She Says and radio could not choose which one to play during its entire tenure.

[intrinsicthoughts]

Jun 19, 2016 10:45:00 GMT -5 No Brake$ said:

All right, just to clarify, there is actually two remixes out for this, a radio remix, and another radio remix made by some Dutch DJ. The one above is absolutely fine, I pray radio goes with that but you can never know these days. Would be nice for a comeback single.

This reminds me on an unrelated note about ten years ago when Howie Day had like four versions of She Says and radio could not choose which one to play during its entire tenure.

The only version issued to radio is the radio mix above. The others are dance remixes. The radio mix above was issued via HitDisc to stations already and Rob stressed on his Twitter account that the other mixes were dance remixes not affiliated with the radio mix. #6 ranked KHMX in Houston is already spinning the radio mix above.

[Rumors]

For those who don't like the radio mix (I like it as well as the album version) check out Rob's performance with Charles Kelley from Lady Antebellum from their CMT Crossroads. I thought is was outstanding and could really make an excellent country song if given the right instrumentation. A piano sound alone won't do it. As for the pop radio mix, I'm sure the people who overall didn't like this album probably won't like the radio mix. Again, this is a pop album and they made this song as current and poppy as possible without Rob re-recording the vocals. Anyway, I don't know if HotAC radio will play it but on my local HotAC station this song won 5 days in a row (you know you call in and pick the song you liked the best out of the two played). A song is retired after 5 wins. At least that's probably something the other two singles didn't to.

Anyway, I just popped in here to see if it had gone for "adds" yet and I see that someone posted it will on July 11th. Thanks for the info.

[No Brake$]

I think we might see success with this song. I think ballads and generally dark songs are going to start dominating the chart. I discussed in the alternative forum, I think all formats might see a big overhaul in sound, I feel like electronic has been over killed and the folk sound is a bit too happy for the climate our world has been heading into, I think a revival of active rock might be on its way.

[vann]

I love the album original version or this radio mix but the dance or DJ remix that I listened to I didnt like it.

[Rumors]

My station played Pieces this morning however they played the album version rather than the radio mix. I wonder if this will be a situation where some smaller stations will opt for the slower version. Regardless I just hope some version gets a little radio play. It's a really great song.

[No Brake$]

+33\18 stations, New and Active.

Unbelievable we are at a point where Rob Thomas, who arguably was the King of Hot AC last decade might not even crack the Top 50 with a song that is without question, worthy of probably Top 10.

I think this just goes to show you his record company screwed this whole era up into flames from the start. If I'm Rob Thomas, I almost give up on Hot AC and aim for a AAA record in a few years with a comeback single.

What a disaster, so sad.

[vann]

I had hopes for this song goes better on charts than "Trust You".=0

[intrinsicthoughts]

This should be close to breaking Top 50. Some big stations are on it in big markets. I'm hoping once it breaks Top 40 other stations will follow.