POP-rockers Maroon 5 have just unleashed their fourth studio album Overexposed this week and after 10 years and a set of mega-massive hits, these guys know a thing or two about overexposure and I’m happy to report they’re not going to shy away from it this time around. Overexposed is sweet and crunchy, tasty and sexy, colorful and trippy, it’s Maroon being brilliantly infectious as ever. Sugarcoating all those familiar, sleek, and hip melodies to deliver their most POP-tastic record to date and I’m joyfully eating away.

Overexposed is everything you love about Maroon 5, Levine crooning his way through every track while the hooks just sink you in deeper and deeper with every listen. It pleases the fans with their familiar and soulful melodies but appeals to an even broader audience with it’s extra POP productions, there’s no denying that these guy are going after their fans and Top 40 radio listeners alike. I think the efforts of Max Martin as the executive producer have allowed the guys to stay true to their sound while playing it up more for radio, Max Martin is only brilliant after all. Just don’t be surprised when the ooccasional fan thinks they “sold out” and rip into the album, remember they’re likely just caught up in their own pretentiousness to even admit they enjoy it.

Check out my favorite moments and thoughts on Overexposed in this brief track by track review below.

One More Night: Reggae rhythms sweep through the stereo with this edgy POP blaster, not one of my favorites but it’s ready to charge up Top 40 charts.

Payphone: What can I say that hasn’t been said here, this track was HUGE on first listen and I’m still letting it rock my world. One of their best tracks EVER!

Daylight: An incredibly infectious chorus with an equally amazing bridge, it’s a gorgeous POP record.

Lucky Strike: It’s everything you love about those punk-POP radio hits but it has class that only Maroon can deliver. It’s fun, I just hope it’s not a single.

The Man Who Never Lied: The verses are mesmerizing, the chorus is striking, and the bridge is seriously phenomenal. If you don’t like it on first listen, don’t give up on it.

Love Somebody: Things get really electric here with it’s Robyn-esque opening and gorgeous guitars. The piano riff in the chorus adds that Maroon touch to the track, a stunning song.

Ladykiller: A funky production and catchy pre-chorus spice things up on “Ladykiller” without over doing it but that may be a bad thing, it’s one of my least favorite tracks.

Fortune Teller: Deep opening bass lines, a throbbing drum kit, a perfectly layered pre-chorus, another beautiful play of fusing dance-POP with a soulful-rock touch, love it!

Sad: One of the album’s truest to form moments. A fitting track driven by those powerful vocals from Adam, maybe not a single but it’s a seriously great record.

Tickets: While the production is spunky and fun and I do enjoy the lyrics, the hooks aren’t as mesmerizing here as they are everywhere else on the album. I don’t mind skipping this one.

Doin’ Dirt: Oh yes, here we go on a skyrocket to disco-POP heaven! They’ve never appealed to the gay disco floor more than with this pulsing and funky Abba-league POP record, seriously fucking AMAZING! I will die if this isn’t a single.

Beautiful Goodbye: A groovy moment on Overexposed that echoes the vibes of Mayer and Mraz, it’s decent.

Deluxe Tracks:

Wipe Your Eyes: One mega-giant POP lullaby hook, generates an eargasm from start to finish and I’m not even exaggerating. I’m upset to see it on the deluxe only version but pray that they release it as a single anyway. (Listen Here) Note: The album version isn’t as amazing as the demo linked but it’s still good.

Wasted Years: It’s ok, I understand why it’s only on the deluxe version. Not as memorable as the majority of the other material.

Kiss: Digging the bluesy rock vibes on this cover of the classic Prince hit, a perfect addition for the deluxe version.

Final Overexposed album rating: 3.8/5 Stars

I’m excited for the guys and this Overexposed journey they’re embarking on, it’s certainly going to add even more records to their roster of mega hits. At the end of the day, the band has successfully wrapped their signature sound into a soulful-disco-dance-POP extravaganza and I can’t recommend it enough.

Fortunately for one lucky reader, you’re going to win a physical copy of Overexposed!  All you have to do is follow me on Twitter (@poponandon) and tweet at me ” I want to get ‘Overexposed’ with @Maroon5 and @poponandon”… one winner will be chosen at random and notified on Tuesday, July 3. Good luck!

Pick up Overexposed today on  iTunes, Amazon, or your fine local record store!

Prepare to be blown away and stream “Doin’ Dirt” below, killer record!

Maroon 5 – Doin’ Dirt

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