Every Matchbox Twenty Song Ranked (as of 2023)

Hot dang! It has been a long time since I have blogged on my personal website. My blogging has been limited to Reset ADHD’s website for the past few years. But, I am back! We’ll see if this happens more often or if this is just a one-off thing. Regardless, it feels good to be back. Anywho, you’re not here to read me talk about my blogging habits, let’s get to why we’re here.

Matchbox Twenty is my favorite band. I have seen them live twice and will jump at the chance to see them again. And, as my Facebook friends are well aware, I like ranking things, so this blog post was inevitable. I will be ranking every Matchbox Twenty song released on one of their albums or compilations. I am not including live versions of songs even though some have been included on their albums.

This blog post will not be ranking any of the songs recorded by Tabitha’s Secret because that is technically a separate band, even though three members would later go on to form Matchbox Twenty. I can think of at least two songs that Matchbox Twenty would go on to record themselves, so they are included, but any song just recorded by Tabitha’s secret is not included.

Furthermore, I will try to add comments on songs I find noteworthy. I realize this will take a while if I were to comment on every song.

You may be wondering if I will update this if they release another album, and my answer is: I hope to do so, but I cannot predict the future. For some reason, I have a suspicion we will see another album sooner than the 11-year gap we saw between North and Where the Light Goes. But again, I cannot predict the future.

And now, the rankings…

75.) “You Won’t Be Mine (Orchestra Version)” – Mad Season

Oh, yes, we’re including this song. A random bonus track song, this song is the least Matchbox Twenty of all Matchbox Twenty’s songs and, therefore, must come last.

74.) “Tired” – More Than You Think You Are*

This is one of the Tabitha’s Secret songs I mentioned earlier.

*For some reason, this is not listed on wikipedia’s page for More Than You Think You Are, but on my iPhone, it says it is from that album.

73.) “Like Sugar” – North

I like it, but it is not worth writing about.

72.) “Kody” – Yourself or Someone Like You

Early Matchbox Twenty. Definitely a 90s feel.

I don’t know who Kody is, but he sounds troubled. I hope he’s doing okay.

71.) “Never Going Back Again” – Mad Season

Bonus track on Mad Season. Matchbox Twenty can do better. Good, but far from great.

70.) “Straight for This Life” – North

I have never met a Matchbox Twenty song that I did not like, so I like this one. However, it is not special.

69.) “Busted” – Yourself or Someone Like You

It’s got that early Matchbox Twenty vibe, but it’s not spectacular.

68.) “Cold” – More Than You Think You Are

This song is good, but it is forgettable.

67.) “Put Your Hands Up” – North

While good, this song does not have a very Matchbox Twenty feel.

66.) “Warm Blood” – Where the Light Goes

A departure from their usual sound, but that does not mean this song is bad.

65.) “You & I & I” – Mad Season

This song is good, but it is forgettable.

64.) “Hang on Every Word” – Where the Light Goes

Lovely little song.

63.) “Stop” – Mad Season

I had re-familiarize myself with this one, but when I did, I sang along. So, I’m not sure what that means…

62.) “Our Song” – North

Better than the Taylor Swift song of the same name.

61.) “I Know Better” – Where the Light Goes

I wish Kyle Cook had more songs. Rob Thomas is great, but Cook can hold his own, too.

60.) “One Hit Love” – Where the Light Goes

Recency bias wants me to rank this one higher.

59.) “Hang” – Yourself or Someone Like You

An early soft song from MB20. Good, not great.

58.) “You’re So Real” – More Than You Think You Are

Hidden gem.

57.) “Could I Be You” – More Than You Think You Are

Good, but not worth spending much time commenting on it.

56.) “Can’t Let You Go” – Exile on Mainstream

Another hidden gem.

55.) “I Believe in Everything” – North

I’ve heard better Matchbox Twenty songs, but I have heard worse.\

54.) “If I Fall” – Exile on Mainstream

This song does not get enough credit. It’s scrappy and I like it.

53.) “Damn” – Yourself or Someone Like You

Pure 90s.

52.) “You Won’t Be Mine” – Mad Season

Another hidden gem.

51.) “Radio” – North

If you want to dance to a Matchbox Twenty song, this is the song for you.

50.) “Feel” – More Than You Think You Are

An underrated song from More Than You Think You Are.

49.) “Suffer Me” – Mad Season

Mad Season has a lot of underrated songs on it. This is one of those songs.

48.) “Argue” – Yourself or Someone Like You

Again, early Matchbox vibes, but nothing special.

47.) “English Town” – North

A lovely song.

46.) “No Other Love (feat. Amanda Shires)” – Where the Light Goes

Simple love song with a unique sound.

45.) “The Difference” – More Than You Think You Are

Good, but not worth spending much time commenting on it.

44.) “Soul” – More Than You Think You Are

I’m slowly realizing that ranking these songs is super hard. It pains me to rank this one so low.

43.) “Rest Stop” – Mad Season

Mad Season has a lot of underrated songs on it. This is one of those songs.

42.) “Leave” – Mad Season

Mad Season has a lot of underrated songs on it. This is one of those songs.

41.) “Shame” – Yourself or Someone Like You

I always feel lukewarm about this song when it first comes on, but as the song goes on, I remember how much I actually like it.

40.) “Angry” – Mad Season

Some classic Matchbox Twenty here.

39.) “Selling Faith” – Where the Light Goes

Matchbox Twenty goes a little bit away from its typical sound in this one, but it is good.

38.) “Wild Dogs (Running in a Slow Dream)” – Where the Light Goes

Don’t get me wrong, this song is good, but why was it chosen to be a single? There are better songs on this album that would have worked as singles. Oh well, still good.

37.) “Hand Me Down” – More Than You Think You Are

I just love this one.

36.) “Bed of Lies” – Mad Season

I love the way this one sounds. I haven’t analyzed the lyrics too deeply. I think it is an emotional song, but I’m not sure because I focus on the way it sounds.

35.) “Sleeping at the Wheel” – North

A scrappy song from North.

34.) “So Sad So Lonely” – More Than You Think You Are

Rob Thomas goes hard on this one.

33.) “These Hard Times” – Exile on Mainstream

Man, Matchbox Twenty has a lot of great songs!

32.) “Downfall” – More Than You Think You Are

You listen to it, and the song says, “Rank me higher than you think, Alex!”

31.) “Back 2 Good” – Yourself or Someone Like You

This song was cool to hear live, and it made me like it more. However, I don’t think it is special. Yet, it has a uniquely Matchbox Twenty feel.

30.) “All Your Reasons” – Exile on Mainstream

I love the opening to this song. It ranks higher than it otherwise would simply because of the opening.

29.) “Don’t Get Me Wrong” – Where the Light Goes

Where the Light Goes is a scrappy album. Very few standouts, but a lot of solid songs.

28.) “Last Beautiful Girl” – Mad Season

A very Matchbox Twenty song.

27.) “All I Need” – More Than You Think You Are

I have an irrational liking for this song. The first time I saw Matchbox Twenty live, they played this song, and Rob Thomas said it was a special one just for us.

26.) “The Way” – North

Kyle Cook does not get enough love.

25.) “Parade” – North

Matchbox Twenty played this song both times I have seen them. It was the opener for the first time. It is an underrated song.

24.) “Where the Light Goes” – Where the Light Goes

The title track of Matchbox Twenty’s latest album is a good one.

23.) “How Long?” – North

Underrated song.

22.) “Black & White People” – Mad Season

Mad Season has a lot of underrated songs on it. This is one of those songs.

21.) “I Will” – North

This one has an almost lullaby feel to it.

20.) “Disease” – More Than You Think You Are

I’m a little surprised with how high I ranked this one. It’s better than I think it is and very cool to hear live.

19.) “Girl Like That” – Yourself or Someone Like You

This a great one. Give it a listen if you haven’t already.

18.) “Rebels” – Where the Light Goes

A fresh Matchbox Twenty song, this one should be more popular.

17.) “How Far We’ve Come” – Exile on Mainstream

Matchbox Twenty went out on a limb with this one (not their usual sound), and knocked it out of the park.

16.) “Friends” – Where the Light Goes

When I heard this one, I was like, “This needs to be the opener for their concert.” It was, and I was happy. This one is good.

15.) “I’ll Believe You When” – Exile on Mainstream

A song that does not get enough love.

14.) “Mad Season” – Mad Season

Another one you love if you’ve heard it live.

13.) “Long Day” – Yourself or Someone Like You

An early Matchbox Twenty song (in fact, their first single) that gave the world a taste of the awesomeness that was to come from this band.

12.) “Overjoyed” – North

I might be alone in how much I like this one.

11.) “Crutch” – Mad Season

I used to think More Than You Think You Are was my favorite MB20 album, but working on this project has made me think it’s actually Mad Season. Songs like this are why.

10.) “Real World” – Yourself or Someone Like You

“I wish the real world would just stop hassling me.” YES! I love those words.

9.) “She’s So Mean” – North

This song has no business being ranked this high in a Matchbox Twenty list, but it is just too good not to rank it this high.

8.) “Push” – Yourself or Someone Like You

The pain of an unhealthy relationship is explored in this song. Matchbox Twenty is not afraid of discussing deep stuff.

7.) “Queen of New York City” – Where the Light Goes

Easily the best song on Where the Light Goes. This should have been a single. I predict that at future Matchbox Twenty concerts it will be a song where everybody sings along.

6.) “3 A.M.” – Yourself or Someone Like You

This is Matchbox Twenty at their Matchbox Twenty-est.

I believe Rob Thomas’ mom has a license plate that says “3AMMOM.” This song is about her battle with cancer.

5.) “Bent” – Mad Season

I used to think More Than You Think You Are was my favorite MB20 album, but working on this project has made me think it’s actually Mad Season. Songs like this are why.

4.) “The Burn” – Mad Season

I don’t understand why this one isn’t more popular. It’s one of my favorites, and is great.

3.) “Bright Lights” – More Than You Think You Are

Another one that is fantastic live. Not only is the song great, but the visuals are also spectacular.

2.) “If You’re Gone” – Mad Season

Emotional. Great sound. Quintessential Matchbox Twenty.

1.) “Unwell” – More Than You Think You Are

This is the first song I ever connected to on an emotional level. This song was on the radio when I was first starting to struggle with my mental health. It spoke to me. “I’m not crazy / I’m just a little unwell” is exactly how I felt.

That’s my list. What do you think?