Gone are the days when Maroon 5 wrote bluesy rock songs. Adam Levine and Co. have fully embraced poppy dance rock. Despite this massive change in formula, the group still knows how to write a catchy single, as evidenced by “Maps”. Layers of Levine’s silky vocals slide easily over bright and infectious pop riffs on songs like “In Your Pocket”. He remains the real star of the show, showcasing an impressive vocal range throughout the tracklist. While the middle of the album does drag at points and some songs get lost in the process, “V” is still a solid offering from the veteran band.
GRADE: B
DOWNLOAD: “Animals”
SOUNDS BEST WHEN: You need light background music to soothe your hangover on Sunday morning. [Ed. note: Pun intended]
