Product Description

On YOURSELF OR SOMEONE LIKE YOU, Matchbox 20's debut, vocalist/lyricist Rob Thomas leads his band down the same path asCounting Crows, to a post-Pearl Jam, Van Morrison/Band-influenced home at the top of the charts. Thomas' raspy voice wraps a romanticised alienation around folky, roots-inflected rock tunes that share the thematic aspirations of Van circa TUPELO HONEY and The Band's self-titled second album, if nottheir literary wisdom.
Having lived through the grunge breakthrough, the Georgia quintet puts far more `oomph' into their power-chords than those classic rockers ever could. Their best results--the melancholy description of an emotionally isolated lover on "3 AM", the embittered daydream of "Real World", even the upbeat don't-give-a-damn rave-up "Girl Like That"--fit snugly on the same shelf as the aforementionedCrows and fellow crackers Collective Soul.

Track Listing

1. Real World
2. Long Day
3. 3am
4. Push
5. Girl Like That
6. Back 2 Good
7. Damn
8. Argue
9. Kody
10. Busted
11. Shame
12. Hang

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1832 in Music
• Released on: 1998-04-13
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
The sound of Southern rock gets a facelift for the 1990s on Yourself or Someone Like You, the record that made Florida's Matchbox 20 a success story. Rob Thomas's charismatic and passionate vocal delivery carries this collection of captivating, personal-story songs, based on honest, heart-felt lyrics rich with cathartic emotion. Anyone who's felt so scarred by love that they can't imagine taking the chance of getting hurt again will relate to a song like "Push" (an exhilarating feminist anthem disguised as just another relationship-on-the-rocks song). A much-needed break from the alternative pack. --Gail Worley

Customer Reviews

Buy this album. It'll save your life!
I'm not really one for writing reviews, but I just have to say that this is one of only a handful of records that i've listened to in my life, that has actually stopped me in my tracks. The first time I heard it, I just had one thought - simply "What a great album!" You'll find meaning in every track and the delivery will leave you wanting more. There have been a lot of great, seminal albums in our time, but this is one of the most understated and unsung. But hey, don't take my word for it, just listen for yourself!

Best Album
I own all the Matchbox 20 albums and all of them are worth buying but if i had to recomennd one to a friend it would be this one. Each song on the album is something special. My favourite is (Push) this has to be one of the best song ever written and Rob Thomas sings it perfectly with so much energy. He has real musical talent and this album shows him at his best. I would also like to recommend (A Night In The Life Of Matchbox 20) this was the Live DVD with all the classic Matchbox 20 songs on, this is just an amazing live set worth buying.

SUPERB!!!
I was first introduced to this album when I was going through a lot of changes in my music taste and I had never heard of them before-that'll teach me for liking boybands for so long!! I didn't know what to expect when I heard it because I was just getting in to Counting Crows at that time and I did'nt think anything else could come close to them!! But I have to say- apart from any Counting Crows albums and the Lifehouse album- it was one of the first albums that I listened to from beginning to end!! I was so impressed!!!

"Real World"- this song made me laugh when I heard it because it was exactly how I felt at that time; the music is wicked and the lyrics are great- "I wish the real world, would just stop hassling me".

"Long Day"- I was so happy when this song came on next because it was just as good as the first song!! Its not quite as heavy as "Real World". Its about being just totally freaked out by nobody but yourself "Its me, and I can't get myself to go away".

"3 a.m."- This is even lighter still, its more acoustic than the first two, and the lyrics are really good.

"Push"- This is my fav track on the album and I recommend getting the album for this track alone!! Everything about this song is just so cool-and you just have to hear Rob Thomas' voice; he sounds amazing.

"Girl Like That"- This one is a bit of a push up in tempo after things being slowed down a little in "Push"; another fantastic song.

"Back 2 Good"- This is my second fav track on the album; I think its about how nobody really talks about things and keeps things to themselves even when they've got a problem. The lyrics are wicked, again.

"Damn"- Another really clever song and its really basic compared to the others in that it really only features the guitar and a light drum for the most part.

"Argue"- Another funny song!! The lyrics made me laugh-very clever.

"Kody"- Another fav of mine and its another more acoustic number-about a young boy named Kody.

"Busted"- I love this song and its really good in its acoustic version aswell. Its about being too blind to see that one or both of you might get hurt in a relationship and denying that you are in love-"We're too cold to be in love, we're too crazy to get busted."

"Shame"- Another more uptempo song after having been slowed down a bit for "Busted".

"Hang"- A great song to finish the album on.

This album is just a fantastic debut for the guys and it will always be one of my favourites because its got everything-a good chane of alternating tempos, some greta music and some great lyrics. The album is brilliantly produced and their frontman Rob Thomas is sounding amazing and is being even more clever than ever!! If you are thinking of getting "Mad Season" and haven't got this album yet, I would suggest getting this album first, because it is their best and it will get you ready for a more mature sound on "Mad Season".

This album is definitely worth a listen and I guarantee that it won't come out of your CD player for a very long time!!