Rob Thomas "Cradlesong"

[crazyfun1]

Jun 25, 2009 20:59:58 GMT -5 NORTHCOAST said:

Jun 25, 2009 16:20:01 GMT -5 Gravity. said:

Very nice review from Rolling Stone!

Yeah, great to get 4 stars, but they still have to throw in those digs. don't they. Hate that! Of course, I JUST let my subscription expire and this issue is the first one I'll miss. Gonna have to go check it out on a newsstand.

Any other official reviews yet? Please post them if you see them.

Yea...I got a free RS subscription through Live Nation somehow, and I was shocked as heck to see a GOOD Rob review in it! RS hates MB20 and they hate Rob Thomas, and the review is huge(1.25 pages).

[NORTHCOAST]

Jun 27, 2009 14:58:02 GMT -5 crazyfun1 said:

Jun 25, 2009 20:59:58 GMT -5 NORTHCOAST said:

Yeah, great to get 4 stars, but they still have to throw in those digs. don't they. Hate that! Of course, I JUST let my subscription expire and this issue is the first one I'll miss. Gonna have to go check it out on a newsstand.

Any other official reviews yet? Please post them if you see them.

Yea...I got a free RS subscription through Live Nation somehow, and I was shocked as heck to see a GOOD Rob review in it! RS hates MB20 and they hate Rob Thomas, and the review is huge(1.25 pages).

I stopped at a newsstand today and they still had the RS issue with Adam Lambert on the cover. Damn! Want to see this review with my own eyes!

Hey, if I pre-ordered the album thru Best Buy when should I expect to get it?

[crazyfun1]

Jun 27, 2009 16:41:53 GMT -5 NORTHCOAST said:

Jun 27, 2009 14:58:02 GMT -5 crazyfun1 said:

Yea...I got a free RS subscription through Live Nation somehow, and I was shocked as heck to see a GOOD Rob review in it! RS hates MB20 and they hate Rob Thomas, and the review is huge(1.25 pages).

I stopped at a newsstand today and they still had the RS issue with Adam Lambert on the cover. Damn! Want to see this review with my own eyes!

Hey, if I pre-ordered the album thru Best Buy when should I expect to get it?

I'm not sure how Best Buy.com work, but I pre-ordered mine via Amazon, and they USUALLY ship it a few days before it's release so that customers GET the item on the day OF it's release.

About the album review. PART of it is saying it's cool to be Rob and be UNcool and still make great quality music, though I think Rob is COOL, but whatever..LOL I don't want to spoil it for you, so I'll stop there.

[Rumors]

Someone on Rob's board pre-ordered on line from Best Buy. They got their CD in the mail yesterday.

There should still be an interview with Rob in a later Rolling Stone issue. Per his twitters, they spent 3 days with him (including taking pictures). Of course, Michael's death will probably push everything back. I'm sure the next RS issue will be dedicated to him. Sad.

[NORTHCOAST]

I hate to admit it but I wondered if Michael Jackson's death would affect Rob's first week sales. They had a piece on TV about how Michael's music is flying off the shelves and being downloaded like crazy.

I just saw that post about the Best Buy presale being received already. I hadn't planned on buying the Red Rocks DVD cuz I had seen it already pm TV, but I read that it has more songs than what appeared on TV. So maybe I'll get that. Still really want his other DVD, My Secret Record. Hope we get a chance to see that sometime soon!

[crazyfun1]

Jun 28, 2009 11:51:09 GMT -5 NORTHCOAST said:

I hate to admit it but I wondered if Michael Jackson's death would affect Rob's first week sales. They had a piece on TV about how Michael's music is flying off the shelves and being downloaded like crazy.

I just saw that post about the Best Buy presale being received already. I hadn't planned on buying the Red Rocks DVD cuz I had seen it already pm TV, but I read that it has more songs than what appeared on TV. So maybe I'll get that. Still really want his other DVD, My Secret Record. Hope we get a chance to see that sometime soon!

The sad part of it all is that no one pays attention to some musicians until they die(even those people who didn't like them), then they get ALL of the attention and their record sales FLY! Just like radio. I rarely heard a Michael song here before he died, now it's every hour on the hour of radio play. I liked Jacksons music, but seriously....I guess it's all of those O, Michael died, I'm a bandwagon fan now!

[Rumors]

I don't know if MJs death will affect how many albums Rob sells. However, it will affect Cradlesongs ranking on many sites. For instance, Cradlesong is #20 on amazon but if you take out the MJ albums he would be like #6. Who knows what the Billboard chart will look like. I didn't really expect Cradlesong to debut at #1. I think I was thinking about 140,000 would be really great for Cradlesong. However, he has received really good promotion for this album so who knows. It could be Brad Paisley, Transformers CD with many name artists on it, Rob, and Wilco?

I'm going to say 160,000 but could be anyway from 140,000-160,000 or maybe even less since his pop AI is only 8 million.

[NORTHCOAST]

Just read on Rob's board that Rob is sick with kidney stones and has to cancel some radio phoners tomorrow. Hope he's okay by the televised 4th of July show he's doing with Jewel in NYC. I know how painful kidney stones are. Not fun. Too bad it had to put a damper on his big week. Album on sale Tuesday, on the Today Show on Thursday and the TV show on the 4th. Get well, Rob!

[NORTHCOAST]

The album is getting really good reviews. Yay for Rob!

Here are some:

www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/music/6503426.html

www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ragogna/emnew-tunes-on-mondayem-g_b_222098.html

All Music Guide:

Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Listening to cradlesong, the second album from Matchbox Twenty singer/songwriter Rob Thomas, it's hard not to think of him as a man out of time, making big music for a world of miniature niches. Thomas makes music as if it was the turn of the millennium, when there were cross-demographic radio formats and stores to goose sales to diamond status, traits that still serve him well when he's constructing sonic skyscrapers even if the results don't necessarily feel at home in the modern skyline. With its urgent hooks and surging sincerity, cradlesong is recognizably Thomas's work, right down to its lower-case typography, but with the assistance of longtime producer Matt Serletic he's tweaked the formula of his 2005 solo debut Something to Be in judicious ways, using his worldbeat inflections as an underpinning instead of flair, something that ties together the album even when it lends the album a self-conscious sobriety that's a bit oppressive despite Thomas's enveloping hooks. Still, those hooks go a long way toward opening up a somewhat hermetically sealed album, a record built on careful details in its productions and lyrics, a record constructed with discipline and eager to be taken seriously. This dogged sense of purpose does result in a tighter, better record than Something To Be and even it's not a lot of fun, it's not meant to be: it's big music about big issues, even inflating personal issues to the universal. If it seems somewhat out of step with its year, that almost makes Thomas' somber, determined craft admirable - he's doing this not because it'll give him a hit but because he believes in it.

[Young Money]

Good for him! Can't wait to hear the whole thing

[Rumors]

I was just reading about Rob's kidney stones. Knock on wood. I've never had then but I know they can be very painful and something that can be a recurring problem if caused by diet.

Yeah, the timing could not have been worse. I'm sure that will make Rob feel even worse.

So far I think there have been some really nice reviews with a couple not so nice ones. Well, Rob's never been a critics darling and he still has a career. Probably pisses a few of those people off who never got what Rob is all about. Their loss.

[Rumors]

I really like the guy's review from the Houston paper. That's Northcoasts first link. Thanks.

[NORTHCOAST]

Message from Rob today. Sounds like the kidney stone issue is being resolved.

hey guys! thanx for all the well wishes. even though i couldn't make the interviews today (hospital visits) i will be at bloomingdale's and the release party. i won't be gettin' my swerve on, but i will definitely be there. hope to see you all there. i will be making up all of the radio interviews later in the week, and i will be at the china club tomorrow night and today show friday. business as usual, just a minor setback. later gators!

[Gravity.]

I hope that this takes over the BB200. I don't know if it will with the other competition this week. I'll be picking this up tomorrow.

[Rumors]

Listening right now on my much better sound system than my Dell computer speakers. Anyway, loving the album and am warming to Someday as the second single. It's quite the song!

[Rumors]

Okay - Mockingbird MUST be a single at sometime, too. That upper register Rob sings in a few times would be really appealing on the radio.

[jmd1961]

Okay, I'm on my way out to pick up my copy at Target (with an exclusive DVD attached). But I still have a complaint. And that's the many different versions for sale online. If you get it on iTunes, it comes with two bonus (album only) tracks. However, if you get it on Rhapsody, you get two DIFFERENT bonus tracks. (Not sure, since I don't deal much with Rhapsody, but they may be available separately.)

This is the type of fan-unfriendly behavior that I hate about the modern music industry. I don't want to have to buy an album two or three times just to be able to hear everything. Bad form, Rob.

[Kai]

Still really digging this CD! About the bonus songs, Rob said on Twitter "you and your friends buy different copies and share. or, just buy at least one and download the xtras. (don't tell my record co)"

So buy one and feel free to download the extras you don't get, he doesn't seem to care. I'm sure there will be links posted all over the place to the bonus songs if you search for it. Hell, his fan site probably has them. I've got Sleep 'till the War is Over and Believe from I-tunes, not sure about the others. As far as I know, it's only the digital CD's that have bonus songs, none of the ones in the stores.

[Rumors]

New Hot100 peak for Her Diamonds at #32.

Hits is projecting first week sales of 100-110k. I thought he would do better but I guess that shows you that airplay on Pop is also important. Hoping for some longevity and at least a Gold album.

I hope Rob starts feeling better from his kidney stones. Today Show performance in the morning and then Macy fireworks special on Saturday.

[Gravity.]

I think that this is already in my top ten albums for the year.

It might just be me, but I hear "Love is a Battlefield" in "Snowblind." Does anyone else hear it?

[crazyfun1]

I think Cradlesong really shows Robs talent growth. It's an amazing album. I hope this one or some of the songs on it are Grammy-worthy!

[singingsparrow]

Jul 2, 2009 14:58:38 GMT -5 Rumors said:

New Hot100 peak for Her Diamonds at #32.

Hits is projecting first week sales of 100-110k. I thought he would do better but I guess that shows you that airplay on Pop is also important. Hoping for some longevity and at least a Gold album.

I hope Rob starts feeling better from his kidney stones. Today Show performance in the morning and then Macy fireworks special on Saturday.

And we can expect a new Top 25 peak for this single on the next edition of the Billboard Hot 100 later this week, given that the single would be barely outside the Top Ten on iTunes if not for Michael Jackson's presence on the chart.

"cradlesong" isn't an album I expect to be a breakout seller or to gain fans. I think "cradlesong" is that kind of album aiming to keep and honor his fans more than anything, and any RIAA certification would just be icing on the cake.

Sincerely,
Noah Eaton

[Rumors]

I agree about sales of Cradlesong, Noah. Still loving the album. To me its his best "collection" of songs. It may not have the breakout hit like a Push or Unwell but it also doesn't have any weak songs. It's strong throughout and should make his fanbase pretty happy. :)

[NORTHCOAST]

First week sales = 118,790.

I'm just getting to know the album. Listened a few times. Still need to listen with headphones and the lyrics in front of me. Was questioning Someday as a second single but I find myself singing it to myself a lot. Even woke up singing it this morning. I like almost all the songs. Not feeling Real World 09 yet. But love Getting Late, Still Ain't Over You, Mockingbird, Meltdown, Snowblind and Her Diamonds. "Natural" sounds like a lost Fleetwood Mac song to me. And Mockingbird intro reminds me of The Cure?? This has really been bugging me. Can someone name the song this intro sounds like?? And the one song, is it cradlesong, does begin like Green Day's "Wake Me Up When September Ends". Love Getting Late's alt country vibe. Wish he'd do a whole alt country album. His friend Rhett Miller from the Old 97's would be proud! So far am liking the album a lot.

[arebomb]

Jul 7, 2009 20:02:54 GMT -5 NORTHCOAST said:

And Mockingbird intro reminds me of The Cure?? This has really been bugging me. Can someone name the song this intro sounds like??

1979 by Smashing Pumpkins?

[NORTHCOAST]

Jul 8, 2009 1:32:44 GMT -5 arebomb said:

Jul 7, 2009 20:02:54 GMT -5 NORTHCOAST said:

And Mockingbird intro reminds me of The Cure?? This has really been bugging me. Can someone name the song this intro sounds like??

1979 by Smashing Pumpkins?

Yes! That's it! And Rob covered 1979 on his last solo tour. I knew it sounded familiar. It's not exact, but it has a similar vibe.

[Kai]

Rob coming in #3 is great, considering most people's bucks were going to old MJackson stuff. I'm sure, normally, he and Brad Paisly would have been up in the 180's, 190's. I don't get anyone buying stupid compilation CD and don't even understand how that's considered a new release. Can someone explain it to me?

On a bummer note, I heard he was hospitalized today and is canceling a bunch of appearances. Terrible, terrible timing for him. Hope he's back on his feet quickly - more people need to be buying this record!

[Gravity.]

I read that he had to have surgery, but is fine.

Could there have been a worse time for this? Right when Rob's album comes out, he gets sick.

[NORTHCOAST]

Posting this in several threads, so forgive me if you've seen it elsewhere. But think it's cool that Rob is asking for input. What do you think? I vote for Meltdown and then Mockingbird.

Rob posted this to his website today:

hey guys. just wanted to say thanx for all the kindness you're sending tyler's way. he/we appreciate it. i go back to work next week. i'm off to canada to spread the cradlesong word. wanted to say that the video for meltdown was just a web viral we did and not REALLY the video, because it's not the next single. that said, i really want to hear from you guys what you think the next single should be. we were going to put out SOMEDAY, but i want your feed back, so it's either: SOMEDAY, REAL WORLD 09, GIVE ME THE MELTDOWN or MOCKINGBIRD. atlantic peeps and myself will be listening, so give me your feedback. also, for those who were wondering, my bass player, AL CARTY, WILL be coming back to join me, but i can't thank KONRAD ADDERLEY enough for filling in. he fit in great and is a stellar player! so, that's it. i'm off to australia for press next week, and doing REAL TIME on friday, on my way through, so watch me stick my foot in my mouth once again! cya.
Rt