Judging strictly by timelines, Maroon 5 is one of the world’s laziest bands. It’s been five years since the group released its first CD, the triple-platinum “Songs About Jane.” And more than two years since it won Best New Artist at the Grammys.
Lead singer Adam Levine, however, says the calendar doesn’t tell the whole story.
“That’s a common misconception,” says Levine, laughing. “Truth is, [after releasing “Songs About Jane,”] we took like a month off and then hit the road touring for three-straight years. Then we went right back into the studio and started recording our second album.”
The band – which also includes guitarist James Valentine, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, bassist Mickey Madden and drummer Matt Flynn – released its sophomore effort, “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long,” on May 22. It shows the Los Angeles quintet delving heavily into funk, thumping out bass lines you can feel in your chest. And compared to their ballad-heavy debut, it’s far more energetic.
Both Levine and Carmichael attribute that to new drummer Flynn, who was called on to replace Ryan Dusick after he was forced to leave the band last year due to nerve injuries. Flynn’s aggressive style resulted in a slew of fist-pumping songs, and ultimately didn’t harm the group’s unique chemistry.
“I think [Flynn] fits in well,” Carmichael says. “You can feel his impact.”
Which should please those fans lucky enough to snag tickets to see the group (which usually plays arenas such as Madison Square Garden) tomorrow at Bowery Ballroom. They’ll return for bigger shows in the fall.
Fans are still feeling Maroon 5, as the first single, “Makes Me Wonder,” shot from No. 64 to the top spot within its first week on iTunes. It joins previous Maroon 5 hits “She Will Be Loved” and “This Love” in reaching No. 1 on the Billboard singles chart.
The album, which currently sits atop the Billboard 200, seems destined to buck the old sophomore jinx.
“After what we went though putting the first one together, we’re trying not to think about that,” says Levine, who, along with his bandmates, was forced to borrow money from producers at times just to eat lunch while recording their debut. “We put everything we had into it – financially and emotionally.”