Where the Light Goes explained

Where the Light Goes
Type:	studio
Artist:	Matchbox Twenty
Cover:	Matchbox Twenty - Where the Light Goes.png
Released:	May 26, 2023
Recorded:	2022
Genre:	Pop rock
Length:	44:38
Label:	Atlantic
Producer:	Kyle Cook Paul Doucette Gregg Wattenberg
Prev Title:	North
Prev Year:	2012

Where the Light Goes is the fifth studio album by American rock band Matchbox Twenty, released on May 26, 2023, by Atlantic Records.^[1] On March 17, 2023, the band released the first single from the album, "Wild Dogs (Running in a Slow Dream)". The album debuted at number 53 on the US Billboard 200 with 13,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.^[2]

Where the Light Goes is the band's first album in over a decade since North in 2012.^[3] This is also the first album of new material by the band not to be produced by longtime producer Matt Serletic, and also the first to not have any of it singles chart on the Mainstream Top 40 chart. The album was produced by Gregg Wattenberg with band members Paul Doucette and Kyle Cook.

Background

As they were about to embark on a 2020 tour, the members of Matchbox Twenty had come to the conclusion that they had no desire to make a new album and were now primarily a touring band that would occasionally release new songs. The tour was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and though the band announced new dates for 2022, those were subsequently postponed as well. With the tour rescheduled once again to 2023, Kyle Cook suggested that the band record a new album after all in order to give their fans something new to make up for their long period of inactivity.^[4]

Paul Doucette claimed that Where the Light Goes is the "most joyful" album the band has ever made, stating: "I also think this is a record where we let ourselves not be defined by the word 'band'." Rob Thomas stated: "It sounded like who we are, we know who we are, but also a glimpse of what we sound like in 2023, which I'm glad". Thomas continued: "Of everything about this record, the one thing I'm glad is that I got to see a glimpse of what we sound like when we make music together now".^[5]

Personnel

Matchbox Twenty

• Rob Thomas – lead vocals (tracks 1–9, 11–12), backing vocals (1–3, 6, 9, 10)
• Brian Yale – bass guitar (all tracks)
• Paul Doucette – backing vocals (1–6, 8, 10, 11–12), drums (1–5, 7, 8, 10, 11), rhythm guitar (1–5, 7, 11–12), keyboards (1–3, 5, 7, 8, 11), programming (1, 2, 5, 11), piano (2, 8, 11–12), additional drums (6)
• Kyle Cook – lead guitar (all tracks), backing vocals (1–4, 6, 7, 9, 12), mandolin (1, 3, 7), keyboards (3, 10, 12), ukulele (3, 6, 8), banjo (3), piano (6, 7, 9, 12), lead vocals (10)

Additional musicians

• Gregg Wattenberg – background vocals (1–6, 8, 9, 11, 12), programming (1, 2, 5, 10, 11), keyboards (2–12), guitar (2–4), piano (8)
• Dallin Applebaum – background vocals (1), choir (4)
• Grace McClean – background vocals (1), choir (4)
• Katie Marshall – background vocals (1), choir (4)
• Mia Wattenberg – background vocals (1, 3, 8, 9), children's choir (1), choir (4), piano (6)
• Rebecca Gastfriend – background vocals (1), choir (4)
• Tiger Darrow – background vocals (1), choir (4)
• Asha Denhoy – children's choir (1)
• Aya Mitchell – children's choir (1)
• Joey Capella – children's choir (1)
• Maia Denhoy – children's choir (1)
• Jett Doucette-Zappa – guest vocals (1), background vocals (11)
• Andy Snitzer – horn arrangement, baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone (1, 6, 10, 11)
• Michael Davis – bass trombone, tenor trombone (1, 6, 10, 11)
• Tony Kadleck – flugelhorn, trumpet (1, 6, 10, 11)
• Matt Beck – piano (1, 4, 6, 10, 11)
• Cillian Vallely – uilleann pipes (1)
• Tina Dawn – background vocals (2,,7,9)
• John Metcalfe – conductor, string arrangement (4, 8)
• Richard Harwood – lead cello (4, 8)
• Chris Worsey – cello (4, 8)
• Ian Burdge – cello (4, 8)
• Sophie Harris – cello (4, 8)
• Vickie Matthews – cello (4, 8)
• Peter Lale – lead viola (4, 8)
• Helen Kammings – viola (4, 8)
• Ian Rathbone – viola (4, 8)
• Reiad Chibah – viola (4, 8)
• Everton Nelson – violin leader (4, 8)
• Alison Dods – second violin (4, 8)
• Charles Mutter – second violin (4, 8)
• Ian Humphries – second violin (4, 8)
• John Mills – second violin (4, 8)
• Louis Fuller – second violin (4, 8)
• Nicky Sweeney – second violin (4, 8)
• Richard George – second violin (4, 8)
• Rick Koster – second violin (4, 8)
• Steve Morris – second violin (4, 8)
• Tim Pigott-Smith – second violin (4, 8)
• Gunnar Olsen – drums (6, 9)
• Amanda Shires – backing vocals (11)

Technical

• Randy Merrill – mastering
• Manny Marroquin – mixing (1, 3, 6, 8, 9)
• Serban Ghenea – mixing (2)
• Rob Kinelski – mixing (4, 5, 7, 10–12)
• Kevin Killen – engineering
• Ethan Feinberg – engineering (1, 11), engineering assistance (2–10, 12)
• Lewis Jones – orchestral engineering (4, 8)
• Anthony Vilchis – mixing assistance (1, 3, 6, 8, 9)
• Trey Station – mixing assistance (1, 3, 6, 8, 9)
• Zach Pereyra – mixing assistance (1, 3, 6, 8, 9)
• Bryce Bordone – mixing assistance (2)
• Eli Heisler – mixing assistance (4, 5, 7, 10–12)
• Cole Lumpkin – engineering assistance (1, 3–9, 11)
• Dan McDonald – engineering assistance (1, 6, 11)
• Matt Jones – engineering assistance (4, 8)

Charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"

Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[6]	2
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[7]	26
UK Physical Albums (OCC)^[8]	12

Notes and References

1. Web site: Young . Alex . March 17, 2023 . Matchbox Twenty Announces First New Album in 11 Years, Share Lead Single . . March 17, 2023.
2. Web site: McIntyre . Hugh . Taylor Swift's 'Midnights' Outsold The Next 31 Bestselling Albums In America This Week Combined . Forbes . June 7, 2023 . December 15, 2023.
3. Zemler . Emily . March 17, 2023 . Matchbox Twenty Mark First New Music in Over a Decade With 'Wild Dogs (Running In A Slow Dream)' . March 17, 2023 . Rolling Stone.
4. Web site: Matchbox Twenty on 'unfinished business,' how touring does 'vile things' to their bodies. Melissa. Ruggieri. USA Today. May 26, 2023. June 1, 2023.
5. https://people.com/music/matchbox-twenty-is-done-with-manufactured-90s-angst-exclusive/
6. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. June 5, 2023. June 2, 2023.
7. Web site: NZ Top 40 Albums Chart. Recorded Music NZ. June 5, 2023. June 3, 2023.
8. Web site: Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100 . . April 6, 2024.