on 2009-07-06 fortunecookie Said:

Maybe I only secretly like it because of the attractiveness of its frontman. Who am I supposed to crush on in the indie music scene? I think Stephen Malkmus and Ben Gibbard are my only halfway decent options.
Rating: 6/10

on 2009-07-06 dscanland Said:

Yup, indie hipster credibility lost. ;) Can't say I've ever heard Maroon 5.
Not Rated

Review:

on 2009-07-06 fortunecookie Said:

I am well aware that by reviewing this album, I may lose any indie hipster credibility I ever pretended to have. One recalls the episode of Family Guy in which Meg's then-boyfriend gave her a Maroon 5 CD, citing how he'd heard she loved terrible music.

I can't say I disagree with all of the allegations. It's tries to pull off R&B, but can only manage flimsy pop. Nearly every song is oversexualized, heck, just look at the cover with it's strategically placed hair.

But I'm here to defend the band, just a little. While the genre of "adult contemporary rock", the genre of Rob Thomas and Jason Mraz that the band has fallen into is generally a weak one, Maroon 5 proves that there may be a little hope for it yet. The production values are tighter than usual, the music at least a little edgier. And honestly, few albums are so sing-along-able. When we get too caught up in what's musically sound, we unfortunately begin to feel bad liking things that are sometimes just pure fun. And if being "indie" means not enjoying music, I'm perfectly happy to not join that crowd.
Rating: 6/10