Interscope (label)
03 November 2017 (released)
03 November 2017
15 years ago Maroon 5 landed on the international music scene with a raw, refreshing soul rock sound on Songs About Jane that saw them steal hearts and achieve pin-up status. The release arrived 5 year after the band had first attempted mainstream acclaim as Kara's Flowers, with a poppier sound. Where Kara's Flowers failed, Maroon 5 succeeded. They realised they had to make the most of Adam Levine's distinctive, emotional vocal. Songs About Jane captured their live energy with an unpolished sound that enhanced their appeal. Each release since Songs About Jane has got that little bit more slick and polished. Album #6, Red Pill Blues, continues that trend. This is it's biggest flaw.
Red Pill Blues will no doubt appease the hardcore Maroon 5 fans who lap up everything the group release, but that does not mean that it is a solid or striking release. It is actually rather bland and a little tedious.
Yes, there are a couple of glimmering moments of hope. Closure, while very produced, manages to relay the true beauty of Levine's vocal. He is one of the industry's finest, but it is only when the emotional depth of his voice is allowed to shine that he really hits the mark. With echoes of Nelly Furtado's Loose album, Closure is the perfect balance of production and raw vocal. Equally notable is Denim Jacket, which is the closest the album gets to their debut release. With the band actually at the forefront rather than the production, it is clear Maroon 5 are still somewhere within their plastic packaging waiting to break free. The Jacko-esque Plastic Rose completes the trio of choice cuts.
Sadly the remainder of the album does not live up to this standard, with the album only really breaking out of a saccharine mould and capturing your attention 6 tracks in with the appealing, if not awe-inspiring Julia Michaels collaboration Help Me Out.
Red Pill Blues is not without merit, but it is a shame to see such a compelling band so lost in the sheen of production. Hopefully the heart breaks through again for album #7.
