Music review: Maroon 5 鈥� 鈥楻ed Pill Blues鈥�
It is hard to believe that it has been 15 years since Maroon 5 hit the music scene with 鈥淪ongs About Jane.鈥� Fueled by stylish tracks like 鈥淗arder to Breathe,鈥� 鈥淭his Love鈥� and 鈥淪he Will Be Loved,鈥� the Los Angeles band seemed primed for stardom.
I was fortunate enough to see Maroon 5 a year after the band鈥檚 debut as the opening act for Matchbox Twenty at Pittsburgh鈥檚 Mellon Arena.
Boy, how times have changed. Mellon Arena is now only a memory, but Maroon 5 is stronger than ever and continues to record and perform irresistible arrangements that leave women breathless and men wishing they had the looks and charisma of frontman Adam Levine
鈥淩ed Pill Blues鈥� is Maroon 5鈥檚 sixth studio effort and features a little help from a handful of special guests.
鈥淚 just want the best for you/But I鈥檓 just not the best for you/You don鈥檛 want what I鈥檓 gonna put ya through,鈥� sings Levine on the opener 鈥淏est 4 U.鈥� Fortunately, what Levine puts us through on the rest of the album is a pleasurable pop-infused frolic.
From there, SZA joins Levine for a sexy pairing on 鈥淲hat Lovers Do.鈥� Others to crash the party are Julia Michaels on 鈥淗elp Me Out,鈥� LunchMoney Lewis with 鈥淲ho I Am鈥� and A$AP Rocky assisting on 鈥淲hiskey.鈥�
The top collaboration appears on the album鈥檚 deluxe edition that includes the infectious 鈥淒on鈥檛 Wanna Know鈥� with Kendrick Lamar laying down a smooth rap that accentuates Levine鈥檚 playful vocals. Also found on the deluxe edition is a soulful offering with Levine supplying some of his best vocals on 鈥淒enim Jacket.鈥�
Like most Maroon 5 releases, the new album contains an abundance of sultry love songs, such as the steamy 鈥淟ips on You,鈥� the charming 鈥淏et My Heart鈥� and catchy confessional 鈥淕irls Like You.鈥�
鈥淐losure鈥� is an 11-minute R&B treat, featuring an extended jam mix that demonstrates how the band is always willing to explore new styles.
With 鈥淩ed Pill Blues,鈥� Levine proves once again why new artists seeking success are eager to have him as their coach on the hit television show 鈥淭he Voice.鈥� With moves like Mick Jagger, the good looks of Justin Timberlake and a vocal presence similar to that of Bruno Mars and Prince, who wouldn鈥檛 want Levine in their corner?
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.