Throughout the years boy bands have been stereotyped to be nothing more than a few guys in really tight ripped skinny jeans who have a talent for singing and/or playing instruments. Many teen boy bands nowadays prove to have this façade but among the shaggy-haired, tattooed, lanky boys with too tight jeans is Maroon 5 who proves to have a mature pop rock sound to them that is very well known among people of all ages.
Since 1994 Maroon 5 has gained much success with every album that they have released including; It Won’t Be Soon Before Long, Hands All Over, Overexposed, and Songs About Jane. Maroon 5 has a unique sound that is unmistakable and lead vocalist, Adam Levine, knows how to lure music lovers into their path due to his vocal ability and his stage charisma.
Their latest album V, which is their fifth album, has contributed even more to their growing success. V was released just a few weeks ago and it has been number one on the Billboard 100 for the second consecutive week in a row. Even with this new album, Maroon 5’s sound has not changed from 20 years ago when they first became a band and it shows just how loyal they are to their music roots and their fans.
A plethora of the songs on the album are about love, including both the positive and the negative, but Maroon 5 has a way of turning even the worst break-up scenarios into catchy heartfelt songs including “Animals”, “Leaving California”, and “New Love.” Other songs such as “Unkiss Me” and “Sugar” are about finding new love and living in the moment. The soulful ballad “My Heart is Open” featuring Gwen Stefani is a duet that is almost surreal in the way that Levine’s and Stefani’s voices complement each other quite nicely. “Maps” is probably the most well-known track on the album and that song alone sets the vibe for the rest of the album. This track is also a great representation of the band’s edgy pop sound and overall style.
Although Maroon 5 is considered to be of the pop genre, they are able to present to their audience bittersweet emotion through well thought-out lyrics that contrast the mainstream love lyrics that consume many people today. V is an album that appeals to a wide range of individuals of all ages for its diversity in sound and for the band’s reputation for great music. Maroon 5 once again takes their fans down that familiar road with V and they carve a path for new fans emerging with the release of this album.