With Payphone all set to race to #1 this next week in the UK I think it's about time to check out Maroon 5's fourth studio album - Overexposed. It had looked as though the band had passed their best with the diminishing returns they got with their last album 'Hands All Over' and lead single Misery. However thanks to Adam Levine's stint on The Voice US and them teaming up with some of the world's best song writers they are all over our charts once again. I'm a little surprised they haven't decided to add Moves Like Jagger as a bonus track to this album given that it would fit so well and is such a loved song.
One thing I like to do these days is to take an album and refine it on my itunes to make a succinct but brilliant 8 track EP. It's not as though there's anything wrong with the omitted tracks (as there isn't really any duds on this album) but given my short attention span when it comes to listening to albums; it helps establish the sound of the album without turning into too much of a chore - see Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way'. So anyway here's my edit:
1. One More Night
Works really well as an album opener; I'm not fully convinced about it yet but it's very reminiscent of earlier Maroon 5 with an added Pop influence. It's all set to be the album's second single but I can't see it setting the charts alight too much.
2. Daylight
As I have the single edit of Payphone, this track automatically followed One More Night on my track listing and it blends in nicely. There's nothing like a double whammy of Max Martin to open any album in my opinion.
3. Moves Like Jagger [Feat. Christina Aguilera]
Time to kick things up a notch.
4. Payphone [Feat. Wiz Khalifa]
Time to kick things up an extra notch.
5. Lucky Strike
Love the intro to the track. Then it just so such energy about it with the fast paced thumping beat it almost makes you feel like you're in a hurry for something. Which makes the slowed down middle eight really stand out as something special.
6. The Man Who Never Lied
The racing drum beat continues into this track which really makes the most of the gap-less album feature. It is rather good but just feels like a slight continuation of Lucky Strike which isn't distinctive enough to get forgotten.
7. Doin' Dirt
Wasn't expecting to find a gem like this so late through the album but it is fantastic. It just sounds so familiar but I can't put my finger on what it is.
8. Sad/Beautiful Goodbye
The only downside to having made an eight track EP is that you don't quite get taken on the same journey that the artist intended for you to; so where do you fit the ballads in? Beautiful Goodbye does a good job at closing the album yet I personally believe Sad is far superior. Each Maroon 5 album has delivered me with a slow (marginally depressing) heartbreak track and this is it. Just as you have to omit You & I from a 'Born This Way' homemade EP, as it has no place there, Sad doesn't really fit with the feel of the album so ultimately is probably the one to get the chop.
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