Rob Thomas - Cradlesong

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Rob Thomas' 18 week reign at the top of the adult contemporary chart with his debut solo single "Lonely No More" pointed to a core audience for his music. Here on the second solo album Cradlesong, Thomas aims squarely at the adult contemporary and adult top 40 audience that has embraced him. Cradlesong is a collection of songs that represent the state of the art today in adult pop. High quality songwriting, smooth, engaging vocals, and crisp production with just enough variety in style add up to one of the most pleasing pop albums of 2009.

The first single "Her Diamonds" sets the tone for much of the album here. Wrapped in a solid melody are lyrics of the pain at emotion that's difficult to prevent and must simply be worked or lived through. "Give Me the Meltdown," the album's next single encourages letting loose life secrets that make life just a little harder. "Hard On You" laments causing difficulty to another. "Someday" looks forward to a day life will be better than it is today. Cradlesong is filled with songs that emanate from the small shared details of life experience.

Cradlesong bounces among enough different styles to keep the album from getting dull or boring through 14 songs. "Fire On the Mountain" is a visionary rock anthem. "Gasoline" is built around electronic synth pop textures. "Mockingbird" charges ahead on pure pop adrenaline. The balance that Rob Thomas and producer Matt Serletic reach here is masterful.

• "Her Diamonds"
• "Gasoline"
• "Fire On the Mountain"
• "Hard on You"
• "Snowblind"

On Cradlesong Rob Thomas proves that his success with the first solo album ...Something To Be was no fluke. If anything, Cradlesong takes a number of steps forward in polish and solid songwriting. In a pop music world dominated by female singers, Rob Thomas stands out as an artist who proves that male performers still have a key place and voice in today's pop music. This is an enduring, solid musical collection.