Following a lengthy, four-year hiatus, Grammy-winning pop musician Rob Thomas impresses on his fourth studio album, ‘Chip Tooth Smile.’ 

Sadly, a Rob Thomas album only comes around ‘ever so often’ – it’s a rarity as opposed to an annual, or even bi-annual event.  When Thomas released his solo debut, Something to Be in 2005, we didn’t hear from him again until four years later, with cradlesong in 2009.  Then, fans had to wait a whopping six years for The Great Unknown, which arrived in 2015! To be fair, there was a Matchbox Twenty album in between (North, 2012). Now, after another lengthy period of time has elapsed – four more years – does the former Matchbox Twenty frontman drop his fourth studio album, Chip Tooth Smile.  The good news for Thomas is that Chip Tooth Smile was well worth a long wait.

“One Less Day (Dying Young)” 

“I’m not afraid of getting older / I’m one less day from dying young / I see the light go past my shoulder / I’m one less day from dying young.” Ah, Rob Thomas commences Chip Tooth Smile with a bang on the stellar ✓ “One Less Day (Dying Young).” Lyrically he’s reflective and incredibly relatable, while musically, the record is driving, vibrant, and ‘full of life,’ even as Thomas grows older.  He keeps the momentum going strong on the groovy, 80s-infused ✓ “Timeless,” which features inescapable, infectious rhythmic guitars.  Besides the magnificent production, Thomas sings like a champ, shining brightest on sing-along gem of a chorus:

“All this talk of modern love

I know what you’re thinking of

Our love is timeless, timeless, timeless

All this shit we’re going through

Nothing compares to you

Our love is timeless, timeless, timeless.”

For good measure, the post-chorus is pretty rad too.  The ‘things continues to roll’ on the mid-tempo, adult alternative pop/rock power ballad, ✓ “Can’t Help Me Now.”  The sound is impressive with mammoth, pummeling drums, rhythmic guitars, some piano, bright synths, and enthusiastic, assertive vocals from Rob Thomas.  Once more, memorable lyrics bode well for Thomas, particularly moments like “It’s gonna leave a mark, maybe we can stay and wait it out / You’re the one that talks me down / And even you can’t help me now.” No slow-down in the alluring run on “Funny,” where Thomas asserts, “Had a laugh for a good while / And all my tears were crocodile…” Again, another solid, well-penned and well-performed adult alternative pop/rock record.  Short and sweet at just over three minutes in duration.

“I Love It” 

Rob Thomas rocks a bit harder on the souped-up fifth track, ✓ “I Love It,” which roars from the start.  The distorted guitar fuels the fire, not that Thomas needed much fuel – he’s a juggernaut in his own right. His own powerful vocals are distorted here, and he drops a biting, punchy performance.  He talks a more folk-rock turn on “The Man to Hold the Water,” and the results continue to be sound.  Even though it’s a stark contrast from the turned-up “I Love It,” it’s quite effective.  Thomas has released similar songs in the past, so “The Man to Hold the Water” works without a hitch, showcasing his artistic versatility.

“Yeah, but once we were young / We were beautiful, and we were strong / We didn’t think too hard of what would come / We were beautiful when we were young.” More pop sensibility comes on “We Were Beautiful,” which is co-written with pop hitmaker Benny Blanco.  Even so, “We Were Beautiful” remains ‘pop’ in the context of Rob Thomas without compromising his artistic lane.  The tempo slackens on ballad “It’s Only Love,” giving Thomas another opportunity to showcase his more emotional side. Amplifying such emotion is the prominence of piano accompaniment, as well as the addition of strings.  Like most of the songs from Chip Tooth Smile, he continues to exhibit powerful, nuanced vocals.

“Early in the Morning” 

Ready to contrast the balladry is the sleek, minor-key pop of ✓ “Early in the Morning.”  The drum groove signals the pop vibes, confirmed with rhythmic guitars, synths, and Thomas’ vocals drenched in colorful effects.  Even with the vocal effects, Thomas remains commanding and incredibly potent, particularly on the chorus.  Like much of Chip Tooth Smile, the choruses are where his ‘bread is buttered.’ Shifting from the minor key of “Early in the Morning” to major, ✓ “The Worst in Me” is chocked-full of optimism. On yet another thrilling chorus, Thomas sings, “Baby wait a minute ‘cause it’s all I got / I was hanging on a moment that wouldn’t stop / God damn, it’s never easy, you know it’s true / But the worst in me could bring out the best in you.” Aww! Fun to the nth degree.

Penultimate number “Tomorrow” employs some censorship – that seems to be a rarity these days.  Anyways, on the chorus, listeners never experience the f-bomb on the first line (“We are so f****d up / We just don’t know / We just keep on fighting / ‘Til the bell rings and we’re out”). “Breathe Out” concludes Chip Tooth Smile soundly, with some of the cues that have made Thomas himself and the album a success – respectable songwriting, a heaping dose of rhythm, and a strong, well-rounded vocal performance.

Final Thoughts 

All in all, Chip Tooth Smile is an enjoyable, well-rounded, 12-track set from Rob Thomas.  Vocally, the 47-year old singer sounds as ripe as ever, after such a lengthy, successful career in the business.  What’s most amazing about Chip Tooth Smile is how well that Thomas assimilates into the contemporary pop sound, especially with so many gaps between his respective studio albums.  He’s both consistent and potent throughout Chip Tooth Smile, easily delivering one of the better albums of 2019.

✓ Gems: “One Less Day (Dying Young),” “Timeless,” “Can’t Help Me Now,” “I Love It,” “Early in the Morning” & “The Worst in Me”

Rob Thomas • Chip Tooth Smile • Atlantic • Release: 4.26.19

Photo Credit: Atlantic