Tabitha's Secret?

(Pyramid Records)

Like a Star Wars prequel, musicians Rob Thomas, Jay Stanley, Brian Yale, John Goff and Paul Doucette released their own musical predecessor to Matchbox 20, the remixed and remastered album Tabitha's Secret?.

As if there wasn't enough Matchbox 20 music floating in the universe, fans clamored for the release of this early, pre-Neolithic album by members of the band, which results in more generic and sensitive rock fodder for 104.1 The Point. Expect songs about world peace, personal torment and breakup anger, among other deep issues. The boys create an easy-listening blend using standard rock sounds: Rob's sexy voice, guitar, bass, some drums and other instrumentals. Yawn.

Profound lyrics compliment Rob's sexy voice. He sexily sings, "And outside the rain is drying, and inside, I'm dying" or "Here comes the horses, there goes the rain/ Here goes nothing, here it comes again." If it is possible to ignore the lyrics, song "Dear Joan" is one of the album's more pleasurable moments, with its simple and pretty guitar, piano and voice medley. It sounds like a scalp massage feels.

Tabitha's Secret?? builds to the grand finale final track: an acoustic version of "3am," a song that Jay and John helped to write before they missed out on Matchbox 20 fame. The new Tabitha's Secret?version sounds just like the overplayed radio version, only · acoustic.