Maps – So what makes this song different from any of the songs on Red Pill Blues? Thanks for asking. While this song is similarly repetitive, catchy in a bad way, and Levine cannot pronounce “following” correctly, the production is just so picture perfect. There is no empty space. The drums are on and are being played. There is a bridge that is sonically different from the rest of the song, with an interesting stripped-down feel. This album and this song came out seven years ago, and there is something to be said that I remember every word to this song and every single line of the melody. [4]
Animals – Real-life sexy cannibal Adam Levine can in fact smell your scent for miles. Maybe I am just a furry, but I don’t hate this song as much as I probably should. I also think the howl after the bridge is lowkey impressive. I do, however, hate the music video, which definitively proved that Adam Levine does not understand the concept of sex. [3]
It Was Always You – The synths have arrived !!!! This is an oddly experimental track for Maroon 5 and shows glimmers of a direction that they could have taken in this album. Definitely my favorite track so far and a truly underrated gem. This song was released as the promotional song for the album but never dropped as an official single. I would have released this as a single, but that’s just me. [5]
Unkiss Me – You can tell me, I can handle it. Well, it clearly seems like you could not handle it, Adam Levine. This song suffers from being sung by the wrong person. Adam Levine does not know how to convey emotions in singing, and this song really requires that ability. Taylor Swift singing this song, with some added country flare, maybe a couple of violins, and there is potential. But now, it sounds like a Jason Derulo or even Ch*** Br*** B-side track. [2]
Sugar – A year before Joe Jonas wanted cake by the ocean, Adam Levine said yes, please to sugar. What is there to say about this song that has not already been said? Yes, the lyrics are dumb. Yes, Adam Levine does not sing it well. And yes, it was very overplayed. However, I see it as just a cute song that means no harm. It also has the most perfect music video in that this track is made for weddings. It screams “appropriate for the whole family” but is still cute and romantic enough. I do wish the song was a little faster, and a little lower in register so that Adam could actually hit the notes he is trying to sing. [3]
Leaving California – Adam Levine hates musical theater- a real-life fact. This song sounds like a bad, generic musical theater song. I can clearly picture Lea Michele covering this on Glee. It’s grandiose in nature and perhaps could have worked at the end of an album, but here in the middle, directly after “Sugar”, it makes no sense and has no emotional impact. Still better than most songs off Red Pill Blues. [2]
In Your Pocket – I feel nothing for this song. I wonder if Adam Levine remembers writing, recording, and then releasing this song. [2]
At this point in listening to the album, I took a break to listen to “Primadonna” by MARINA on repeat for about 30 minutes, just to cleanse.
New Love – I am a 5sos fan, always have been. Luke Hemmings and I even have the same birthday. All this to say, this song sounds like a 5sos song from one of their first two albums. For a new band trying to find their sound, this track would work. For Maroon 5, a band on their fifth studio album, it is a bit underthought and unoriginal. [3]
Coming Back For You – There are glimmers of funk in this song, especially in the pre-chorus (something that Maroon 5 used to a lot in their first few albums). A lot of interesting details in the percussion line and loads of thought was put into the production. I kinda vibe with this. This song screams beach party. [4]
Feelings – The fifth and final single from this album. The beat is so good and so wasted on the stupidity of the vocal line. I really love the verses so much that it pains me how bad the chorus is. F-eEeEe-lings for you. Also- Adam- you are too old to not know how to express feelings. [3]
My Heart is Open ft Gwen Stefani – Co-written by Sia and it shows. This track belongs in the background of a Twilight movie. Though if I am being honest, Gwen Stefani has more chemistry with Adam Levine than with her husband Blake Shelton. Is this a song about informed sexual consent? If so, that definitely makes it sexier. [4]
This Summer – The fourth single and the first time I remember hearing Maroon 5 curse as a child. For many years men have tried to find the perfect object to perfectly describe a woman’s body. Is her body like a back road? Is her booty like two planets? Or, is her body like the summer? She is hot. The summer is hot. Her body therefore must be like the summer. Despite the stupidity of the lyrics, there are elements of this track that really work. I like the elongated singing of “fancy”. I like that Adam Levine does not sing the chorus. I like that this song does not sound like a copy and paste of another Maroon 5 single. Stylistically, this song is really cool and holds weight to my theory is that the less Adam, the better the Maroon 5 song. At least in the sell-out years. [5]
Shoot Love – I hate spy movies. It’s my only flaw. This soundlike a generic spy song from a C-tier spy Movie. Good Tamborine work though. [2]
Sex and Candy – I love this song – the original version sung by Marcy Playground. The original is a Nirvana grunge rock inspired masterpiece. This is a jazz lounge version, something that only ever really works live anyways. While this song is not horrible and may kill live, it gets a low rating because it simply does not need to exist. Please listen to the original version instead. [1]
Lost Stars– Written for a movie called Begin Again where Adam Levine plays an asshole, sell-out singer who steals this song from his girlfriend, Keira Knightley, and pop-ifies it a la Sharpee Evans. However, similar to the underrated Sharpee Evans’ version of “What I’ve Been Looking For”, the pop fun version of this track is so much better than the grounded guitar one Keira sings. I love this song because it feels honest, even if it is just a character. Also if I was a good singer, this would be my karaoke song.[6]
Album Average – (3/10)- This album is not as good as I remember it, but it is far from the shame spiral both Jordi and Red Bill Blues should have sent Maroon 5 in. However, I must address the elephant in the room. V took me over a month to review, and I think that is no coincidence. There is not much to say about this album. It is just interesting enough to not be uninspired, just good enough to not be bad, and just bad enough to not be good. Most of these songs are just okay. They are songs that won’t make me mad if they fill space on the radio. Stand-out tracks include “Lost Stars” and “It Was Always You”, and deeply offensive tracks include “Animal” and their cover of “Sex and Candy”. And that’s all folks.
