Review of Rob Thomas’ new album – Cradlesong

One of the most accomplished singer/songwriter of his generation, Rob Thomas makes music that is both compelling and commercially successful. He has sold over 80 million albums worldwide, which includes his collaborations with top names like Santana and Mick Jagger, his solo work and Matchbox Twenty.

Cradlesong, his second solo album follows his 2005 multi-platinum solo debut, ‘Something to be’. This magical collection of song was produced by Matt Serletic and the rock record, heavy on percussion pulses with a typical Thomas energy and passion, in world he portrays with absolute optimism. The RollingStone reviewed this album as a ‘straightforward modern rock album with a bit of country twang thrown in’. Expect to be surprised by the texture of the album with its opener placed on guitars and keyboards along with a phalanx of African and taiko drums. The title track adds ballad crossed with a lullaby has intrinsic world-music flavours. The tunes in Cradlesong are easy to listen to, less rock and more pop – making them infectious.

Interestingly, this album is targeted at the adult top 40 audience that seems to have embraced Rob Thomas wholeheartedly, with another review calling Cradlesong ‘one of the most pleasing pop albums of 2009.’ Thomas characterized the album as “the usual mish-mosh of styles, but hopefully just holding true to a bunch of good songs.”

Rob Thomas was the primary songwriter and lead singer of the band Matchbox Twenty. He also records and performs as a solo artist and has earned three Grammy awards for co-writing and singing on the Carlos Santana triple-platinum hit “Smooth” in 1999.