Matchbox Twenty, “North” Atlantic Records Pack up the Skechers and slap bracelets for good, because Matchbox Twenty finally killed what was left of late ’90s vibes. With their first studio album in a decade, Rob Thomas and company bring lackluster melodies without any catchy hooks or riffs of previous hits. No song stands out in the muddled 14-track deluxe version of “North” – not even single “Overjoyed,” which should be called “Overwrought” or maybe something more indicative of the treatment it deserves from the radio, like “Underplayed.” Matchbox tries too hard to sound current with vocal distortion and bad club beats, as in “Put Your Hands Up,” which sounds like a rejected Maroon 5 B-side. Thomas’ voice, once a welcome sound coming from everyone’s cool older sibling’s bedroom in 1998, wobbles and grates with the band’s new material. Not even nostalgia can save this underwhelming album. “North” is directionless. Grade: D ____ Contact Kaci Yoder at [email protected]