After Grunge Music slowly died off with the sad suicide of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain back in 1994, there was a huge void in the world of USA-based music that was present in the Rock scene. Britpop seemed to rectify some of this, along with other musical genres. Matchbox Twenty arrived at a time that was suitable for such a void and managed to fill some of that void out properly. With a post-Grunge Rock Music sound and lyrical themes that were based on some rather morbid topics, this is the first major album release by the group. In any case, this initially was a slow starter in terms of sales but ended up going 12 times platinum over time. Let’s listen to this album; hopefully, it will be worth hearing.

Real World launches right into it with some snare drum hits and awesome guitar riffs. This is instantly loveable and fantastic from the go. Singer Rob Thomas sings this song very nicely, and the whole band plays a fantastic tune. Kyle Cook’s lead guitars in particular are really fantastic to listen to, and Rock and Grunge Music fans will love this tune in particular. A really top-notch and excellent tune about being oneself. Towards the middle are some screaming guitars, followed by sweet acoustic guitars and other neat Rock Music instrumentation. This is a really fantastic listening experience, this is a fantastic and upbeat song that is worth repeat listens throughout. Very, very catchy music here. Towards the end is a majestic proto-Coldplay sounding guitar solo that is really fantastic. A great, great listening experience which ends with guitars and excellent drums with vocals over the top. Sweet.

Long Day begins with some sweet vocals and strummed acoustic guitar that sounds really great. A powerful and lovely tune that quickly enters into a fantastically excellent and Grungy tune that is supercharged and powerful. This sort of music is perfect for your Rock and Metal friends to enjoy over cold beers. This has both light and shade, along with loud and quiet sections. Nonetheless, this music does sound really fantastic to listen to. An awesome song and album that, so far, shows a really great amount of musical enjoyment and potential throughout. One of the more definitive and loveable releases of 1996. There is a strange wah-wah guitar solo that sounds unusual here but does the song justice. This reverts back to the acoustic guitar strumming and intense vocals briefly, before launching back into the musical mayhem at hand. A great listen that is absolutely worth hearing and sounds really awesome. The screamed and passionate vocals by Rob Thomas are excellent. Top tune.

3AM begins with some melodic and strummed acoustic guitars with some chiming lead guitars to match it. Again, this sounds very top-notch and fantastic from the start. The music and playing here are superb, and the melodic but punchy Rock sounds are really fantastic. The chorus sounds fantastically upbeat and is one of the best and most memorable songs of the 1990s. It seems that Matchbox Twenty was a band on it musically, and the sounds and simplicity of these tunes are hard to match. A piece of magical music listening, and it seems that Matchbox Twenty were in a genre of their own. A sweet and fantastic listening experience with acoustic guitars, organ, punchy drumming and energetic electric guitars, this is a winner. Nonetheless, a very good song that needs to be heard by more. Despite the lyrical content, this sounds very upbeat. A cool song to listen to.

Push begins with some slightly overdriven guitar riffs that are dual-tracked. Rob Thomas sings nicely on this song, and he sounds deep and passionate with his singing voice. A really top and excellent song that fans of Rock in particular will dig. This song, when the chorus hits, is a moving and emotional listening experience that sounds super cool. There are some awesome lead guitar parts that sound really awesome, bridging between the chorus and verses. Nonetheless, this is fantastic music to listen to and it sounds energetic and so good that it is timeless. The chorus soars well over the group’s peers and sounds really awesome. “I won’t take you for granted…” is sung here, and this song about relationship issues is a fantastic winner. A really great song, and something worth your time and ears. A really great piece of music. Very inspired and wonderful.

Girl Like That begins with some decent guitars, both acoustic and electric, and quickly launches into a song about being obsessed with a lady of one’s fancy. Some interesting lyrics match the music at hand here, and the tune itself is a Pop/Rock tune that is very near perfect, even for a lesser-known track from this album. The mixture of rhythm, melodic and Rock structure sounds irresistable to listen to. This is yet more proof that perhaps Matchbox Twenty is underrated in retrospect. Rob Thomas’s vocals are very Post-Grunge, and the rest of the band creates the perfect musical environment for his singing. A really unique, lovely and romantic-sounding tune. In the second half is a quieter section with just acoustic guitars and vocals, before this returns to the louder chorus. A very enjoyable listen, through and through. This is awesome music. It ends with sustained guitars.

Back 2 Good begins with pounding drums and launches into a nice, clean electric guitar-based song. This is a longer song at over five minutes in length. In any case, this sounds gorgeous and marvellous throughout, and the music and arrangements are perfect for each other. An awesome tune, this is a really great song that is a powerful ballad that works on many emotional levels. Nonetheless, Matchbox Twenty succeeded on many musical levels and all music fans, particularly those of you who wanted a more upbeat alternative to Nirvana here will dig this music. The chorus is intense and angry, without being offensive like the Sex Pistols potentially were. An interesting listening experience, and something worth your time. The keyboards and drums in the background keep this song interesting as well. The chorus in particular is wonderfully intense. Sure, this music may have appealed to teenage audiences at the time, but this album has definitely lasted the test of time. A powerful and energetic musical ballad, this song is also worth your attention from this album. Nonetheless, another moving and fantastically punchy Rock/Post-Grunge tune that sounds truly awesome. It begins to wrap up with horn sounds and pounding drumbeats, followed by chiming electric guitars to conclude with. Excellent.

Damn begins with some straightforward drumbeats, followed quickly by overdriven guitars. Rob Thomas launches straight into it with whiskey-soaked vocals, and he sings about a particular lady of fancy. In any case, this is a punchy and rocking tune that is enjoyable and passionate throughout. In the middle of the song is a drastic tempo and structure change in the chorus, before this launches into a sweet and pleasant guitar solo at hand. This classic album has a genuine share of awesome tracks, and even lesser-known numbers such as this song from this album impress wonderfully. Towards the end, there are soaring vocal harmonies and playing, leading back into the chorus to conclude. A very good song, it fades out with swirling guitars.

Argue launches right into guitars and drumming, before Rob Thomas sings about a lady who is in a complicated relationship. This is another fantastic song that is worth your ears and listening time. A louder, simpler yet much more punchy song to listen to, this is a fantastic and enjoyable tune, through and through. Relationship issues are often a sad part of one’s life, and this song points that out. In the second half is a neat breakdown with some excellent guitar riffs and a different musical approach briefly, before the rest of the song kicks in. An awesome and enjoyable song from start to finish, and some that sounds fantastic, once again.

Kody begins with some clean electric guitars, acoustic guitars and drumming. This is another bittersweet-sounding ballad that sounds emotionally unhappy but very, very good. A great listen from the go, this is a sad song about the difficulties that one can experience in life. An emotional yet powerful listening experience that has the ability to move the listener, this is proof that Matchbox Twenty had the ability to create music that sways one’s emotions. A sad song that hits the listener hard, this is a dark, deep and emotional song that is perhaps not a happy listen for many. A great song for something deep and close to the bone, this is a great listen, once again. Another solidly great musical piece, and worth hearing.

Busted begins with some weird-sounding guitars that sound rather discordant. This launches into a rather off-sounding piece of music about being busted. This is another angsty teenage music-based anthem that does sound really great. The chorus sounds weird yet enjoyable, and even on lesser tracks such as this one, this is a good listen. Seemingly about drug addiction, Matchbox Twenty made a disturbing song to listen to. In any case, this is a dire warning for those of you who do illicit drugs, and the fact that one is putting themselves at risk by doing such a thing, legalities or not. There is piano and acoustic guitar in the breakdown before this quickly launches back into the electric guitar-based mayhem that is really awesome. Nonetheless, a seriously awesome song to hear. Worth your ears, once again.

Shame begins with some heavily chorus-laden electric guitar, deep bass guitar and strummed acoustic guitar. Soon into it, Rob Thomas sings in a much more upbeat and positive way on this song, and he sounds like a world-class vocalist, through and through. The music progresses along very nicely, and it sounds like an upbeat Pop/Rock winner. The chorus has an emotional climax and this is a beautiful ballad that is worth listening to, even if you are not a fan of Post-Grunge Rock Music. A joyous tune that sounds really gorgeous and intense, the chiming Fender Stratocaster-styled guitar parts are really pleasant and fill up space without the need for a ton of overdubs. In the second half, this enters the chorus in an irresistable way. A great song from start to finish.

Hang is the final song on this album and begins with some sweet acoustic guitar strumming. It launches into an excellent song with just acoustic guitars and vocals throughout and is a song about a lady and her partner leaving a poisonous relationship. Very sad and heartbreaking, but this is a pretty and divine listen regardless. This music will last the test of time, and this song is no different at all to the rest of the album in that respect. A really moving and melodic tune that is set to the sweetest and best melodic musical backdrop, this is a sad listen to end this great album with. Eventually, this launches into the chorus with some neat music and musicianship, with an organ thrown into it for good measure. Absolutely worth listening to, particularly if you are going through relationship issues. The album ends here.

Although this is a Rock/Post-Grunge album, it is fair to say that the music here is so good that one can easily recommend it to friends, or put it on repeat. This is guitar-based music, yes, but is not necessarily limited to a single genre in terms of broad appeal. Matchbox Twenty delivered a fantastic musical statement on this, their debut album, and more would come from them in the years to come. Should you listen to this album? Yes, you should, particularly if deep and meaningful guitar-based Rock Music is what you dig.

Fantastic.

9/10