Trust Me, Rob Thomas Took a Backward Step This Time

Any artist can have a period where he or she puts out less than stellar material. The sophomore jinx affects musicians of all stripes. Yes Rob Thomas, you don't get a pass in this department either. Rob has shown impeccable taste in studio musicians. His ensemble for "Lonely No More" made that 2005 nugget the flavorful nugget it turned out to be. It never failed to keep the boredom blahs at bay. His latest, "Trust You" comes from his upcoming "The Great Unknown" album. What I do know is that this song borrows shamelessly from the little black book of so many current male singers you have to laugh or you'll cry. Rob's a smart guy. He knew what he was doing when he brought "Trust You" to the marketplace. For my money Rob sounds like his copping a hip shaking height of the mirth party along the lines of something Rob Sheehan might have added to his recent album. Or Robin Thicke's lips could have found their way to the cresting sex appeal. Rob Thomas the man composes himself like the boy next door you'd love to chat with over a few lagers. "Trust You" the song deserves to be sent in a cab with hardly a passing goodbye to commemorate the occasion. An A-chord mindset swoops in and shanghais whatever loin arousing pleasure there is to be gleaned. The video's artsy to an almost pretentious point. Experimentation isn't objectionable but did we really need a Crayola commercial gone haywire. Had that color scheme been evident in "Trust You" I'd be nicer in my summary. Do you guys sort of roll your eyes at concert performers who stay firmly planted in one spot during the entire show? That's what "Trust You" sounds like. One amplified A-chord that even Rob's affable stage presence can't make any more enticing than it is. I miss the Rob from "Her Diamonds" from the "Cradleongs" release. That effort had heft, an emotional weight that made you want to sit down with it and try your best to reassure it. "Trust You" borrows from hard rock's tits and ass side of the wading pool. How corny can you get with "It's on like Revlon." The free ad must make Revlon's corporate bigwigs smile with whiter than white gleaming. Vanity becomes "I check my hair, but I don't know what it's for." If there was any way to paint a more flattering picture of Rob this go round I would. It took some time to warm up to matchbox twenty but "Mad Season" finally did the trick. If "Trust You" is any indication of what the rest of "The Great Unknown" is fixing to sound like then, trust me, Rob's not bringing his A game.