Rob Thomas "Cradle Song" Era: #3 Debut 121k

[areyoureadytojump]

Billboard.com:

Rob Thomas Gets Worldly On New Solo Disc

September 12, 2008

by Gary Graff, Detroit

Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas says he's "probably about 80 percent done" with his second solo album, the follow-up to 2005's platinum "...Something to Be," with plans to have it ready for release in early 2009.

Thomas tells Billboard.com that he and producer Matt Serletic "have been working kind of around and in tandem when I've been on the road with Matchbox" and, following Thomas' vacation in Hawaii with his family, are returning to work on the project.

Thomas describes the album, tentatively titled "Cradle Songs" after one of the tracks, as "the usual mish-mosh of styles, but hopefully just holding true to a bunch of good songs." Several of them, however, take a more global, rhythmic direction after working with South American and African percussionists.

"We started off with the idea of doing a newer version of (Paul Simon's) 'The Rhythm of the Saints," Thomas explains, "and that kinda carried us a long way through. It gave us a whole new bed to work with, like 'How do I get my pop sensibility around this and work it into that?' It was a lot of fun. But you go through different phases when you're writing; it took a different turn, and I just followed it, too."

Matchbox Twenty, Thomas says, is also "going to make another record," most likely with producer Steve Lillywhite, who helmed the new songs on the 2007 compilation "Exile on Mainstream." In fact, Thomas expects the rest of the group "will probably get started on that while I'm on the road with the solo thing."


"We're excited to get in and do that," Thomas says. "We've got a bunch of songs we had during the sessions (for 'Exile...') which didn't fit 'cause we only put the six new songs on it, and we also have a lot of stuff we were writing while we were on the road for the past year.

"We never had so much fun, and I think we know we're a band," he continues. "I'm able to work on my solo record and the guys are still able to be creative as a band. Our future's kind of wide open, whatever we want to do."

Matchbox Twenty drummer Paul Doucette, meanwhile, will release "Milk the Bee," the first album with his other band, the Break and Repair Method, on Tuesday (Sept. 16).

[happygolucky]

Brint it on!

More Rob Thomas and more Matchbox Twenty. Then tour, tour, TOUR!!!

[musicaddict]

FINALLY

[Deleted]

I am just thrilled that Rob is making another album, as well as Matchbox 20, but this?

Several of them, however, take a more global, rhythmic direction after working with South American and African percussionists.

"We started off with the idea of doing a newer version of (Paul Simon's) 'The Rhythm of the Saints,"

This puts me over the moon happy. I love Rob, I love percussion-heavy music from South America and Africa, and Rhythm of the Saints is one of my top albums of all time. To hear that Rob is going in this direction is fantastic news, in my book.

[marcjm]

I just hope the material on the CD is tight!

[musicaddict]

really hope the single will be out before this year tho

[discoloser]

Sept 12, 2008 15:22:16 GMT -5 musicaddict said:

FINALLY

[aTunes]

I'm still upset over Streetcorner Symphony not being the smash it deserved to be. >:( Rob's a super talented guy, and I'm definitely looking forward to this, even though I'd prefer to see MB20's fourth full album before this, but oh well.

[Rural Juror]

Sounds interesting. I just hope it's better than his first CD. It was a pretty good CD but I wasn't too keen on it as a whole.

[aTunes]

Sept 12, 2008 18:20:37 GMT -5 Rural Juror said:

Sounds interesting. I just hope it's better than his first CD. It was a pretty good CD but I wasn't too keen on it as a whole.

Yeah, it was one of those singles orientated album, IMO. The singles were great (Lonely No More, This is How a Heart Breaks, Ever the Same, Streetcorner Symphony), but a lot of the rest of the album was filler-ish.

[musicaddict]

Sept 12, 2008 18:43:59 GMT -5 aTunes said:

Sept 12, 2008 18:20:37 GMT -5 Rural Juror said:

Sounds interesting. I just hope it's better than his first CD. It was a pretty good CD but I wasn't too keen on it as a whole.

Yeah, it was one of those singles orientated album, IMO. The singles were great (Lonely No More, This is How a Heart Breaks, Ever the Same, Streetcorner Symphony), but a lot of the rest of the album was filler-ish.

agrreeeeed

[blurple]

Rob is so underrated. He deserves more success! I can't wait for this... I LOVE him and MB20!

[WotUNeed]

Sept 12, 2008 18:43:59 GMT -5 aTunes said:

Sept 12, 2008 18:20:37 GMT -5 Rural Juror said:

Sounds interesting. I just hope it's better than his first CD. It was a pretty good CD but I wasn't too keen on it as a whole.

Yeah, it was one of those singles orientated album, IMO. The singles were great (Lonely No More, This is How a Heart Breaks, Ever the Same, Streetcorner Symphony), but a lot of the rest of the album was filler-ish.

Interesting. I feel that way more about some MB20 albums than about ...Something to Be. I'm not saying every track on there was amazing, but at least a few of the non-singles (e.g., "Fallin' to Pieces" and "When the Heartache Ends") were very strong.

Either way, looking forward to whatever he/they produce.

[Love Plastic Love]

I loved pretty much the entire cd, thought it was one of the few solid all the way through pop albums released in a LONG time, thought at least 2-4 of the unreleased songs could have been huge smashes, and am angry that it underperformed a bit. Yep.

Hopefully this one will have the same quality.

[texasdevil]

Rob Thomas is the MAN!!!!

[Active Aggressive]

Oh Gah. My old boss is OBSESSED with MB20 and particularly Rob. I bought Exile which I am really happy with. Rob's solo CD was just OK for me...I do love My, My, My and Ever The Same and Now Comes The Night and This Is How A Heart Breaks.

[blurple]

Posted by Mari at RT's official board:

boards.atlanticrecords.com/artists/robthomas/forums/a/tpc/f/510103926/m/83710424811

See Rob Thomas & Chris Daughtry Live!

Hi guys,

As many of you know I have been busy working on a benefit for the last few months. I wanted to come on and tell you all a little bit more about it.

On Saturday, October 25th, Sidewalk Angels Foundation will present A Furry Tail Eveningto benefit Pets Alive Animal Sanctuary.

The evening will begin with a cocktail reception and silent auction. The auction will have some fabulous items.

Not only are Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf going to come out and support us, they are auctioning
off the opportunity to play tennis with them the following day.

The evening will also include a formal dinner, to be followed by an intimate concert featuring Rob Thomas and Chris Daughtry. This will definitely be a rare treat for those who attend.

Our goal for this evening is to raise awareness and much needed funds for Pets Alive.

They have so many wonderful goals for the new year. They would like to open a spay/neuter and low cost medical facility at the sanctuary.

They'd like to welcome the public and start a training program. They would also like to start doing outreach and going into schools, as well as inviting children to the sanctuary for field trips to introduce them to animal care and altruistic living.

They would like to finally make some much needed repairs to better the environment at the shelter and perhaps even hire a full time dog trainer to work with their problem dogs.

This does not have to be a dream. This could be a reality, with all of our help.

I know that many of you are huge supporters of Pets Alive and what they stand for, so I wanted to give you the opportunity to be a part of this special evening.

For a limited time, we will be able to offer seats for the event.

Seats for the evening are $750 per person. There is also a VIP package availabe for $2,500
This will include 2 seats for the event, as well as a pre-show meet and greet cocktail reception with Rob and Chris.

All tickets are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

If any of you are interested please email Margaret at [e-mail]

Seats are filling up quickly, so this offer is only for a limited amount of time.

We hope to see you there.
xo
Mari

[circadian]

Woh! Chris + Rob = Awesome!!

I hope they sing at least one duet together!

[Rumors]

I can't wait to hear some new music from Rob.

[bigbluenote]

Sept 23, 2008 18:09:10 GMT -5 Rumors said:

I can't wait to hear some new music from Rob.

You and me both.

I'm extremely eager to hear his new music AND new music from MB20.

[B****BetterGetNOSL333P]

I am seriously EXCITED!!!

[Deleted]

Sept 24, 2008 22:01:27 GMT -5 B****BetterGetNOSL333P said:

I am seriously EXCITED!!!

[blurple]

Pics from "A Furry Tail Evening";

[myshelbronx]

Can't wait ! You're right Crashed, Rob is deffinitly underrated.

[Rumors]

Rob will be performing a Who song on The Kennedy Center Honors. The Who are being honored. The show will air on Dec 30th.

It also appears that his album may now come out in May instead of March. :(

[Stephen]

This album needs to be released. He should at least release a single already. A buzz track. ANYTHING. This dude is epic.

[Deleted]

Rob turns 37 today.

[Deleted]

happy b'day

[blurple]

Happy birthday Rob!

[Rumors]

Final a little bit of news about the album. Roger Friedmam says May for the album release but Rob posted on his board yesterday and said that it will be late June or early July.



Rob Thomas, Out of the Matchbox

Rob Thomas, the hot young songwriter from matchbox twenty, is planning his second solo album release in May.

This follows his blockbuster album from 2006, called "Something to Be," which featured several hits including "Lonely No More" and "Street City Symphony."

The new album is called "Cradle Song." I’ve heard about 10 tracks from it, and let’s put it this way: Atlantic Records is going to have a great summer. There are at least four hot singles awaiting radio play including "Her Diamonds" and "Someday."

Rob is probably the single strongest songwriter in pop and rock right now, the leader in his generation. He doesn’t get a lot of publicity because he’s married so long to beautiful Marisol, with whom he lives quietly in the New York suburbs. He never appears in tabloids, and is a stranger to the paparazzi. I guess to make him "hip" we’ll have to start rumors of an affair with (fill in the blank).

Indeed, if this were rock and roll in the heyday of the early 70s, Thomas would be up there with Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Don Henley and all those superstars. His music can range anywhere from rock to a Cat Stevens kind of folk-country.

Last year, by the way, Rob went out on the road with matchbox twenty on a sold out tour. They promoted their greatest hits album with six new tracks including "How Far We’ve Come," an anthem that was one of the most played songs of the year. And Rob’s already won the Songwriters Hall of Fame award bestowed upon younger superstar composers. He’s in a rare league with Alicia Keys, John Mayer, NeYo, and John Legend — they’re the future of rock and pop.

www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,499865,00.html#2