Rob Thomas

LOS ANGELES — Rob Thomas sat down at a computer and typed out a message.

It was a missive to fans about the release of Matchbox Twenty's first single in five years. He told them about a few changes in the band. He told them about their new greatest hits-with-a-twist album. And he told them what so many fans had waited to hear — he was happy to be back, making music again with his friends.

And then he signed off: "Death to Matchbox. Long Live Matchbox."

With this week's release of "Exile In Mainstream," a greatest hits album that features six new songs, it is a rather curious statement.

But listen a little to the new tracks and something becomes very clear: This is not the Matchbox Twenty of old. First, the music is different, gyrating from rock to folk and back again. Then there's the new lineup for the band, which dropped one band member and then had another drop the drums for the guitar. And finally, the band members say, there was the biggest change of all — a new work ethic, a team approach to writing music.

"I tell people that it's a new band, a new Matchbox," Thomas told The Associated Press recently.

What happened to the old band is nothing new: A group of friends start a band, struggle together, become successful together and then fall apart.

In 2004, Matchbox Twenty ended its world tour in support of its third studio album, "More Than You Think You Are," and took a hiatus. They had been vocal about the discord during the making of the album, and their hiatus was billed as a chance for the band members to pursue independent projects and regroup later.

Within months, Thomas, drummer Paul Doucette and guitarist Kyle Cook were immersed in their respective solo projects. Then in February 2005, guitarist Adam Gaynor announced his departure — a decision made by the band. Doucette then swapped out playing the drums for the guitar.

Months later, Thomas released his solo album. During interviews to promote the album, he proclaimed repeatedly Matchbox was not finished. Now, though, he and Doucette admit they had strong doubts.

Two years later, Doucette was in New York for a solo performance when he and Thomas finally sat down and talked. A night later, Thomas and Matchbox bassist Brian Yale got together to watch Doucette's performance.

"It was a great time," Yale said. "Right there, you sort of knew it was going to be OK. We were going to be OK."

For Thomas, the success of his solo album gave him another creative outlet that he says helped with the Matchbox writing process.

"I don't know if I would be prepared for a life in Matchbox, if I hadn't done the solo album," he said. "There's not this weird, creative 'this is it' feeling. It's the same for Paul, too. He has his solo career."

While the band says the album is not a statement about the band's personal journey, it does reflect a subconscious understanding of what they have been through.

With a U.S. tour scheduled for January, the band says it is looking forward to getting back on the road together for the first time in a long while.