Songs About Jane was refreshing and different, a decade ago, but somehow Maroon 5 lost my attention in the mid-2000s. Lead singer Adam Levine, however, proves to be funny and insightful on The Voice and I begrudgingly felt the need to check out Overexposed, the band’s latest outing, hoping it would be catchy and upbeat…
“One More Night” is bitter and upset; “Payphone” proves to be catchy and ear-twisting, but one has to wonder if Levine is really this over “love.” Sure, there’s a difference between loving someone and finding a one-night stand. Wiz Khalifa doesn’t add anything positive, but does Levine really believe that “fairy tales are full of s—?” The song will catch you, but it’s not pounding positive reinforcement about love into your head!
I’d read a couple of reviews that said Levine sounded like a girl on every track and that the overall deal was pretty poor. I found myself disagreeing vehemently (hence, the need to write said review). “Daylight” is a rocking, soaring kind of song that’s more befitting the band’s ability. It’s a desire to see love last (in direct confrontation to the first song).
There’s more pop/disco mixed into “Lucky Strike,” reminding me of Hands All Over, and we’ll see that again by the time we get to “Doin’ Dirt.” I’m sure concert goers will be jumping all around over “Strike,” but “The Man Who Never Lied” has the same sound with a bit more meat to it, around a couple going their separate ways.
Overall, the dance/disco thing isn’t really my deal. But Maroon 5 has more than minimal skill at spinning the beats, guitar, and vocals around something that will catch in your head. And no, I don’t think Levine is a bitter, self-centered human being as some of his songs convey. “Love Somebody” seems to be much more compelling, and we’ll hear actual “real” singing in “Beautiful Goodbye.” Like everyone else, he’s searching; it’s just clear that he still hasn’t found something real to hold onto just yet.
