Revised It Won't Be Soon Before Long

To say the genre of "pop" is broad is an understatement. So many artists signify themselves with pop, including Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, and Demi Lovato to name a few. However, each have crafted their own unique sound to separate from other artists. Starting off as a small garage band and working through the ranks, Maroon 5 developed a rocker edge as their look and brand. In It Won't Be Soon Before Long, Maroon 5 fully channels their inner rockers and completely integrates it into their pop sound. This makes for a fantastic fresh album with a bad boy vibe.

Before we delve into the nuts and bolts, let's start with something a bit more trivial. It Won't Be Soon Before Long was released 2007, after the bands extremely successful first album Songs About Jane. It Won't Be Soon Before Long debuted at number one on the Billboard Top 200 and sold 430,000 copies in the first week - not too bad for a little California band. "Makes Me Wonder", "Wake Up Call", and "I Won't Go Home Without You" are the top three singles of the album. I remember every time I turned the radio on at least one of these songs played, and without shame I would rock out and sing along with the band. However, there are other a couple songs I want to especially highlight for their rocker feel.

"If I Never See Your Face Again" is definitely the closest thing to a rock song on the twelve track album. The starting chords and the bass of the drum sent me back to the rock era. Though I am no rock expert, I have listened to enough of The Police, Sting, and U2 thanks to my dad's insistence to know when a song has some rock in it. The infectious beat and overlay of sound almost gives it a retro rock vibe. The band took an old concept and modernized it to make it their own sound. In doing so, they can also appeal to the younger audiences.

"Kiwi" is another song with a rock undertone, but with an exciting twist. Maroon 5 gets adventurous and adds some techno pop elements to spice it up a bit. Keyboard enhancements make it almost impossible to not tap your foot along to the beat. The slow to fast beat and soft to strong volume adds to the songs dynamic and is something different then the average pop song. The instrumental towards the end of the song is like a mini rock concert in and of itself. Its loud, obnoxious, and has the ability to amp up even the most modest person. It catches the audience off guard at first but in a good way. Don't be surprised if you break out the air guitar and jam along with the band, I know I did. The song has such a groovy sound, it is hard to believe it was made in the 2000's.

"Makes Me Wonder" is another song with yet again a rock sound. However, it is a different sound then the previously mentioned "If I Never See Your Face Again" and "Kiwi" because it has more pop elements. The song starts with a guitar solo, and then drums come in to act as an opening act for the lyrics. This build up is very common amongst rock songs of the past, yet the beat is very consistent with pop. The song is very cut and dry in its overall meaning; Adam tells his girl goodbye and thanks for wasting his time, to put it nicely. His emotions behind the lyrics are subtle yet powerful at the same time. It is the kind of song that never gets boring and monotonous. The more it is replayed the better it gets, which is not to be said about a lot of the current pop songs. 

Just by explaining a couple of the songs of the album it is clear this album has such a unique listening experience. Each song has its own sound, yet all fall under that pop rock genre. I am not really sure how the producers and band managed this, but hats off to them. The compilation keeps me wanting more. Once I finished the album, I played it over and over again. I forgot how good it was. I am so used to the artificial pop songs on the radio today, it was a treat to listen to some real music that indulges in the classical sound of rock and roll. 

The reason why Maroon 5 has stayed to consistently popular is because of their ability to keep producing music that is different than what everyone else is producing. Every time I am listening to the radio, Pandora, or Spotify I always know when Maroon 5 comes on. It is not because I know the songs, but because it just sounds so different from everything else I was previously listening to. For this exact reason, Maroon 5's songs and albums appeal to teenagers, young adults, and adults. I have been to two Maroon 5 concerts, and at both the number of adult fans almost outweighed the kids! The adults are drawn to their music because it reminds them of their childhood during the era of rock and roll. The kids and teens are drawn to the bands infectious beats and energy as well as the emotional and relatable lyrics seen in todays pop songs. 

The meaning behind this album and the brand of Maroon 5 is not about trying to put out music to please the changing times and being "the next best thing", but putting out music that expresses their true style. Rock infused pop is their trade mark. This trade mark is what rocketed them from nothing to a household name. Sometimes stepping outside the social norm and setting yourself apart is more beneficial then one thinks. Making a unique sound with dynamic instrumentals and an infusion of the all mighty rock yet still being pop all wrapped into one can cause anyone at any age to fan girl. 

Revised Hands All Over

Maroon 5’s Album, Hands All Over, was released in 2010. Radio listeners could not get in the car without hearing “Give A Little More," “Misery," or “Never Gonna Leave This Bed." These songs are infectious and many found themselves singing the lyrics in the shower or while doing homework. This album had big shoes to fill after its chart topping predecessor It Won’t Be Soon Before Long. The album made it to #2 on the Billboard Top 200.

Hands All Over is so unique is because of the meaning behind the lyrics and what message the album is trying to portray as a whole - heartbreak and breakups stink, but they allow you to grow as a person because what doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger. It is so important for bands to put out music with meaning, not just a catchy chorus. Albums are almost becoming a thing of the past, especially with the extreme take over of iTunes and downloading songs via the internet. Albums and even songs now lack soul, emotion, and purity.

Soulful is the perfect word to describe Hands All Over. The band tweaked their alternative rocker sound a little bit this time, which shows their versatility. None of the songs are extremely up beat, which may not be for everyone, but everything cannot be unicorns and rainbows. It allows the listener to get a true understanding of the theme of dealing with the heartaches of a relationship and learning from it. Each song feeds off each other about cheating, breaking up, running away, denial, etc. This is why so many felt an instant connection to the songs and album as a whole. Hands All Over seems to strike a cord in everyone no matter how old they are or how serious a relationship they were in. This is exactly what makes the album so versatile.

I would almost call listening to Hands All Over like listening to a story. Each song has its own message and meaning that somehow intertwine to make this story of a man's struggle in his current relationship. The nice thing, though, is that he never wines or wallows in his self-pity like Taylor Swift. When you think about it, it is a very clever way to set up an album.

 “Just a Feeling” and “Runaway” are the last two songs in the album and the most quintessential part of the listening experience because they tie everything together. Every time I listen to these songs I feel remorse. These song deals with the aftermath of a breakup including confusion, sadness, and denial. In my opinion, they are the most genuine and impactful songs within the album. 

The soft melody of "Just A Feeling" is gut-rechingly beautiful. Adam's tenor vocals pairs perfectly with the piano in the background. Combined with the lyrics of heartache, I feel for him. " When he sings "No I can't believe that's it over" and "I'm still lying in the dark no sunshine", it gets to me every time. I hear the pain in his voice and I feel awful for him. This song represents the initial heartache when you leave someone, and Adam did a fantastic job expressing that heartache through his music.

"Runaway" is the ultimate way to end this album. "I'm petrified," "So out of control," and "I'm a broken man" are always the phrases that resonate with me in this song. The steady rhythm of the drums stays consistent throughout the song, which reflects Adams state of confusion. Time is standing still like the beat, he cannot get out of his head and over the breakup. He is in denial. He misses her and want to know how she is doing, but he cannot get himself to ask. He keeps going in loops trying to figure out what to do.

Hands All Over provides both a meaningful and enjoyable listening experience.  The more serious heartfelt tone most of the songs give off may not be for everyone, but I loved how the raw emotion of the lyrics matched the melody of the song. It is very personal and intimate to say the least, which scares some people because they prefer listening to upbeat songs that deal with sunshine and rainbows. I don't disagree with these people, upbeat songs are great, but music can't always be that way. Nevertheless, I think the band did a fantastic job in getting their feelings heard through the lyrics and composing such an emotional album and really delving into the depths of

Next week I will be reviewing the band's very popular album It Won't Be Soon Before Long!