The following was originally published in our Music From The Underground
section.
review by antiGUY
Somewhere along
the same time period that Disco came along and then mutated into what is
considered modern day R&B, people forgot all about the amazing results
of taking rock and giving it the funk and R&B treatment. It was this
kind of mix that put Stevie Wonder on the map and it’s just as compelling
today as it was when Stevie did his rendition of the late great Clarence
Paul and Henry Cosby classic “Finger Tips Part I & II”. But don’t look
to the mainstream R&B scene for it, you’ll only find watered down Disco
there. Fortunately, there are bands and labels that still believe this
form of music is viable commercially; Maroon 5 and their label Octone are
among them.
To be honest, I was
shocked when I saw a photo of the group after hearing the CD. They look
like they would sound like Matchbox Twenty not the band that produced what
may be one of the best true R&B records to hit the streets in years.
Yeah, it’s surprising that a bunch of white boys could bring the funk like
this, but they do it well! Not since Steve Winwood’s Traffic days has a
white vocalist so elegantly produced genuinely soulful vocals.
While the entire
CD is strong the two-standout tracks are the first single “Harder To Breathe”
and the heartfelt ballad, “She Will Be Loved”. “Harder to Breath” is probably
their “rockiest” tune but it’s definitely funky. “She Will Be Loved” is
steeped in soul but still has a crossover modern rock appeal as well.
It’s ironic that
it took a white group to remind us what made R&B such a magical music
form until it was taken over by the major labels and bastardized by Disco.
Maroon 5 is a definite breath of fresh air and a band that should be commended
for bringing back a lost music form and showing us that music today can
still have “soul” and be commercially appealing. The bottom line is “Songs
About Jane” is an exception debut from an exceptional band! You definitely
don’t want to miss this one!
CD Info
Maroon
5 – Songs About Jane
Label: Octone
Rating:
Tracks: Harder to Breathe
This Love
Shiver
She Will Be Loved
Tangled
Sun
Must Get Out
Sunday Morning
Secret
Through With You
Not Coming Home
Sweetest Goodbye
Posted by christy:
this band rocks, i can't get enough of there songs this love, and harder to breathe, and she will be loved, i think they should be number one on the music charts!! keep it up maroon 5, i love ya!!
Posted by lizzie:
This band rocks!! totally, i love them !! especially jesse carmichael and adam levine!!! they are so damn cute and fine!!
Posted by Beany:
This is an amazing band but i cant find on the web anywhere the tab for the shiver solo. someone find it!!
Posted by Quyen:
Definately a band that deserves a mountain of success
Posted by Juju:
Maroon5 is freaking awesome I just can't get enough of listening to those guys.
Posted by guyver:
good band, this CD has 5 songs i like and i'de get it. huzah!
Posted by myslef:
what the hell i love maroon 5 but where is the must get out tab?
Posted by Michael:
The Maroon 5 album is awesome. I thought I might be going nuts that I thought this was the best album I'd heard in years. Anyone say Grammy? Keep bingin't the grooves funky white boyz!
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