Overexposed - Maroon 5 - Album Review

We were first introduced to Maroon 5's latest album Overexposed when they released their first single from the album called Payphone. From this, we could have assumed that Maroon 5 had lost their guitars and were drifting from funky guitar to boppy pop instrumentals. Then, they chucked in a rap with Wiz Khalifa which confused everybody - especially because the song couldn't be further from hip-hop. Although surprisingly catchy, Payphone had me very skeptical about their album.

Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised.

The album manages to sound like new and fresh Maroon 5 material, yet still provide us with the Maroon 5 guitar riffs and sing-along worthy lyrics we've all grown to love.
The first song, One More Night, is by far one of the best on the album. Immediately, you want to sing along. The beat is incredibly prominent throughout, encouraging you to dance along too. Adam Levine's soulful vocals really shine in this song.
From this 'typical' Maroon 5 sound, we drift into a more pop sound with Payphone. The 4th track seems to reach a happy medium between two, with a sound similar to that of My First Kiss by 3OH!3 feat. Kesha.
We're then provided with a couple of pop ballads that are just a little bland, and don't quite compare to previously released slow songs such as She Will Be Loved.
Halfway through the album, we're hit with Lady Killer, the song is full of the funky guitar and soulful vocals we expect from the band. The song has a sound slightly similar to Acid Rock band Jamiroquai.

The standout ballad of the album is Sad. The simplicity of the song, the heartfelt lyrics and the overall composition of the song is brilliant. This ballad could stand up against She Will Be Loved, unlike those previously mentioned.

Overall, the 13 track album is a pleasant surprise. The album tends to pick itself up a bit towards the end (with the exception of the first track being one of the best on the album), however I don't feel any track on the album is bad enough to stop you listening to the album. Adam Levine's voice is easy to listen to and carries some of the weaker tracks. The stronger tracks will have you dancing round the room and singing along when no one's around. It may not be their strongest album to date, but it's still good enough to keep you interested.