I remember exactly where I was and what i was doing when I first heard a Maroon 5 song. It was November 21st 2003, I was sitting in the cinema on the opening night of Love, Actually, handful of Minstrels when a song started playing in the background of the movie while Colin Frissel tells his movie making buddy that he's off to America. That song turned out to be The Sweetest Goodbye by Maroon 5 and I instantly fell in love with it. Quite by chance the next day, I saw a video for Harder to Breathe on a music channel and quickly snapped up their debut album Songs About Jane. I was smitten.
Although released in 2002, it wasn't until the early part of 2004 that Songs About Jane started to get noticed. Once it did though, it was seemingly everywhere. It's easier to see why. They effortlessly fuse together elements of rock, funk and r'n'b without ever losing the pop sensibilities of a massive chorus & engaging melodies. Add into this a charismatic frontman in the form of dreamy Adam Levine and there was no way Maroon 5 weren't going to be part of the pop culture landscape.
Five singles proliferated the charts during Songs About Jane's reign. Frankly, I added The Sweetest Goodbye to this run (as well as song from the Spiderman soundtrack) because it was criminal not to include them. Each managed to showcase a different aspect of Maroon 5's diverse, eclectic sound yet there was a cohesiveness of smart lyrics, powerful delivery and tunes that insinuated their way into your brain and refused to let go...
- Harder To Breathe ~ the most aggressively rock track released from the album with zippy guitar riffs & an urgency to it that helps manifest the frustration of the lyrics. Graphic lyrics combined with that kiss off chorus (with falsetto backing vocals) make this an enduring winner...
- This Love ~ Along with the next track, perhaps their most well known & successful single from the album. Keeping the rock riff from Harder to Breathe as the undertone to the song as well as the continuing theme of frustration with a love affair, the tune still managed to be pure pop from start to end. Plus how great did Adam look in that video with the yellow bandanna round his wrist?!
- She Will Be Loved ~ get your swoony dream on for this delicious shuffling mid-tempo ballad that shows the softer side of Maroon 5. A soaring, emotive vocal performance pared with a dramatic video ensured this song took on a life of it's own long after Songs About Jane (see Blake Lewis, Reece Mastin et al)...
- Woman ~ Not actually on Songs About Jane, this track featured on the Spiderman soundtrack (and a demo is on the 10th anniversary edition just released). A Prince-esque instrumental frames a seductive lyrical reading from Mr Levine and although not as immediate as the preceding singles, it was a grower that reveals layers with each listen...
- Sunday Morning ~ the laid back vibe is perfectly in sync with the widespread perception of lazy, feelgood times of the titular weekly date. However, as a metaphor for unhurried sex it works as an increasingly energetic & orgasmic pop delight.
- Must Get Out ~ A strumming guitar, a shuffling percussion and a plea to see whether a change of scenery can improve the relationship gives this song the heart & soul it needs.
- The Sweetest Goodbye ~ my favourite track from the album (and also Adam Levines as he confirmed in an interview I did with him in 2007). There's just something about this song that resonates and I still find it perfect to listen to 9 years on...
To celebrate the 10th anniversary release of the original Songs About Jane, a luxurious 2 disc set has been released. The first disc contains the original album, while disc two gives demo versions of each song on the album alongside unreleased & hard to find gems such as the demo of Woman, b-side Ragdoll and the Prince infused jam of Chilly Winter. If you are just joining the Maroon 5 bandwagon due to the phenomenal success of Moves Like Jagger or their perkalicious new single Payphone, then you need to school yourself in their origins. You won't be disappointed. Buy it now :)
(for more Maroon 5 history, see my "shouldn't M5 have a greatest hits by now" post!)
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