Maroon 5 are a Pop-Rock band from Los Angeles, California. They first came on to the music scene back in 1994 and were a four piece band called "Kara's Flowers" Adam Levine (vocals/guitar) Jesse Carmichael (keyboards) Mickey Madden (bass) Ryan Dusick (drums) were part of this band, as long term friends from junior high. They released an album called "The Forth World" with "Reprise Records" the album didnt sell well so they split ways with "Reprise Records". James Valentine later joined the band to be the lead guitarist the band then called themselves Maroon 5. The band went to the New York based record company "Octone Records" It was there in New York were Adam got his Hip-Hop Influences, and the different sound to maroon 5. In June 2002 they released their debut album "Songs About Jane" which now 3 years late I am reviewing.
Songs About Jane:
1. Harder to Breathe - 2:53
2. This Love - 3:26
3. Shiver - 2:59
4. She Will Be Loved - 4:17
5. Tangled - 3:18
6. The Sun - 4:11
7. Must Get Out - 3:59
8. Sunday Morning - 4:06
9. Secret - 4:55
10. Through With You - 3:01
11. Not Coming Home (Live) - 4:21
12. Sweetest Goodbye - 4:30
Maroon 5's debut album songs about Jane is a nice mix of Rock/Pop and Funk which is a welcome change to the huge rise of Punk-Pop and Emo bands out at the moment. The album starts off with the albums first single "Harder to Breathe" this was a good way to start the album, which jumps straight into a drum beat and catchy guitar riff, which u will be hearing a lot of in this album. You can hear the hip hop influences in this album but not like a rap in a middle of a song it is closer to the kind of thing you would hear from the “Red Hot Chili Peppers”. A rock band with a catchy melodies and funky guitar riffs.
As the album continues you do find that the title of the album is not misleading all 12 are songs about Jane 12 love songs about the ups and downs of a relationship. But this is not a whiney, or complaining album it is telling it how it should be told. With singles like "This Love",
"She Will Be Loved" and "Sunday Morning" you do see the versatility of this band and the songs they create. The album starts of with nearly all the first three singles rite next to each other, which you normally wouldn’t see on an album. But Maroon 5 pulls it off, all of the songs on this album from the Fast and Funky sound of "shiver", to the slow and more mellow sound of "secret". You can see that any of the tracks on this album could have been a single and would have done well.
The Lyrics on this album are very well done, and they go together with the funky guitar riffs to make a very interesting mix that u wouldn’t normally think would go together. This is a very catchy album, which some people may find off putting, but it is catchy in a good sense. You will not mind if you start singing songs from this album out of the blue cause they are very good songs, which you can relate to. This album will be able to lift you up when your feeling down with its upbeat songs like, "Sunday Morning", "Must Get Out" and "The Sun". And you can mellow out with songs like "Secret" and "sweetest Goodbye". And yes, you can even jump up and down with songs like "This Love" and "Tangled"
This album will have something for anyone that wants to hear it. With it's catchy lyrics, stand out vocals and funky guitar riffs this album is a must buy for the people that like to hear something in the morning to wake them up or something in the evening to mellow them out. This album is an album for all situations, showing its versatility. I would recommend this album to people who like the new "Red Hot Chili Peppers" album "By The Way" or just want to see what this band is about. I am sure you would not be disappointed.
4.5/5
(Sozy about the review I am tired and I had to do it twice)
