REVIEW : OVEREXPOSED - MAROON 5

Jam-packed with collection of indisputable, anthem-centric melodies;

“Overexposed,” the fourth album by the American pop rock band Maroon 5 after the temperate success of their third album Hands All Over (2010) and well ahead  by the immense success of re-release single "Moves like Jagger" with features of dance-pop disco, mostly pop-oriented tracks, joined with pop rock, and reggae sounds raised a few concerns to some who would had said that Maroon 5’s alternate-rock licks are a far-flung from the direction the band has taken since hitting the pop's big leagues.

"Overexposed," is said to had given the band's new pop-centric direction.While plenty have already howled profanely over the changes on "Overexposed" and, be deserving of or not, there's a universal agreement that it's a jump into a new terrain of music for Adam Levine and his companions.

Irrespective of how fans retort to the band's creative facelift (accompanying album artwork is a colourful collage of illustrations apparently said to be inspired by the likes of Picasso and a variety of contemporary cartoonists with its title; a smirking insinuation to Levine's ubiquity), "Overexposed" promises to mark a significant point in Maroon 5's already highly-successful in terms of musical career.

Track List :

"One More Night"

"Payphone (feat. Wiz Khalifa)"

"Daylight"

"Lucky Strike"

"The Man Who Never Lied"

"Love Somebody"

"Ladykiller"

"Fortune Teller"

"Sad"

"Tickets"

"Doin’ Dirt"

"Beautiful Goodbye"

One More Night - the album begins with its second official single, “One More Night" was defined as "enticing" and a "sensual reggae jam, having a mixture of pop, rock and reggae. Lyrically, it’s about not getting together with or being able to straighten out himself from his love interest where Levine is hoping he only stays with her just "One More Night".

Payphone ft. Wiz Khalifa - shifts from indecisiveness to heartbreak of Levine's tone, Maroon 5 conscripts the help of rapper Wiz Khalifa ("Black and Yellow") for a track that's not distant off from "She Will Be Loved" and "Never Gonna Leave This Bed" was described as "emphatic”. Lyrically, it searches the way a relationship used to be and the way they no longer are. Musically, it is a mid-tempo ballad, with a slight of hip hop influence (brought by Wiz Khalifa). The official video is not to be missed if you ever wonder how Adam Levine might be like in a "Die Another Day" James Bond-sequel action role, or just check this out:

Beautiful Goodbye - my favourite of the twelve, backing off from the urban club-friendly feelings and offered an old (ok, it maybe not that old) good-natured track as a closing statement which is likely to leave a deep impression on pop rockers and fans, while it was described as a "rhythmic ballad." It's an acoustic ode that's bittersweet, yet eventually positive one, and that everyone one could have found refuge on any of Maroon 5's previous records (in this case, it’s "She Will Be Love" for me). Although, Maroon 5 had not release the official Music Video for "Beautiful Goodbye" (don't know if they will), I will still be content by just listening to the song while of course anticipating on when or how they will put the song...in a Music Video.

Despite the fact that, critics mention an overall averageness, that the Maroon 5 who seized America’s attention has on the face of it lost its purpose through “desperate to sell” tracks on the album.

I personally felt that their efforts to come up with tracks or even album to topped their previous tracks and album should be admired, that to take such a large leap from their “comfort zone” (I would much prefer alternate rock, that is what gotten me into them at the first place with “This Love” as the track) and to try on new stuffs while struggling to maintain their identity (which is to maintain the old crowd while reaching out to new supporter of the band). Credits should be given to Adam Levine as well; I mean he could have been the next Justin Timberlake by breaking out from the band for a solo career but he still stays on.

All in all, “Overexposed” introduce us to a new element that the band is heading to that by breaking away from the conventional type of genre of music and to show us that they are capable of something else which is different whilst always bringing us back to the frame of mind we had the first time we listen to their songs.

Recommendation        : "Payphone (feat. Wiz Khalifa)","Beautiful Goodbye"

Rating                         : 4/5