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Mad Season
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Mad Season Image
Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 35 Ratings

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 14
  3. Negative: 2 out of 14
  1. AllMusic
    80
    The record boasts a huge, smooth production and is considerably more varied and accomplished than its predecessor.
  2. Spin
    70
    Each song isn't particularly interesting or life-changing, but, damn, if every one of them doesn't boast a hook that sticks in your head until you're humming "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" just to exorcise it. For better or worse, this is talented songwriting...
  3. Billboard
    70
    On "Mad Season" the band serves up another slick collection of R.E.M. and Pearl Jam-influenced post-grunge classic rock tailor-made for ubiquitous radio play.
  4. Q Magazine
    60
    The follow-up is an equally passionate, turbulent affair, sounding, oddly, like a cross between Foreigner and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    58
    Especially in its ballad-heavy second half, mad season feels like the rock equivalent of a chick flick.
  6. Rolling Stone
    50
    Every song on Mad Season is a production mini-epic.... Under the haywire production are crafty songs.... But when the crescendos surge and the keyboards chime, he starts to sound as unctuous as 1970s cheeseballs from Lobo to Jim Croce to the Guess Who's Burton Cummings. Songs that probably seemed vulnerable as demos have turned greedily narcissistic.
  7. New Musical Express (NME)
    30
    Musically this is the sound of middle America at its most ugly and nauseating...

See all 14 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 18
  3. Negative: 1 out of 18
  1. PaulineT
    Sep 9, 2004
    10
    This album is great. And Rob Thomas's vocal is like WOW. Recommended for ALL matchbox twenty fans out there.
  2. HoleighR.
    Oct 14, 2001
    10
    This album mixes wonderful brass, woodwinds, and string instrumentals with the great tones of Rob Thomas's voice and the skills of the This album mixes wonderful brass, woodwinds, and string instrumentals with the great tones of Rob Thomas's voice and the skills of the rest of the band. Each song has a different feel to it and can really change your mood. This is one of my favorite CDs of all time and those who say its nothing but "mainstream rock" are just expecting the simple mindedness of such artists as korn in which ever song sounds the same - head banging and vulgar. … Expand
  4. ScottM.
    Apr 28, 2002
    10
    Not only is this a great album, but one of the few I can listen to without skipping a sub-par song. The critics are way too hard on a band Not only is this a great album, but one of the few I can listen to without skipping a sub-par song. The critics are way too hard on a band that puts in such hard work to make good music.… Expand
  5. raVen
    Dec 6, 2003
    9
    (9.5) Not a bad song on it--and that seems next to impossible these days. Not only that-- it isn't as if they settle for just making (9.5) Not a bad song on it--and that seems next to impossible these days. Not only that-- it isn't as if they settle for just making each song respectable. There are some real gems here that will probably be among those I'm humming to myself when I'm old and crazy.… Expand
  6. Nic
    Mar 18, 2005
    9
    The best album of Matchbox Twenty...much better than Yourself of Someone Like You and More than You Think You Are..other critics are so wrong The best album of Matchbox Twenty...much better than Yourself of Someone Like You and More than You Think You Are..other critics are so wrong this time… Expand
  7. Curefreak
    Apr 26, 2009
    8
    I like the ballads and the mid-tempo stuff but the rockers sound overly processed and over produced and don't really "rock" Rest Stop is I like the ballads and the mid-tempo stuff but the rockers sound overly processed and over produced and don't really "rock" Rest Stop is probably my favorite song and is probably the most personal.… Collapse
  8. CarlC
    Dec 26, 2003
    2
    I was one of the first to buy the debut "Yourself or.." when I first heard the original song "Long Day". I then fell in love with all the I was one of the first to buy the debut "Yourself or.." when I first heard the original song "Long Day". I then fell in love with all the songs on the cd. It was not until about six months later that the Dallas radio started to play other songs. Anyway, I was waiting very anxiously for the new album which by the way, took WAY TOO LONG (3 years!). Anyway, Mad Season was very very disappointing! Why all the orchestra crap! They sound like they are trying way too hard and have a very large budget. I wish they would have not sold so many CD's! They then may have went back to basic rock-n-roll music again. Bad follow-up. 30 something… Expand

See all 18 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

31
#31 Most Discussed Album of 2000
35
#35 Most Shared Album of 2000

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