Written by Susie Salva
Los Angeles quintet Maroon 5 has just released their third studio CD entitled, “Hands All Over,” on A&M/Octone records featuring their characteristic mixture of pop/rock/funk and R&B styling. This most impressive disc showcases the band’s considerable strengths: buoyant, unforgettable melodies, sleek, stylish grooves, charged lyrics about turbulent relationships with crisp, dynamic performances. Adam Levine’s sweet, sultry, soulful voice is distinguished on this extraordinary new album giving the band their characteristic and crafted highly identifiable unique sound.
Maroon 5 first hit it big in 2002 with Songs About Jane which went quadruple platinum and spawned four hit singles; the blockbuster Top 40 No.1 “This Love,” the Top 5 “She Will Be Loved,” as well as “Harder to Breathe,” and “Sunday Morning.” Its success cemented their status as a world class rock band and led to a 2005 Grammy Award win for “Best New Artist.” They then earned a second Grammy for “Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal,” for the 2006 live recording of “This Love.”
Adam Levine, the band’s lyricist, began writing songs that appear on Hands All Over after winding down from a world tour in support of It Won’t Be Soon Before Long”. A few months later, Maroon 5 received a phone call from veteran studio wizard producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange (AC/DC, Foreigner, The Cars, Def Leppard), who had heard that Maroon 5 were beginning to write a new album and expressed an interest in producing it. “We didn’t even talk to anyone else,” Levine says. “Mutt is undeniably one of the most successful producers who’s ever lived.”
Maroon 5 is comprised of Adam Levine, vocalist, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, bassist Mickey Madden, guitarist James Valentine, and drummer Matt Flynn.
“Misery,” the first single off the album is the lead track that delivers a bouncy and unbelievably catchy danceable song which is currently receiving heavy rotating on MTV. The infectious groove on this song is something that stays and resonates in your head. This song will appease long time fans with its funky guitars and high stepping melody.
The propulsive “Stutter,” is a great showcase for Adam’s vocal clarity. “I Can’t Lie,” is an R&B charmer with subdued sounds and deals with problems of a turbulent relationship. “Hand All Over,” is the hard-rocking title track that has a gritty guitar and is heavier than anything Maroon 5 has ever done.
Another stylistic departure for the band is “Out of Goodbyes,” a stunning country ballad that features musical and vocal contributions from Nashville chart-toppers Lady Antebellum. “We’ve always loved country music,” Levine says, “and they brought that necessary twang to it with the lap steels, ambient guitar, and Hilary Scott‘s pretty voice. “Just A Feeling,” is a slow jam that and has soulful vocals on this track which speaks to unbelievable feeling that the relationship is finally over.
“Runaway,” captures the edgy energy as Levine sings of the heartbreak of being deserted by his love without any explanation. You get to hear Levine’s lovely falsetto near the end of the track. The clarity of the production on this CD is unmatched providing a more layered, full and organic sound.
In July 2009 the band members decamped to “Mutt” Lange’s studio in Vevey, Switzerland, on the north shore of Lake Geneva where they worked distraction-free with the Swiss Alps looming in the distance. “Just being near those majestic mountains and lakes was so inspiring,” says Jesse Carmichael.”Mutt really helped us play to the best of our ability. And it drove us to be bigger and better than ever. Everything he does is huge.”
The deluxe edition extra tracks on this CD are definitely worthwhile. There is the danceable track, “Last Chance,” the impassioned “No Curtain Call,” and both acoustic versions of “Never Gonna Leave This Bed Again,” and the groove heavy “Misery.” The bands does a rousing live rendition of R&B songstress Alicia Key’s “If I Ain’t Got You,” again featuring Levine’s powerful, sincere, soulful vocals making this track uniquely his own.
Maroon 5’s new release, Hands All Over, is an accessible and broadly appealing effort easily as appealing as their two previous CD’s Songs About Jane, and It Won’t Be Soon Before Long. “Every record should be like our first, that’s the way we think about it,” Levine says. “We don’t ever want to rest on our laurels or get too cozy. We always want to keep aspiring to do our best – and this album captures that.” For all things Maroon 5 please go to www.maroon5.com