Self-respect and inner strength lead the singer to close the door on unhealthy relationships (“All I Need,” “Disease,” “Feel”). He values his woman’s unquenchable spirit on “Soul” and “Could I Be You.” In the process of comforting a brokenhearted friend, he challenges men to be more caring and faithful to their ladies (“Hand Me Down”). On “All I Need,” the line “Everybody’s trusting in the heart like the heart don’t lie” raises valid questions about our ability to look inside ourselves for guidance. Thematically similar to the Don Williams hit “If Hollywood Don’t Need You,” matchbox twenty’s “Bright Lights” bids farewell to a starry-eyed partner, assuring her that the door remains open at home if her dreams don’t pan out. The CD’s liner notes include information about an anonymous hotline for teens that lets them report peers who carry guns to school.
Profanities mar several tracks.
How familiar are you with matchbox twenty? Perhaps more than you think you are. Lead singer Rob Thomas appeared with Carlos Santana on the 1999 smash “Smooth,” which earned three Grammys. While the band’s latest disc (weighted with songs about troubled relationships) may not be glowingly upbeat, it avoids deeply problematic content.
