Devin Moran
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
From R&B groove based tint to explosive rock & roll, from funky rhythms to classic soul melodies, the Los Angeles-based band Maroon 5 belted out its first Platinum CD.
Adam Levine, Jesse Carmichael, Mickey Madden, Ryan Dusick and James Valentine were first known to the world as Kara's Flowers. But they decided that they had a plan. That plan has been unveiled.
"Songs About Jane," released in June 2002, showed the potential that this band had to make music that is different.
Nearly two years later their debut single, "Harder to breathe," showed exemplary talents as the band showed that they know how to play instruments, and play them well. "Harder" is a bitter song about a girl who realizes she needs her boyfriend a little too late. This song still keeps you dancing. The group shows true rock and roll with hardcore drums and awesome guitar riffs. But the twist is the Stevie Wonder like voice that Levine sings so powerfully.
"She will be loved "is track four and the first ballad of the CD. It shows that the band knows how to woo a female. It is a track about a guy's devotion to a girl and a signal that this isn't an ordinary rock and roll group. Choir bound harmonies and soft tempo drumming gives this band the credibility to keep this CD in the car at all times.
The "… In darkness she is all I see" lyric in the jazzy, up-tempo song, "Sunday Morning" is a song to stand the test of time. This is a song that fits into the extreme categories of jazz and funk. Maroon 5 gives this song its all. Shouting without shouting the infamous Prince-like song notes, this song has you setting the repeat button over and over again.
So two thumbs up to this neo-soul rock album that just happens to be about a guy's ex-girlfriend.