What happened to Maroon 5?

[SteveC]

I actually like Maroon 5 as a power pop type band. Train too, I know, I know. Way better than the hipster hoedown let's all get back to roots americana and play the mandolin and upright bass crud that is so the rage right now. Best part is the biggest of those groups is from England LOL! Bleah...

God, I couldn't agree more. So over the folk crap. If I hear "I Will Wait" or "Carry On" one more time my head will explode.

I'd rather listen to just about anything else - even Maroon 5. The "sellout" thing isn't an argument for me. Almost everyone does it - at least in the "pop/radio" world. You almost have to. And honestly, if you were in a successful band and someone said hey, you'll make gobs of money if you play this instead of that, I bet you'd play this.

 

[DWBass]

And honestly, if you were in a successful band and someone said hey, you'll make gobs of money if you play this instead of that, I bet you'd play this.

I don't feel this is the case with many bands. I just think their songwriting matures and they gravitate towards a more refined palatte. See Phil Collins, Lionel Richie, Sting, etc. It's just the hardcore fans just can't accept it! Well, then go back and listen to the old stuff! People change.

 

[socialleper]

So now it's about 'art'?? Now we're experts on what art is!!




Ok, y'all carry on with this nonsensical tirade!

Uh...music is art. (Or at least its supposed to be. Its been more of a commodities market for decades now.)
Since most of us are musicians, that makes us uniquely qualified to critique it.

The OP posed a question about Maroon 5 changing their style to be less heavy, or weaker, more pop, whatever. As we can see several people, like myself, feel that they set a pretty low bar in terms of rock'n heaviness to begin with, so what's the big deal if you take an inch out of an already shallow pond?
My point is that you can wrap yourself in the trappings of rebellious rock and roll and still be little more than a collection of Urban Outfitter models playing power pop. It may sell lots of records, but so did the Spice Girls.

 

[cnltb]

The correct answer is, who gives a ****?

Indeed .

 

[socialleper]

God, I couldn't agree more. So over the folk crap. If I hear "I Will Wait" or "Carry On" one more time my head will explode.

I say we burn down every Urban Outfitter, H&M and GAP. That's where they breed, like Hot Topic was for Emo.

 

[SteveC]

I don't feel this is the case with many bands. I just think their songwriting matures and they gravitate towards a more refined palatte. See Phil Collins, Lionel Richie, Sting, etc. It's just the hardcore fans just can't accept it! Well, then go back and listen to the old stuff! People change.

True. People change. Songwriting changes. More refined. But sometimes, more "popular" as well.

And yes, if you don't like the new stuff, listen to the old and enjoy. That's what I do. For many musicians I like, the first couple albums are the best. Then they seem to get more "refined".

There are some bands that I will buy basically anything they put out, but there are only a few.

What the heck happened to Bon Jovi? I watched his new thing on Palladia and the new songs suck. Perfect example for me.

 

[SteveC]

Maybe Adam is too busy working on his body and tattoos and getting Victoria's Secret models to worry about rocking out like the old days.

 

[michael_atw]

What the heck happened to Bon Jovi? I watched his new thing on Palladia and the new songs suck. Perfect example for me.

What I find to be hilarious is how it takes Bon Jovi and the like 3, 4, 5 years to put out radio filler.

 

[madrob]

Maroon 5 suck and they always sucked.

 

[DWBass]

Maroon 5 suck and they always sucked.

10 million units sold says otherwise!

 

[madrob]

10 million units sold says otherwise!

Let me guess, you play in a cover band.

 

[DWBass]

Let me guess, you play in a cover band.

Yessir. Nothing to do with the subject though! I have played in both types of bands. What's your point?

 

[madrob]

Fair enough, I'm a little cranky today.

I can't stand corporate music. For me, music is about ideas, art and creativity and I rarely hear anything along those lines from big bands. Things have sadly changed a great deal from the 60's. The music business went downhill in the 70's when big marketing and formulaic music came into being.

I still don't agree that selling lots of units means it's a good band these days. I think the general population has been conditioned to buy into whatever the marketers want them to. This is a chronic symptom across many fronts like film, TV and consumer products.

 

[michael_atw]

Yessir. Nothing to do with the subject though! I have played in both types of bands. What's your point?

Quantity does not equal quality...or else Bieber, Britney Spears (for the love of God, listen to some of her isolated vocal tracks on Youtube) and Psy would be among the greatest musicians in history.

 

[rtslinger]

Sold out what is that? More like tapped in. Smart bands do what they need to stay in the public eye. Any bands success comes from the masses. They in my book have the right people whispering in their ear and they have the business sense to listen. If you are not thinking like you are product that someone else is selling to the public then you won't get to their level imo.

 

[Roy Vogt]

If only they didn't go and get those Moves Like Jagger......

 

[DWBass]

Quantity does not equal quality...or else Bieber, Britney Spears (for the love of God, listen to some of her isolated vocal tracks on Youtube) and Psy would be among the greatest musicians in history.

That is true but I wouldn't put Maroon 5 in the same class as Bieber or Psy! They are an actual band who can get down when put on stage! So what some of the records are a little cheesy. They have a great live show.

I feel the same about smooth jazz artists. What you hear on the radio most times is not indicative of what they really are capable of doing. Ever see Spyro Gyra live!

 

[DWBass]

If only they didn't go and get those Moves Like Jagger......

Cheese or not, it's a great song!

 

[bass12]

I would never hire a DJ who didn't like what he was doing and would dare play some obscure music to satify 'his' personal taste! He'd be a broke DJ! He can go play at your party!

Do you really find musicians that narrow minded? Radio in the 60's and 70's were wide ranging and played everything under the sun!

Actually, that's what a lot of DJs were doing in the 60s and 70s - playing stuff that they thought was good and that the audience might not otherwise get to hear. The best DJs were the ones who "broke" records and didn't just stick with the predictable. That went for clubs as well. Guys like Larry Levan weren't DJ icons because they played hits - they were icons largely because they brought new music to their listeners and did it in an exciting way. The DJs I admire are the ones who educate their listeners by exposing them to new stuff. If all I wanted to do was hear familiar music I'd stay at home and listen to my own collection.

 

[DWBass]

Fair enough, I'm a little cranky today.

I can't stand corporate music. For me, music is about ideas, art and creativity and I rarely hear anything along those lines from big bands. Things have sadly changed a great deal from the 60's. The music business went downhill in the 70's when big marketing and formulaic music came into being.

I still don't agree that selling lots of units means it's a good band these days. I think the general population has been conditioned to buy into whatever the marketers want them to. This is a chronic symptom across many fronts like film, TV and consumer products.

I'm not a fan of corporate entities being involved in the music business, period! Bring back independent radio stations, real live disc jockeys and diverse playlists dictated by the program directors themselves. Payola sucks and I thought it was illegal! I don't listen to new radio. I listen to oldies stations and my mp3 players with the music I like. Moves Like Jagger is on the playlist.