Maroon 5: Overexposed Review (Deluxe Album Track By Track)

Maroon 5's New Album Overexposed (Deluxe)

Released 26th June 2012

(A&M Octone)

After the success of last summer's hit Moves Like Jagger, Maroon 5 decided to turn from funk-slash-rock-slash-pop band to a full out Pop group with the help of mega producers Ryan Tedder and Shellback. In an attempt to keep up with the dance trend that are dominating the charts, Adam and Co. are taking this route for their fourth venture, after the moderate success of their third album Hands All Over. 

The whole "overexposed" idea coincides with a showbiz rollercoaster of the year for Adam Levine after the "Jagger" phenomenom and the success of the Voice, in which he acts as one of the judges and mentors. Though the NBC Hit catapulted the frontman into a wider audience, I don't feel that this album is less of an overexposure but just a new evolution for the band.

When the band described the album as their "poppiest" yet, there was a fear that I would hear an overdose of autotune and worst the "wubs" of dubstep. However much I enjoy the sexy croons of Adam Levine, his voice can never be meshed well with the unfortunate trend du jour of electropop. But all in all, the album does not dissapoint. Even though I miss the Songs about Jane era, the band has been able to incorporate 2012 music without losing the Maroon 5 touch...well not too much!

So with this in hand, its time to review the tracks:

1.One More Night

The album opens with the reggae enthused mid tempo track. After hearing the band perform this track live at Revel, I knew this was going to be one of the highlights of the album. The beats gets you excited about the rest of the adventure, along with the enticing lyrics "I cross my heart and I hope to die, but I'll only spend with you One More Night". However I have to be honest, although I love this track and the "Jaggeresque" feel of the opener to the album, I prefer the live performance. All in all, this song gets me excited to see Mr Levine live on tour. 

2. Payphone

Honestly, this is my least favourite lead single from all of Maroon 5's past albums. The chorus sounds like a excruciating whine and the Wiz Khalifa rap is wack! Even though, I tried to give this song a chance...it honestly never grew on me. But at least it has given the band what they desperately wanted...ANOTHER billboard success!

3. Daylight

A rare Levine produced track on the album, I feel that this was one of the tracks that are overshadowed by the other "wooo-ohhh" pop tracks. Unfortunately, it is too generic to be memorable. However it is wonderful to hear the lower register of Adam's voice. 

4.  Lucky Strike

One of the standouts on the first hearing, this flirtatious and funky is another summer anthem. The chorus is reminiscent of the anthemic chorus in Duck's Sauce's Barbara Streisand. I especially love the new beat added into the pre chorus and the bridge is just on the right side of funky enthused with that raw dance feel.

5. The Man Who Never Lied

Another album filler, I feel that this song could have been omitted without much notice. In all honesty, the song would be more suited to the One Direction territory. Nonetheless, the girls would eat this up!

6. Love Somebody

This slightly slower tempo track slows the record now, however it does exhibit the smoothness of Levine's falsetto. Smooth but a little forgettable.

7. ladykiller

When I first saw this track name, I thought this was a slight dig at Cee Lo's last album name. But the tones are much much different. This track is written by James Valentine (who has been part of the promotion circuit for this album). Overall, I could imagine this track being played in the background while I'm shopping in H&M. Unlike the majority of the tracks on the album actually contains a guitar riff (thank God...I was starting to forget that I was listening to M5). Smooth like "Love Somebody" but a little bit more exciting, I feel that this reignites your passion to listen to the rest of the album.

8. Fortune Teller

On hearing the interlude to this track, you feel that it could be potentially be a ballad but I enjoy the build up into the chorus. However, the track seems like another pop song that could have been overlooked. 

9. Sad

One of my favourites off the whole album. This is perhaps the most vulnerable Levine has sounded on a record, including the whole breakup fiasco of Songs about Jane. Though it may not be lyrically ambitious with the simple but slightly repitious chorus "I'm so sad...sad, sad, sad", this is the kind of side I would love Levine to explore in future albums. From past experience with artists like Adele, sadness over breakup rack up loads of record sells and grammys! 

10. Tickets

Love.Love.Love. This song brings you back to the upbeat theme of the whole album. This is the only track that overtly uses autotune throughout the track. Though this was my worst nightmare, I'll forgive them partly because of the sexiness of the overall track. The funky beat gives Scissor Sisters a run for their money but secretely every girl wishes that Levine had a ticket to their own show. 

11. Doin' Dirt

For me, there is always a song that I will call the "Ipod stuck on replay song". This song is the highlight track that is left on replay throughout the day. Doin Dirt is this song. With over 60 replays in one day, this is the absolute highlight of the album. If you bought the album with an adoration for "Jagger", this is the only track that is closest to the magic of their most successful hit. I hope that this track which enthuses old school disco into an infectious beat is their third single for the album because it has every chance to replicate the success of "Jagger".

12. Beautiful Goodbye

This track shouldn't be construed with the similar titled "Sweetest Goodbye" from Song's about Jane. There is a much a mellow yellow 60's inspired theme to track about a relationship that is about to end, which aptly coincides with the ending of the album (well the standard tracks anyway).

Deluxe Additional Tracks

13. Wipe Your Eyes

As we enter the few deluxe tracks, I feel that Maroon 5 start to experiment and trend into some very dangerous territories especially with this track. I have no idea what that background noise (best described as noise) which sounds like if autotune was a person, this would be the sound of their dry heave. Its probably best that this track remain on the deluxe album, but for me its far from deluxe!

14. Wasted Years

This is the ONLY track that is remotely reminiscent to the Songs About Jane Era, giving that it was written over 10 years ago as part of the band's first album. I am honestly glad that they decided to bring this track back into their fourth album as a sort of memory of the past and probably proof to the hardcore M5 fans that Maroon 5 hasn't sold out. Though the album will prove otherwise.

15. Kiss

As with all M5 tradition, there has to be a cover. I love the retro turn on the prince classic "Kiss". At a little over 7 minutes long, it seems a bit excessive but its still a lovely homage to one of their greatest inspirations.

16. Moves Like Jagger.

Before moving into the remixes (which will not be reviewed), the album concludes in my eyes with the song, no phenomenon which began the "reborn" of Maroon 5. Though the song may be over a year old, I'm glad they still acknowledge the track as part of the album. 

Overall, this album like many has high and low points. Highlights include Doin' Dirt, One More Night, Ladykiller, Tickets and Sad, which I know will blow up the radio this summer and live up to the album's name. The biggest criticism is that (Some) songs sound like they have been regurgitated from a massive pop machine, thus resulting in a lack of the M5 classic touch. However, this album allows the fans to see Maroon 5 to branch out and diversify. Though it may lack originality, Overexposed provides a M5 take on Pop, which is in its own way... original. What a true Oxymoron.

TMT Verdict: B-

What's your favourite track? Tell me your truth in the comments below: