matchbox twenty: "How Far We've Come"

[crazyfun1]

video545 said:

crazyfun1 said:

I think it's funny, that everyone was balling me out because I said I didn't like the song, though MB20 is one of my favorite bands of all-time. Now it appears that 2 other people above me also dislike this song. MB20 has always been great in my eyes, but this song isn't really showing their true talents at all. It's lacking a lot of things.

I don't understand what the big deal is with you posting your comments. I agree with everything you said.

Yes..I know you agree with me, and I thank you for that. I also realize everyone else gets the point that I dislike the song, so I think I'll stop posting my negative comments on here about that. I need to move on to something else! :)

[Kid Pulse]

^ no problem. :) I'm not gonna stop posting my negative comments though lol

But in all seriousness, how high do you guys think this one will go? I'm thinking #3 maybe.

[crazyfun1]

video545 said:

^ no problem. :) I'm not gonna stop posting my negative comments though lol

But in all seriousness, how high do you guys think this one will go? I'm thinking #3 maybe.

Come on now, you're supposed to be trying to encourage me NOT to post negative comments..LOL. I'm just a negative person to begin with..so I need some positive thoughts!

[Rumors]

kai said:

The influence of Steve Lillywhite, taking his first turn as producer for the group can be sensed in the intensity of the first single which is reminiscent of Lillywhite projects U2 and Talking Heads.

Yeah, finally some comparisons of where I think MB20 is heading. Throw in some XTC.

Track listing for the GH album is out along with the song titles for all six new tracks. I'm still loving the song. Great times ahead. I feel kind of sorry for all the "fans" that feel the need to constantly slag the new song. As someone else stated, why waste so much energy on something you detest. Life is too short for that.

[Chase]

rumors said:

kai said:

The influence of Steve Lillywhite, taking his first turn as producer for the group can be sensed in the intensity of the first single which is reminiscent of Lillywhite projects U2 and Talking Heads.

Yeah, finally some comparisons of where I think MB20 is heading. Throw in some XTC.

Track listing for the GH album is out along with the song titles for all six new tracks. I'm still loving the song. Great times ahead. I feel kind of sorry for all the "fans" that feel the need to constantly slag the new song. As someone else stated, why waste so much energy on something you detest. Life is too short for that.

True fans need not remain blindly loyal to everything that MB20 releases. I think it's healthy for fans to constructively criticize a song if it's not up to par. If everyone loved every song, these boards would be quite dull and bands like Nickelback would get way too much airplay. Oh wait.

Anyway, glad to see Long Day didn't get the shaft for this collection.

[crazyfun1]

rebelsweetheart said:

rumors said:

Yeah, finally some comparisons of where I think MB20 is heading. Throw in some XTC.

Track listing for the GH album is out along with the song titles for all six new tracks. I'm still loving the song. Great times ahead. I feel kind of sorry for all the "fans" that feel the need to constantly slag the new song. As someone else stated, why waste so much energy on something you detest. Life is too short for that.

True fans need not remain blindly loyal to everything that MB20 releases. I think it's healthy for fans to constructively criticize a song if it's not up to par. If everyone loved every song, these boards would be quite dull and bands like Nickelback would get way too much airplay. Oh wait.

Anyway, glad to see Long Day didn't get the shaft for this collection.

Thank you for that comment, BTW. I dislike VERY few MB20 songs, another one I dislike is 'If You're Gone'. I don't have to justify that I have been an obsessed MB20 fan since I first heard them with 'Long Day' back in 1996, but I will justify that. I don't think just because fans dislike a song, it makes them any less of a fan, then any other fan....also...Wait.what IS the track-listing for the new MB20 album??? On that note..I need people here to give me positive things to think about. I am so sick of myself posting these negative comments :(

[Kai]

Hey there crazyfun1, I agree that you don't have to justify your qualifications as a mb20 fan. Nor did I mean to imply that you couldn't dislike the song. I've got no problem with that at all. That's why I said all music is subjective. You hate it, I love it - it's all good. I just thought you were kinda beating a dead horse, if you get my drift.

Need some positive thoughts? If you're such a mb20 fan then tv appearances, radio promo, small tour and eventually new music ought to pick you up!

[Chase]

According to Undercover.com, the tracklisting is:

1. 3AM
2. Back 2 Good (my favorite MB20 single)
3. Push
4. Real World
5. Bent
6. Bright Lights
7. Disease
8. If You're Gone
9. Mad Season
10. Unwell
11. Long Day
12. How Far We've Come
13. I'll Believe You When
14. All Your Reasons
15. These Hard Times
16. If I Fall
17. Can't Let You Go

Yay for Downfall NOT making the cut. Worst single choice ever IMO.

[singingsparrow]

rebelsweetheart said:

According to Undercover.com, the tracklisting is:

1. 3AM
2. Back 2 Good (my favorite MB20 single)
3. Push
4. Real World
5. Bent
6. Bright Lights
7. Disease
8. If You're Gone
9. Mad Season
10. Unwell
11. Long Day
12. How Far We've Come
13. I'll Believe You When
14. All Your Reasons
15. These Hard Times
16. If I Fall
17. Can't Let You Go

Yay for Downfall NOT making the cut. Worst single choice ever IMO.

I happen to really like "Downfall", actually. I'd rank that single only below "Bright Lights" as the best from "More Than You Think You Are".

"Disease" is really the only single of theirs I have given a thumbs-down review for to date, and would have preferred "Last Beautiful Girl" be included instead (the only other domestic single they've released outside of the Rock formats not included on the track listing). I mean, "Disease" is unquestionably the bigger hit of the two, and bigger than "Downfall" also, but "Exile On Mainstream" also isn't categorized as a greatest-hits compilation, but rather as simply a retrospective, thus can toe the line between hits and fan favorites.

I never liked "Disease" because the song just sounds too much like a retread, some more guitar-heavy retread of "Bent" and "Smooth". I thought the lyrics were also mediocre in that, whereas in "Unwell" they sound convincing in that they're coming from a deeper emotional space, in "Bright Lights" that story-telling, intimacy feel is there in the verses, and though the lyrics don't really stand-out in "Downfall", the choir really enhances the song.

So, overall, I really like this track-listing, and am surely happy "Long Day" is included here, but would have done just two things differently: 1) have "Last Beautiful Girl" on the track-listing instead of "Disease", and 2) add one more track so there is an even number of tracks (18) in the collection, where the 18th and final track is the #1 non-single track of theirs voted on their official web-site by fans (like Hootie & The Blowfish did for their greatest hits collection, which "Not Even The Trees" was selected by fans as an additional album-track classic to the CD) which in my case I would have voted for "Hang".

Sincerely,
Noah Eaton

[Kid Pulse]

rebelsweetheart said:

rumors said:

Yeah, finally some comparisons of where I think MB20 is heading. Throw in some XTC.

Track listing for the GH album is out along with the song titles for all six new tracks. I'm still loving the song. Great times ahead. I feel kind of sorry for all the "fans" that feel the need to constantly slag the new song. As someone else stated, why waste so much energy on something you detest. Life is too short for that.

True fans need not remain blindly loyal to everything that MB20 releases. I think it's healthy for fans to constructively criticize a song if it's not up to par. If everyone loved every song, these boards would be quite dull and bands like Nickelback would get way too much airplay. Oh wait.

Anyway, glad to see Long Day didn't get the shaft for this collection.

LOL, speaking of which...I think Nickelback may have finally replaced MB20 as my favorite band. :)

[crazyfun1]

kai said:

Hey there crazyfun1, I agree that you don't have to justify your qualifications as a mb20 fan. Nor did I mean to imply that you couldn't dislike the song. I've got no problem with that at all. That's why I said all music is subjective. You hate it, I love it - it's all good. I just thought you were kinda beating a dead horse, if you get my drift.

Need some positive thoughts? If you're such a mb20 fan then tv appearances, radio promo, small tour and eventually new music ought to pick you up!

Hahaha..I dislike MB20 so much, I put them in my Top 32 friends on my My Space list..LMAO ;)

[Chase]

singingsparrow said:

rebelsweetheart said:

According to Undercover.com, the tracklisting is:

1. 3AM
2. Back 2 Good (my favorite MB20 single)
3. Push
4. Real World
5. Bent
6. Bright Lights
7. Disease
8. If You're Gone
9. Mad Season
10. Unwell
11. Long Day
12. How Far We've Come
13. I'll Believe You When
14. All Your Reasons
15. These Hard Times
16. If I Fall
17. Can't Let You Go

Yay for Downfall NOT making the cut. Worst single choice ever IMO.

I happen to really like "Downfall", actually. I'd rank that single only below "Bright Lights" as the best from "More Than You Think You Are".

"Disease" is really the only single of theirs I have given a thumbs-down review for to date, and would have preferred "Last Beautiful Girl" be included instead (the only other domestic single they've released outside of the Rock formats not included on the track listing). I mean, "Disease" is unquestionably the bigger hit of the two, and bigger than "Downfall" also, but "Exile On Mainstream" also isn't categorized as a greatest-hits compilation, but rather as simply a retrospective, thus can toe the line between hits and fan favorites.

I never liked "Disease" because the song just sounds too much like a retread, some more guitar-heavy retread of "Bent" and "Smooth". I thought the lyrics were also mediocre in that, whereas in "Unwell" they sound convincing in that they're coming from a deeper emotional space, in "Bright Lights" that story-telling, intimacy feel is there in the verses, and though the lyrics don't really stand-out in "Downfall", the choir really enhances the song.

So, overall, I really like this track-listing, and am surely happy "Long Day" is included here, but would have done just two things differently: 1) have "Last Beautiful Girl" on the track-listing instead of "Disease", and 2) add one more track so there is an even number of tracks (18) in the collection, where the 18th and final track is the #1 non-single track of theirs voted on their official web-site by fans (like Hootie & The Blowfish did for their greatest hits collection, which "Not Even The Trees" was selected by fans as an additional album-track classic to the CD) which in my case I would have voted for "Hang".

Sincerely,
Noah Eaton

Good call on the fan voting idea. I think that if a band gets the fans involved in track selection like Dave Matthews did, more forgiveness will be granted for the fact that the band is releasing a compilation to begin with. Personally, I'm a fan of All I Need and The Difference, two songs that I would argue could have succeeded as singles (instead of Disease and Downfall). The Difference is a majestically crafted song, both lyrically and musically, and quite possibly would have flowed more easily into Rob Thomas's solo career as the last single from MTYTYA.

[crazyfun1]

video545 said:

rebelsweetheart said:

True fans need not remain blindly loyal to everything that MB20 releases. I think it's healthy for fans to constructively criticize a song if it's not up to par. If everyone loved every song, these boards would be quite dull and bands like Nickelback would get way too much airplay. Oh wait.

Anyway, glad to see Long Day didn't get the shaft for this collection.

LOL, speaking of which...I think Nickelback may have finally replaced MB20 as my favorite band. :)

Yea..again..I wouldn't be seeing Nickelback in concert if I had to pay for my tix. I got free tix to the show, that's the only reason I'm going..I hate the song 'Rockstar' but lyrically it's 100% on the money as far as the rockstar lifestyle. BTW..this probably belongs in the Nickelback topic, but because I was talking about them, I thought it was appropriate here :/

Here are the lyrics

I’m through with standing in line
to clubs we’ll never get in
It’s like the bottom of the ninth
and I’m never gonna win
This life hasn’t turned out
quite the way I want it to be

I want a brand new house
on an episode of Cribs
And a bathroom I can play baseball in
And a king size tub big enough
for ten plus me

I’ll need a credit card that’s got no limit
And a big black jet with a bedroom in it
Gonna join the mile high club
At thirty-seven thousand feet

I want a new tour bus full of old guitars
My own star on Hollywood Boulevard
Somewhere between Cher and
James Dean is fine for me

I’m gonna trade this life for fortune and fame
I’d even cut my hair and change my name

‘Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We’ll all stay skinny ‘cause we just won’t eat
And we’ll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger’s
Gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny
With her bleach blond hair
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar

I wanna be great like Elvis without the tassels
Hire eight body guards that love to beat up assholes
Sign a couple autographs
So I can eat my meals for free

I think I’m gonna dress my ass
with the latest fashion
Get a front door key to the Playboy mansion
Gonna date a centerfold that loves to
blow my money for me

I’m gonna trade this life
For fortune and fame
I’d even cut my hair
And change my name

‘Cause we all just
wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses
driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and
the drugs come cheap
We’ll all stay skinny
‘cause we just won’t eat
And we’ll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger’s
gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny
with her bleach blond hair
And we’ll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary and
today’s who’s who
They’ll get you anything
with that evil smile
Everybody’s got a
drug dealer on speed dial
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar

I’m gonna sing those songs
that offend the censors
Gonna pop my pills
from a pez dispenser
When they ask why I drink all day
I’ll say because I can

I’ll get washed-up singers writing all my songs
Lip sync em every night so I don’t get ‘em wrong
Then listen to the fans tell me how damn good I am

I’m gonna trade this life for fortune and fame
I’d even cut my hair and change my name

Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hillltop houses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We’ll all stay skinny ‘cause we just won’t eat
And we’ll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger’s gonna wind up there
Every playboy bunny with her bleach blond hair
And we’ll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary and today’s who’s who
They’ll get you anything with that evil smile
Everybody’s got a drug dealer on speed dial
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar

[Kid Pulse]

Those lyrics are great! BTW, I have Nickelback at #12 on my top friends and Matchbox Twenty at #13 :)

[blurple]

crazyfun1 said:

video545 said:

LOL, speaking of which...I think Nickelback may have finally replaced MB20 as my favorite band. :)

Yea..again..I wouldn't be seeing Nickelback in concert if I had to pay for my tix. I got free tix to the show, that's the only reason I'm going..I hate the song 'Rockstar' but lyrically it's 100% on the money as far as the rockstar lifestyle. BTW..this probably belongs in the Nickelback topic, but because I was talking about them, I thought it was appropriate here :/

Here are the lyrics

I’m through with standing in line
to clubs we’ll never get in
It’s like the bottom of the ninth
and I’m never gonna win
This life hasn’t turned out
quite the way I want it to be

I want a brand new house
on an episode of Cribs
And a bathroom I can play baseball in
And a king size tub big enough
for ten plus me

I’ll need a credit card that’s got no limit
And a big black jet with a bedroom in it
Gonna join the mile high club
At thirty-seven thousand feet

I want a new tour bus full of old guitars
My own star on Hollywood Boulevard
Somewhere between Cher and
James Dean is fine for me

I’m gonna trade this life for fortune and fame
I’d even cut my hair and change my name

‘Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We’ll all stay skinny ‘cause we just won’t eat
And we’ll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger’s
Gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny
With her bleach blond hair
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar

I wanna be great like Elvis without the tassels
Hire eight body guards that love to beat up assholes
Sign a couple autographs
So I can eat my meals for free

I think I’m gonna dress my ass
with the latest fashion
Get a front door key to the Playboy mansion
Gonna date a centerfold that loves to
blow my money for me

I’m gonna trade this life
For fortune and fame
I’d even cut my hair
And change my name

‘Cause we all just
wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses
driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and
the drugs come cheap
We’ll all stay skinny
‘cause we just won’t eat
And we’ll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger’s
gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny
with her bleach blond hair
And we’ll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary and
today’s who’s who
They’ll get you anything
with that evil smile
Everybody’s got a
drug dealer on speed dial
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar

I’m gonna sing those songs
that offend the censors
Gonna pop my pills
from a pez dispenser
When they ask why I drink all day
I’ll say because I can

I’ll get washed-up singers writing all my songs
Lip sync em every night so I don’t get ‘em wrong
Then listen to the fans tell me how damn good I am

I’m gonna trade this life for fortune and fame
I’d even cut my hair and change my name

Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hillltop houses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We’ll all stay skinny ‘cause we just won’t eat
And we’ll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger’s gonna wind up there
Every playboy bunny with her bleach blond hair
And we’ll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary and today’s who’s who
They’ll get you anything with that evil smile
Everybody’s got a drug dealer on speed dial
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar

Really?! NB is great live... The last concert I went to was really awesome...

Anyway, back on topic, I can't wait for the MB tour... I'm kind of hoping they'll have my other favorite band to tour with them but they can pretty much take whoever and I'll still see them... So exciting!

Thanks also for the tracklisting! I don't really care for Downfall so no biggie for me too...

[crazyfun1]

Yea..I'm going to TRY to sneak my new digital into the Nickelback show. My camera is only about the size of a pack of cigarettes, maybe even thinner then that. I don't love the band, but I LOVE photography!

[Kid Pulse]

rebelsweetheart said:

According to Undercover.com, the tracklisting is:

1. 3AM
2. Back 2 Good (my favorite MB20 single)
3. Push
4. Real World
5. Bent
6. Bright Lights
7. Disease
8. If You're Gone
9. Mad Season
10. Unwell
11. Long Day
12. How Far We've Come
13. I'll Believe You When
14. All Your Reasons
15. These Hard Times
16. If I Fall
17. Can't Let You Go

Yay for Downfall NOT making the cut. Worst single choice ever IMO.

Why is "Long Day" on there instead of "Last Beautiful Girl"?

[atlantaboy]

video545 said:

rebelsweetheart said:

According to Undercover.com, the tracklisting is:

1. 3AM
2. Back 2 Good (my favorite MB20 single)
3. Push
4. Real World
5. Bent
6. Bright Lights
7. Disease
8. If You're Gone
9. Mad Season
10. Unwell
11. Long Day
12. How Far We've Come
13. I'll Believe You When
14. All Your Reasons
15. These Hard Times
16. If I Fall
17. Can't Let You Go

Yay for Downfall NOT making the cut. Worst single choice ever IMO.

Why is "Long Day" on there instead of "Last Beautiful Girl"?

I think "Long Day" was a bigger hit on Alternative (Top 10 I think) than "Last Beautiful Girl" was on CHR/HAC - also, LBG was played on very few stations - the HAC stations that played it played it a lot though

[Kai]

Also, Long Day was their in concert song finale for years. My girlfriend would get tears in her eyes as soon as she heard the opening notes 'cause she knew the show was almost over. Live, this song absolutely soars and Thomas's vocals are so intense it leaves you totally drained when it's all over. I'm not the least bit surprised it's included.

I wonder what song they'll wrap up with now. Maybe one of the new ones.

[singingsparrow]

kai said:

Also, Long Day was their in concert song finale for years. My girlfriend would get tears in her eyes as soon as she heard the opening notes 'cause she knew the show was almost over. Live, this song absolutely soars and Thomas's vocals are so intense it leaves you totally drained when it's all over. I'm not the least bit surprised it's included.

I wonder what song they'll wrap up with now. Maybe one of the new ones.

In my experience, I've found bands usually close concerts with an ultimate fan favorite, which doesn't necessarily have to be a hit single.

Counting Crows, for instance, have closed virtually all their concerts recently with "Holiday In Spain" (ironically I don't like that particular song one bit, despite it being a huge fan favorite among other adamant Counting Crows fans) which was never released as a single here and only in parts of Europe.

Songs I think would make great concert-closers for matchbox twenty include "Bright Lights" (I choose that song because the live-performance music video is just great with Kyle's extended guitar solo and energy all throughout the coda), "Hang" (arguably too quiet for a concert-closer, but nonetheless a major crowd-pleaser) and possibly "Bent".

Sincerely,
Noah Eaton

[MinusName]

I doubt I'll be picking this album up. I already have their first three albums, and I'm not blown away by "How Far We've Come." Maybe their other new songs will be better. Unlike my other favorite bands, Matchbox Twenty always seems to have so much filler on their albums. They have awesome singles, but most of the other tracks don't seem up to par. On the other hand, I've never had this problem with Goo Goo Dolls or Lifehouse. Maybe it's just me.

[seattle]

Rob stated in an interview that the songs chosen for EOM were based on the fact that they were all the 'official singles' released from their CD's.... he did come on the board and tell us this....

rob_thomas
Matchstick
Posted 17 July 2007 06:44 AM
hey guys. just did a plj interview and thought that now that a new song was out, it was a good time to write my peeps!
where to start? well, for the single,
we all wrote it together.
it's me singing lead, with paul, kyle AND pookie singing some bgv.
paul and ryan are playing two kits at the same time. (the only one paul plays on)
the record will have 6 new songs on it. i'll admit that it was a direct response from coming on here and hearing how dissapointed you were with waiting so long and only getting one new song. now, even though you've heard the new single, there's still a lot more new stuff to hear. and we're just as excited about the others as the first single. it was a hard decision what to go with first.
i have to say that we had more fun making this than we've ever had, and can't wait to make more music together. i'll talk to you guys soon! MATCHBOX IS DEAD! LONG LIVE MATCHBOX!!!!!!

boards.atlanticrecords.com/artists/robthomas/forums/a/tpc/f/510103926/m/9691088789

[Rumors]

I wonder when the video will be released. It has been filmed.

[NORTHCOAST]

Is this slowing down on Hot AC? My station rarely plays it. Yet I have to listen to Rock Star and Umbrella several times a day.

[atlantaboy]

northcoast said:

Is this slowing down on Hot AC? My station rarely plays it. Yet I have to listen to Rock Star and Umbrella several times a day.

When I was doing the CHR/HAC combo chart I noticed that a lot of stations (CHR and HAC) were backin off on the # of plays

[crazyfun1]

northcoast said:

Is this slowing down on Hot AC? My station rarely plays it. Yet I have to listen to Rock Star and Umbrella several times a day.

That's kind of what I've been thinking. i don't hear it all that much, and I hear Rockstar a TON.

[Rumors]

northcoast said:

Is this slowing down on Hot AC? My station rarely plays it. Yet I have to listen to Rock Star and Umbrella several times a day.

It's picking back up again. Will it hit #1? Probably doubtful as it looks like Pink may pass it after they passed her a few weeks ago. Anyway, I think they released it way too soon before the album release date of 10/2. I'm sure they didn't know what kind of response they would get from radio. Obviously, a lot of stations hopped on it. IMO, Atlantic put the breaks on the song for a few week. Video comes out next week on VH1 so I would expect the song to pick back up. If it doesn't, call-outs and requests must be poor and the song will be lucky to go top 3. Time will tell.

[atlantaboy]

rumors said:

northcoast said:

Is this slowing down on Hot AC? My station rarely plays it. Yet I have to listen to Rock Star and Umbrella several times a day.

call-outs and requests must be poor and the song will be lucky to go top 3. Time will tell.

I think this is prob. true since so many stations are decreasing the number of plays

[Kai]

Funny. In my area it just started getting played a lot on our more urban leaning CHR/Pop station. They never played much Rob Thomas or matchbox before. And remember, not all stations are part of the reporting panel.

[blurple]

This is still hot in my station... Being played all the time!