Exile On Mainstream

Retail Music Store Collection

Up To Twenty's Date,

October 1, 2007

By	Michael Kerner "Michael Kerner"

When it comes to great hits packages this past year, there have been some that've delivered well for their bucks like The Police and Genesis, who've celebrated their best years of their lives, reuniting and touring again in unison, and have made great hits packages as well. Surprisingly, Matchbox Twenty has had that in question recently with frontman Rob Thomas who had some surprising solo success with his album Something To Be. That did very well, but left die hard fans pondering if he was going to keep delivering on his own, or if he was going to return to his roots. He returned to his roots and reunited with Matchbox Twenty for a new hits album that delivers nicely.

The 2007 Matchbox Twenty greatest hits album Exile On Mainstream, re-introduces the 90's Rock group to a whole new audience nicely, which it has been 10 years since they broke out of the mainstream with their surprising hit Push. All of there hits singles are shown proudly here from all 3 of their big records from 1996-2002. The album includes all of their big hits from Unwell, which had a very catchy and uplifting video, their hard-hitting and haunting Bent, to the Hard Rock driven soul of Disease, as well as other great songs like Real World, If You're Gone, and 3 A.M. There are also a few new songs here as well that add to the feeling of the group including the catchy How Far We've Come. It does surprise me though that the group decided to make it 2 seperate discs instead of one disc, the first for the new tracks and the second for the hits. But, it does get the job done pretty nicely though.

All in all, while Rob Thomas' solo works from Something To Be or his collaborations with Santana on Smooth aren't displayed here, the album alone sticks out to the heart of Matchbox Twenty well, as just the band itself. I've loved their songs and catchy videos, and I think unlike other hits albums recently like Faith Hill's Hits, Exile On Mainstream works out very well as a great buy for anyone who doesn't yet own a Matchbox Twenty album, and for die hard fans. I really think this one is worth the buy, and that could be anytime, even when it is 3 A.M.