If Overexposed had been partly formed to consolidate the large success of “Moves Like Jagger,” Maroon 5’s subsequent studio album – their fifth, merely titled V – had a somewhat completely different temporary. With the band’s confidence at a brand new excessive, this was the time to reintroduce components of the sound that had made Maroon 5 profitable within the first place.
Although nonetheless open to collaboration and following the pop route that had yielded such success (Sia and Gwen Stefani would function on the file), V marked one thing of a return to a rockier vibe, as guitarist James Valentine was eager to clarify when he spoke to MTV in late 2013. “It definitely has gone maybe a little darker in its sound, maybe back a little bit more to what we kind of did on our debut,” he stated.
What emerged wasn’t maybe fairly as pronounced as that, however V was infused with a renewed experimentation. One other transfer in direction of earlier dynamics was the welcome return of rhythm guitarist Jesse Carmichael, who had sat out the previous two years to focus on his personal materials. The outcomes would mark a major change for the band, who, a decade after first breaking by way of, have been now established business veterans. Sturdy chart placings had turn into the norm for Maroon 5 and, following its launch, on August 29, 2014, V emerged confidently atop the Billboard charts.
The album’s recording classes had taken barely longer than standard, unfold throughout a yr as band members juggled promotional commitments, touring dates and different work. The V marketing campaign had begun that June, with the discharge of “Maps.” With its putting and controversial video, the track wrapped an insistent pop melody in a decidedly stark narrative that performed to the extra grownup themes that appeared on the band’s debut, Songs About Jane. “Maps” made a decent No.6 within the US and a formidable No.2 within the UK.
“Animals,” launched concurrently its mum or dad album, did even higher, making No.3 within the US and doing nice enterprise globally. Written with pop hitmakers Benny Blanco and Shellback, Adam Levine’s composition was one other stable track that carried with it one other controversial video therapy. Partly set in a slaughterhouse, the “Animals” promo clip made for unsettling viewing and, due to its putting imagery, acquired a daytime ban on some stations. However the fuss couldn’t sluggish such a robust track for lengthy.
“Sugar,” picked because the third single from V, truly outperformed each of its predecessors. This Mike Posner co-write discovered Maroon 5 at their most melodic, with a super-smart video therapy that noticed the band making shock appearances at a collection of weddings. Allegedly impressed by the movie Marriage ceremony Crashers, the promo has turn into one among YouTube’s most-watched movies ever, with billions of views and counting. Its charming simplicity fitted the vibe of the upbeat pop quantity completely and helped the track energy all the best way to No.2 within the US, with a prolonged run contained in the Prime 10. An ensuing Grammy nomination helped shift additional copies of the album properly into the brand new yr and past.
In an period dominated by fads and solo acts, this degree of sustained success was nearly remarkable by a gaggle. The brand new yr would additionally see the band embark on their Maroon V Tour (aka #M5OnTheRoad), one other large triumph marked by Maroon 5’s dedication to create mature, accessible materials that not solely sounded incredible on radio, however which labored dwell as properly.
After releasing three stellar-performing album cuts as singles, issuing a model new track was a courageous and stunning alternative – not least as a result of “This Summer” additionally got here with a family-unfriendly tagline (its full title: “This Summer’s Gonna Hurt Like A MotherF__ker”). Later added to the reissue of V, the track’s heavy use of synths supplied stark distinction to the lighter vibe of “Sugar,” additional demonstrating the flexibility of the band. “It Was Also You,” picked as a mushy promotional single in 2014, had performed to the band’s instinctive dance sensibilities, whereas “Leaving California” was a MOR-tinged midtempo ballad that would simply have been a showstopper for a high-profile diva comparable to Céline Dion or Mariah Carey. Maybe surprisingly, the dramatic collaboration with Gwen Stefani, “My Heart Is Open,” wasn’t broadly promoted, however, additionally notable for being a co-write with Sia, the track stands as one among V’s triumphs.
One other jittery dance quantity, “Feelings,” concluded V’s singles chronology. Launched greater than a yr after the album’s debut, it made the “Bubbling Under” listing of the Billboard Scorching 100, proving that the album had longevity properly past the preliminary launch.
With its distinctive cowl {photograph}, taken by South Korean photographer Lee Jung, V stands as maybe Maroon 5’s most rounded and assured file. Leaving the query of tips on how to higher the mega-hit “Moves Like Jagger” behind, the band dug deep into their very own mythology, mixing that acquainted, potent cocktail of up to date sounds and razor-sharp melodies, underpinned by a reputable rock pedigree that added ballast to the sugar rush. On the shut of the marketing campaign for V, Maroon 5 have been waiting for their first greatest-hits compilation – Singles – consolidating their place as probably the most profitable dance-pop-rock hybrid of the last decade.
5 albums in, Maroon 5 appeared resiliently targeted on delivering what labored for them. Few acts obtained this far into their profession with no misstep or two, however it was genuinely laborious to establish any throughout Maroon 5’s CV. V stands because the album that almost all neatly defines what makes the band particular. The assured melodies and the slick, up to date manufacturing offset the band’s dedication to flirt with controversial imagery and their reluctance to play to the plain. With “Sugar” they proved they might pull a candy-coated hit from the bag with consummate ease, however they weren’t all the time going to supply that as the primary course. They needed us to work up a little bit of an urge for food first…
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