Matchbox Twenty return with their first new material in five years and the first fruits of their recording sessions with uber producer Steve Lillywhite (U2, Talking Heads, Peter Gabriel). It’s a bountiful collaboration as well, the single ‘How far We’ve Come’ (out Sept 24th) comes on with enough thunder and bluster to impress and a sustained intensity that should if there is any justice make this a cert for any self respecting playlist. Almost like REM from another era (with a slight steroid shot) this track forms part of the retrospective collection out on October 1st through Melisma/Atlantic. I heartily approve.
The same could not be said of the next offering courtesy of RyanDan. The sleeve alone was fair warning, two sensible jumper wearing twin blokes (dressed in a manner that your mother would approve of). Their single ‘Like The Sun’ is the kind of bile raising dross that can make even tempered individuals pick up a shopping trolley and smash shop front windows. It’s a winsome “heart tugger” that would doubtless be at home in some schmaltzy Disney soundtrack or worse yet be another one of those “last three” X Factor rejects.
If you see this in your local record emporium, set it on fire (just kidding folks, arson is bad…but not as bad as this). Its out by the way on September 17th with their debut self titled album following on the 24th. Ugh.
…and what sort of a name is RyanDan anyway, sounds like an airline.
