Release notes:
Maroon 5 is back with its third studio album entitled Hands All Over, produced
by Robert John "Mutt" Lange (AC/DC, Foreigner, The Cars). The album, a killer
hybrid of rock, pop, funk, and R&B, showcases the band's considerable strengths:
buoyant, unforgettable melodies, sleek, stylish grooves, charged lyrics about
turbulent relationships, and crisp, dynamic performances. Band member Jesse
Carmichael comments on the new album, "Mutt really helped us play to the best of
our ability. And it drove us to be bigger and better than ever. Everything he
does is huge." Huge is a great way to describe Hands All Over, starting with the
hard-rocking title track that is heavier than anything Maroon 5 has ever done.
Says Valentine, "It doesn't sound like anything we've ever done." Another
stylistic departure for the band is "Out of Goodbyes," a stunning country ballad
that features musical and vocal contributions from Nashville chart-toppers Lady
Antebellum. "We've always loved country music", Levine says, "and they brought
that necessary twang to it with the lap steels, ambient guitar, and Hilary
Scott's pretty voice. Other highlights include the deeply groovy "Don't Know
Much About That," the propulsive "Stutter" ("a great showcase for Adam's voice,"
notes Valentine), and "Misery," which will thrill long-time Maroon 5 fans with
its funky guitars and high-stepping melody. Be sure to get your hands all over
this unbelievable album.
