Maroon 5

It Won’t Be Soon Before Long

Universal

4 ½ Stars/5 Stars 

Reviewed By: Kindah Mardam Bey 

Adam Levine is to music what Beckham is to sports; sexy, intriguing, has credibility at his craft, and a player (you pick the meaning of this last attribute). We hate to tell Justin Timberlake, but he didn’t bring sexy back, Maroon 5 did. In their sophomore collection, Maroon 5 has managed to tip the scales of sexual tension laid out in their debut – Songs About Jane. Levine’s sultry textured vocals and bedroom eyes made even the most ardent feminist want to pole dance to the soundtrack of their debut album.  

The new collection It Won’t Be Soon Before Long has that same crafted combination of upbeat love song with somewhat tarty and biting lyrics. Ever listen to the words of a Maroon 5 song and you’ll be impressed that an adult content rating isn’t on the cover. Maroon 5 seem to have invested in a large portion of tongue-in-cheek sexy, which has a much greater presence (particularly lyrically) in songs; both Songs About Jane, and the new It Won’t Be Soon Before Long bare that same essence.  

The music of Maroon 5 isn’t just the voice of Levine though; it’s also the group as a collective, who are creating interesting, unique and quasi-retro compilations. Even more so then Songs About Jane, It Won’t Be Soon Before Long has an 80s retro sound, with hints of Prince and smatterings of some pop/funk bands of the 80s. It Won’t Be Long Before Soon has shown significant evolution of Maroon 5, the collection is bolder, richer, a little more rock infused and bawdy; if the debut was a sassy Chardonnay, the sophomore effort is an audacious merlot.  

I’ve become hooked on their first single ‘Makes Me Wonder,’ the 80s style, airport montage for the music video is a delight to watch. Levine’s Bond garb paired with airline stewardesses seducing him at the metal detector is both cheeky and sultry. This collection on a whole, is more British sounding and a little more rock spiced in for some flavour, but songs like ‘Better That We Break Up’ will be reminiscent of the old Maroon 5 songs we recognize as their signature, and definitely ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’ has a strong hook similar to ‘Heard ‘Em Say,’ but without the adage of Kanye West. Levine’s magic is in that vocal higher range, and tracks like ‘Won’t Go Home Without You’ and ‘Back At Your Door,’ are romantic, with the former being akin in sound to Keane and the latter quite possibly being the romantic anthem from Maroon 5 this year.  

This is music you can dance to, and yet also enjoy playing in the car, or as a ring tone on your phone. One of the most dastardly deeds of a music group is getting ‘too big’ for their second album and destroying the sound they so painstakingly created in their debut; Maroon 5 has put the music before the hype and let the hype do its own work. Don’t be surprised if It Won’t Be Soon Before Long hits the top of the charts a few times this year. 

1. If I Never See Your Face Again
2. Makes Me Wonder
3. Little Of Your Time
4. Wake Up Call
5. Won't Go Home Without You
6. Nothing Lasts Forever
7. Can't Stop
8. Goodnight Goodnight
9. Not Falling Apart
10. Kiwi
11. Better That We Break
12. Back At Your Door