VH1 Storytellers: Matchbox Twenty

The music of Matchbox Twenty--or, more accurately, singer/songwriter Rob Thomas and his backup band--is spotlighted in this 10-song, hour-long Storytellers entry, recorded in New York in February 2001. Does a band whose entire oeuvre at the time consisted of just two albums deserve the same relatively prestigious showcase previously granted to the likes of David Bowie, The Pretenders and Elvis Costello? That's certainly debatable; then again, perhaps this is what you get for appearing on a gazillion-seller like Carlos Santana's Supernatural, as Thomas did. In any event, Thomas is a personable, garrulous fellow with a distinctive voice (familiar to all from Santana's “Smooth”) and some pretty good tunes (“Push,” “If You're Gone”). And make no mistake about it: this is his show, as the other musicians (including a horn section on several numbers) barely get a word in edgewise. Bonus features include a music-only option and one additional song. Aud: P. (S. Graham)