Maroon 5 - Hands All Over

Thursday brings a little Maroon 5 to my headphones - and really because of one reason. I can't go anywhere right now without hearing 'Moves Like Jagger'. And I must say, dang it's a catchy song. Even though the single dropped back in late June of this year, and then the album came out in September of last year - the album's radio play is still going strong. Now, some of you may recall my 'Songs About Jane' review a long while back, where I talked about my closeted enjoyment of the band. Something about the combination of Levine's vocals and the solid production values on the album do something that makes me want to listen. Some of their stuff is very pop and some is really a sad, mood type track. I tend to gravitate toward their slower ballads more, but the pop stuff is more than tolerable. 'Hands All Over' is certainly more pop than it is ballady sadness. But that's okay. There are a couple ballads that are still pretty poppy, but overall, the album really works well top to bottom. Then you get to the rereleased album that does contain 'Jagger' and all of the sudden you've got this sick dance track. Not really what I'd expect to hear from a Maroon 5 album. There are plenty of uptempo beaty tracks, like the opener in 'Misery' - but something about 'Jagger' rings a totally different sound than usual. I like it. I think if you're looking for a well produced pop album with great beats, this is definitely the album for you. While some of the ballads don't seem to fit in, there is no denying the band and the producer did a nice job setting a standard. Maybe not the most lyrically gifted effort either, but if you want a new Maroon album to just jive to and drift away with your toes tappin', this is the one.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Misery
2. Give a Little More
3. Stutter
4. Don't Know Nothing
5. Never Gonna Leave This Bed
6. I Can't Lie
7. Hands All Over
8. How
9. Get Back in My Life
10. Just a Feeling
11. Runaway
12. Out of Goodbyes
13. Moves Like Jagger

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Never Gonna Leave This Bed
2. Moves Like Jagger
3. Misery

FINAL RATING:
3 out of 5 stars

Maroon 5 - Songs About Jane

Hello Friday. An especially big hello to Friday before a Monday holiday. There is nothing better than an extended weekend. I may or may not post on Monday morning, depends how things go this weekend. If you know you'll be working unlike the rest of society and need something to read, let me know. I'll be more compelled to post if I know people need it and want it. Anyway, Friday brings another JenInTosa Suggestion, and it comes in the form of Maroon 5. This LA based band formed originally around the 1995 timeframe. Their first album as Maroon 5 was this album, and it came out in 2002. 'Songs' has since gone 4x platinum in the states, and has built up the band to where the latest 2010 5 release 'Hands All Over' is one of the most anticipated records of the year. There was no hype surrounding this album however, and it shocked the music world with 5 big time radio singles. If you haven't heard this before, it's got a pop/rock feel for the most part, but the songs I really love, are Levine's fantastic ballads. He's got a great voice, and the tracks where he shows his range are the ones I enjoy most. Now, you'll see what I rate it below - but this album by no means is one of the best of the year or anything, but it's a fun listen. There are at least 3 or 4 tracks that anyone would enjoy here. Arrangement wise, I think they did a great job of mixing up genres during the track flow - and that keeps you listening. Some tracks are worth skipping, but that's not completely unusual for a pop album. Anyway, give this a go. It's certain to make Friday turn into Saturday.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Harder to Breathe
2. This Love
3. Shiver
4. She Will Be Loved
5. Tangled
6. Sun, The
7. Must Get Out
8. Sunday Morning
9. Secret
10. Through With You
11. Not Coming Home (Live)
12. Sweetest Goodbye

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. She Will Be Loved
2. The Sun
3. Harder To Breathe

FINAL RATING:
3.5 out of 5 stars