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Most music fans will agree that Rob Thomas knows his way around a tune. Having written more than a dozen Top 40 hits — including “3 a.m.” and “Push” for Matchbox Twenty and “Smooth” for Carlos Santana — and churned out two successful solo albums, his resume appears to be bulletproof.
So it’s no surprise to find Thomas sounding a little crestfallen when talking about having to share songwriting duties with bandmates Paul Doucette (drums) and Kyle Cook (guitar) on the new Matchbox Twenty album “North.”
“I have to admit that after all these years of success as a songwriter, going into this album and writing songs with the rest of the band felt like a demotion,” he tells The Post. Given that Matchbox Twenty (rounded out by bassist Brian Yale) formed back in 1995 as a vehicle for Thomas’ songwriting, having to share his toys isn’t something that has come naturally.
“If I hadn’t done my solo albums and had the opportunity to write for other people, I’m not sure I would have accepted the situation,” says the Grammy winner, who has also penned tunes for Mick Jagger, Willie Nelson and “American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks.
It’s a power struggle that goes a long way in explaining why Matchbox Twenty has been silent for years. Discounting a handful of original tunes in 2007’s greatest-hits package “Exile on Mainstream,” “North” is the Florida-spawned band’s first collection of new material in a decade.
Although Thomas,40, denies that the members ever thought the band was defunct, an extended break was necessary. The group was so jealous of Thomas’ solo success that the band refused to play “Smooth” in concert, Spin reported a decade ago, noting that other Matchboxers countered his suggestions at band meetings by passive aggressively joking, “Oh, we’re supposed to do whatever you say just because you won the Grammy?”
“There was a lot of snippiness happening after ‘More Than You Think You Are,’ without a doubt,” he remembers of the 2002 album. “We used to joke that anything in Matchbox Twenty is the result of an argument. But that said, we’ve never had any personal disagreements. Our fights have always been about differences in opinion over music or over the direction of a song.”
Although Thomas didn’t initially enjoy the ego check of collaborative writing, “North” is proof that the sacrifice has been worth making. The album manages to combine the classic pop-rock sound of old with some newer, more lighthearted moods that will come as surprise to fans used to hearing Thomas’ angst-ridden howl.
“I think Paul and Brian definitely stepped up their game this time around,” adds Thomas with a genuine enthusiasm for the new tracks. “We didn’t quite nail the songs on the greatest-hits package. I don’t want to sound like an ass when I say this, but now, I feel like we can write songs that are on par with the songs that I have written in the past.”
One track, the curiously fun “Put Your Hands Up,” even captures Matchbox Twenty shaking a tail feather and heading to the disco. It’s not just a result of the band’s new approach to creativity, but a revision of Thomas’ own methods.
“Writing used to be something that I only really did when I was in a depressed, dark mood,” he adds. “So I would end up with this string of earnest — maybe overly earnest — songs. If you listened to them, it would give the impression of me as a miserable pr – – k! But now, I’m not beholden to that idea that to be a serious songwriter, every song has to be an open wound.”
Even with Matchbox Twenty back in action and enjoying a hard-fought revitalization, Thomas still has a schedule that remains as varied as ever. Beyond the touring in support of “North,” a third solo album is a shoo-in and Thomas will also be appearing on the upcoming third season of “The Voice” as a mentor for Team Cee Lo, an experience that seems to have inspired him in a somewhat unexpected way.
“One of the things that working with Cee Lo taught me is that hip-hop guys can go anywhere in a white Adidas jumpsuit and look like the coolest motherf – – kers on the planet,” he says, laughing. “Rock ’n’ roll is all about the tight pants and boots. It made me think I should maybe change my genre. I picked the wrong game if I wanted to look comfortable.”