Hands All Over

The brightest work in Maroon 5’s discography

It is a long time that Californian band Maroon 5 does not need to be presented. Its amazing debut album Songs About Jane released 8 years ago has given the world such hits as This Love and She Will Be Loved, which have become favorite songs of millions of listeners all over the world. Adam Levine’s sensual high vocals, faultless arrangements, smart but memorable lyrics – all of it could not help being a success, and Maroon 5’s sophomore effort It Won’t Be Soon Before Long released in 2007 has also become platinum in several countries. One should take into account that it was five years between the first and the second creation – the musicians risked seriously but it turned out there had been nothing to worry about. The time during which they managed to release two live albums and toured actively had not been wasted. Nevertheless, Levine and his team have obviously decided not to make us wait too long for the third work – Hands All Over will officially see the light of the day late this September, and the critics have already dubbed it the brightest work in Maroon 5’s discography.

Hands All Over, a stunning mixture of rock, funk, R&B and pop music

No doubt that Maroon 5 members are well aware of the high level they need at least to support if not surpass. Well, little could foresee that the band would actually do exactly the latter – Hands All Over. Yes, these are still the splendid arrangements, recognizable vocals and memorable tunes. The difference is in the stylistics: the new creation has been produced by no one but Robert ‘Mutt’ Lange known for his works with AC/DC, Nickelback, Bryan Adams and The Corrs. The collaboration has resulted in a stunning mixture of rock, funk, R&B and pop music, and the band members themselves have remained delighted. The album opens with the first single Misery, whose very contagious beat underlines the tense relationship described in the lyrics. The second single Give A Little More will also not let you relax offering a bit franker moments in the text. Real, unbearably strong love appears on one of the strongest tracks Stutter whereas Levine is thinking what he does wrong in his relationships on Don't Know Nothing. Another sexy number Never Gonna Leave This Bed is followed by a very melodious love song I Can't Lie, but the next title track draws all the attention. It is one of the brightest and volume compositions in the band’s entire history, with a memorable chorus which is going to linger in your mind for a long time. The ballad How is no less impressive but it is remarkable for a bit softer sounding. The emotional track Get Back In My Life with a faultless bass line contrasts with another ballad Just A Feeling perfect for a romantic slow dance. Another highlight is a collaboration with Lady Antebellum Out Of Goodbyes, and the record closer is a tense song No Curtain Call, a classic Maroon 5 number featuring fiddles, perfect bass and desperation in Levine’s voice. The Deluxe Edition also offers acoustic versions of the tracks Never Gonna Leave This Bed and Misery the live one of If I Ain't Got You.

A band original in every way

The third album always requires maximum responsibility from any band. Of course, Maroon 5 could easily stake at the luck that accompanied it during the second album release, relax and just record some similar compositions. Indeed, the songs for Hands All Over were written in quite a short period of time, but Robert Lange is not the one looking for easy ways. He has made the musicians work as hard as they can, and he considered the songs Adam thought ready for the album as only pieces to develop. As a result we have the brightest, the loudest, the most harmonious and integral album of three. Besides, there are only two real ballads among the 14 compositions, and the prevailing are up-tempo energetic compositions which conquered the audience on Songs About Jane. Thus Hands All Over takes Maroon 5 up to a new level with the band preserving all its best traits. It can be seen in the videos for the new singles that Levine has not rejected his image of a lady-killer in a constant conflict with the opposite sex. It is hard to say now how many more albums as bright as Hands All Over Maroon 5 has got the energy and inspiration in-stock for but judging by all one should prepare for new surprises from this band original in every way.