This Is How a Heart Breaks - Rob Thomas

This is the lightning bolt that kicks off Rob Thomas' solo debut album Something To Be. Used as a theme song for this year's NBA basketball championships, it is tailor made to anchor an emotional event. Thomas gives himself a fantastic musical environment to showcase his under-rated vocal talents. It's a great follow-up single to the hit Lonely No More.

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This single can make those who love Rob Thomas as a performer worship him, but for those who don't appreciate his brand of vocal intensity, this won't gain him more love. Count this reviewer as one who is becoming more and more impressed by Thomas' abundant musical talent. If you have the opportunity to view the film of "This Is How a Heart Breaks" recorded in the studio on the Something To Be dualdisc, by all means watch. Rob Thomas' in-the-studio performance is riveting.

For those who expected Rob Thomas solo to be merely an extension of his work with Matchbox 20, this is another example of how he distinguishes his solo work from that with the group. Horns and keyboards are at least important here as drums and guitars. There is a bright snap to the pop instinct in "This Is How a Heart Breaks" that is distinctly unlike any work by Thomas' group. The song title, by the way, is more instantly memorable than nearly any song recorded by Matchbox 20.

Chart success seems assured for this second single from Something To Be. It is already picking up significant radio airplay in advance of official release. Gather a bunch of friends and join the punchy emotional breakdown of "This Is How a Heart Breaks."