Maroon 5
As often happens, the end of one thing leads to the beginning of another. The SoCal based Kara's Flowers released their debut "The Fourth World" in '97. The group got good reviews but little notice. Touring extensively with third tier acts failed to change their fortunes. Less than two years after their debut, Kara's Flowers was off Reprise. In the down time, singer/guitarist Adam Levine fled to New York to attempt to re-focus.
Sometimes you can hear a song or a musical style over and over without it resonating. Then suddenly, it all connects, like it's hitting your ears fresh and you wonder how you missed it for so long. Levine had much the same experience. In L.A., Hip-Hop and the whole urban culture, skated by him with scant notice. But in NY it all came together. Levine took those elements and incorporated them into Maroon 5.
Schoolmates since junior high, the previous Kara's Flowers line-up of Levine, Jesse Carmichael (guitar), Mickey Madden (bass) and Ryan Dusick (drums) was augmented by guitarist James Valentine. With Octone Records, Maroon 5 recorded "Songs About Jane" in L.A. with lead-off single "This Love." But it was follow-up "Harder To Breathe" that had the greatest impact.
Certainly one of the high points on the '07 edition of American Idol was an appearance by Maroon 5. "Makes Me Wonder" showed what a great pop-Rock song should sound like. The track also earned an '08 Grammy Award for Pop Performance By A Duo Or group With Vocals.
Coincidentally, runner-up Blake Lewis gave one of his best performances covering Maroon 5 a week earlier.
They released their sophomore studio album, "It Won't Be Soon Before Long," in '07. The title came from a phrase Maroon 5 adopted to keep themselves motivated while on tour.
A few months later "It Won't Be Soon Before Long" was reissued as a CD/DVD containing a duet version of "If I Never See Your Face Again" featuring pop/R&B singer Rihanna. The song also appeared on Rihana's album "Good Girl Gone Bad."
The following year "Call And Response: The Remix Album," a reworking of Maroon 5's catalog, came out.
"Hands All Over" was a collaboration with Mutt Lange. The album, Maroon 5's third studio effort, was recorded in Switzerland, where Lange lives. "The coolest thing about him is that not only has he been a huge, legendry producer, but he also is a legit, serious writer," said Levine who presented what he thought were finished songs to Lange. "He'd say, 'That's a good start. Now strip it down to the drums and start over'."
According to Levine the title track was "about that desperation of wanting everything to work somehow, but being frustrated by the fact that it just won't." The lead single, "Misery" was performed on NBC's Today Show in July, well in advance of the planned September, '10, release.
In a Rolling Stone interview, Levine neatly summed up the band's first three albums. "Our first record was a reflection of my love for Stevie Wonder," he offered. "With the second I kept going back and forth between Prince and the Police. But there was no one on my mind for this album ("Hands All Over"). It's just great pop."
A line from the song "Shiver" is very revealing. "I won't be satisfied 'til I'm under your skin." With Levine's expressive vocals and surprising falsetto, Maroon 5 often sounds like Dave Matthews with a Rock sensibility. The group provides a textured Alt. Rock/guitar-oriented underpinning while incorporating interesting, R&B influenced, rhythms. '03 release "Songs About Jane" finds a comfortable groove but the songs have some real muscle. The slashing guitar on "This Love," the undeniable appeal of "Harder To Breathe" and "Sunday Morning," with their take on the 70's Stevie Wonder (his prime), puts the CD over.
On "It Won't Be Soon Before Long," Maroon 5 continue to stride the line between dance and Rock. Levine's vocals hover just below his higher register only making the leap for dramatic effect or emotional impact. While "Makes Me Wonder" has hit written all over it (even with the f-word), there are a number of irresistible tracks including "Little Of Your Time," "Not Falling Apart" and "Won't Go Home Without You." Maroon 5 move off the dance floor with the jangling "Goodnight, Goodnight" and deliver the perfunctory acoustic ballad, "Better That We Break." It has a strong melody and is, surprisingly, a keeper. The set closes with "Back At Your Door" which has a charming, casual, tossed-off feeling.