Spotify Listen Link: Maroon 5 – Overexposed
2013 Grammy Nominations:
- Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, "Payphone" (fest. Wiz Khalifa)
- Best Pop Vocal Album
These guys were down the street from me the night this came out, and I'm still kicking myself for not going. They were signing copies god dammit!
I want to set the record straight on my love for Maroon 5. I am a loyalist to both TV shows and bands. If I watch the first episode and love it or listen to the first album and am entranced into love, then more than likely I'm going to try to watch the rest and listen to everything they continue with. "Songs About Jane" was one of the best albums of its time, bringing this completely unique and wonderful pop-jazz style to mainstream music that I still can't get over. Has Maroon 5 gone far more pop lately? ABSOLUTELY. But I give everything they've got a chance, and they've never let me down -- meaning there's at least a song or two to really love on every album.
"One More Night" opens up the whole album, bringing a very sexy theme right off the bat. Let's face it, that's not a huge surprise. The obsession factor in love is kind of a total bitch, and the music is completely catchy. And if Adam Levine only wanted to give me one more night, so be it - I'll take it. God I love the beat on this one. Not that the video makes a lick of sense - just an excuse for Adam Levine to get a good workout in and play with a baby. I mean, okay, from her perspective, I guess getting out goes with the song. Or maybe the thing he's staying with is boxing. Cute fish thing though. | |
| I adore "Payphone" (feat. Wiz Khalifa) for no real reason other than the music is awesome. And really, in the grand scheme of things, the music is not really all that awesome. But it's got something excellent that I can't let go of no matter how many times I hear it. They hit the nail on the head with this hit. "All those fairy tales are full of shit - one more fucking love song I'll be sick." Now here's a fun little video/movie set to the song. |
Why do artists tend to lead albums with the singles? I never really understood that like, ever. Also, it makes my reviews lopsided with videos. Anywhos, "Daylight" is third up and third single and I can't get this one out of my head either. It's got an excellent melody to it and a sad but relevant (albeit personally) thought process. Live for the night and the dark, I say. Or think, at least. Anywhos, here's "The Daylight Project" - folks chipping in for the video, talking about what they love, hate, their passions, and singing the song. This video completely changes my perception of the song, and I really hope all y'all take 10 minutes and watch it all the way through. | |
Even a sentiment like the one in "The Man Who Never Lied" is turned into an up-beat dance number inexplicably. I just don't know where the beat came in, and find it a little unnecessary. At least there's a slight drag to the beat that makes the intensity of the broken heart a little more understandable.
Wait, I have heard this one. "Love Somebody" is completely familiar. This is one that, at first, the beat doesn't seem warranted, but it works as the song goes on. I know there are innuendos strewn throughout, but I frankly do not give a shit. The song is gorgeous and fun and great. More please.
"Ladykiller" has me wondering if Adam stole a little titling from his Voice buddy Cee Lo. Please tell me someone out there understood what I meant by that. They ditch a bit of the dance beat for this one in favor of a steady, older-version of Maroon 5 rhythms. I don't love the melody itself through the verses, and the chorus seems a little bland compared to everything else, but mid-album it gives a slight breath of air amongst the constant dancing.
I didn't think I'd be craving speakers that could give good bass for a Maroon 5 album, but that pounding at the start of "Fortune Teller" would probably sound pretty great with them. I think the premise is a little weak for my taste though. I mean, I get it - you can't predict the future of what will happen in your relationship as it progresses. But something about the wording is just sort of bland in comparison to some other metaphors.
"Sad" is another breath in this mid-album slump. This time, we get Mr. Levine playing piano (I assume) and singing his little heart out. And it's actually very… touching. It's one of those ones where the guy realizes he screwed up and should have done better by the girl. Now, he's, well, sad about it. He also talks about being scared this was the one and only and there won't be another like this. If someone out there thinks this of you, you're really special.
I really want to like "Tickets" for some reason. It's completely an inner-body thing. I'm dancing in my seat to the precise rhythm in my seat here and not knowing why, because zoning in on the lyrics kills the song actually. It's just like… nothing. I mean, obviously it's something but… I don't really know what I'm saying. I just plain ol' don't like it.
"Doin' Dirt" isn't going to give us a break from the party. What'd Adam Levine do, become bests with LMFAO? Too much is too much sometimes buddy.
Aww, Adam listened to me! "Beautiful Goodbye" starts off with a line about being sorry for letting me down (and yes, I take these things a bit personally, so thank you sir). This ones slows it down just enough to be more enjoyable in a normal setting, but not so much that I loose the ever-important ability to foot tap. Granted, the description isn't that lovely - he basically says that the tears are beautiful, but describes it as dripping, which never makes for a lovely sweet image.
"Wipe Your Eyes" - what the F is happening at the start of this song? I mean, it's a breakup song from what I can tell, but does it have to sound so weird in the goodbye? And do you have to be so twisted to offer to also be the one to wipe away the tears that you've caused? Ugh, I've never been very okay with songs like this.
| Ooh, what you got there boys? A little bit of a funk beat going on? Well that's unexpected and welcome. "Wasted Years" kind of breaks things down a little bit musically, and it's kind of cool. There's some horns back there helping out, and the beat itself is created by some old 90's beat box that Will Smith would have been carrying around, but I don't see a "feat. DJ Jazzy Jeff" credit anywhere to explain it. The fact this was on the "13th Friday" DVD helps explain things a bit - this song's older than the rest, and a little closer to the old M5 feel. |
"Let's Stay Together" rounds out the album. And yes, it's exactly the cover you were expecting. It's a stripped down version though, with just the funk keys and the slight hint fo a guitar keeping a beat. Seriously, great stuff in combination with Adam Levine's voice. He's got the ultimate great voice to take on this particular number. And the recording style remains raw and relatable, like you could be in the room right there with them. | |
- "One More Night"
- "Payphone" (feat. Wiz Khalifa)
- "Daylight"
- "Love Somebody"
- "Sad"
- "Let's Stay Together"
Oh Maroon 5, I will never 100% stray from you. Sometimes, the direction you take (in this case, you strayed almost totally into the club) throws me off a bit, but we always manage to bind over a few really great ones, and that was once again the case here. Cheers to another good job done and I look forward to more and more to come.