V (Roman numeral for five)[2] is the fifthstudio album by American bandMaroon 5. The album was released on August 29, 2014, through222 andInterscope Records.V was Maroon 5's first album to be released through Interscope after the band's previous label,A&M Octone Records, transferred them along with most of its artists to Interscope. The album also saw the return of keyboardist/rhythm guitarist/backing vocalistJesse Carmichael, after his absence from recording, touring and promoting the band's previous album,Overexposed, which was released in 2012. It debuted at number one on the USBillboard 200 and produced with three hit singles, "Maps", "Animals", and "Sugar", peaking at numbers 6, 3 and 2 on the USBillboard Hot 100, respectively. A fourth single "This Summer's Gonna Hurt like a Motherfucker", was released on May 15, 2015, from the reissue deluxe edition of the album.[3] "Feelings" was released as the album's fifth and final single on September 14, 2015. The album received mixed reviews frommusic critics.
In 2012, Maroon 5 released their fourth studio album,Overexposed. The record was released during a time of commercial momentum for the band following the success of "Moves like Jagger" (recorded with American singerChristina Aguilera), a single which lead singerAdam Levine credited as having "revived the group",[4] and the album'slead single, "Payphone", which became both a critical and commercial success.[5]Overexposed was described by the band as their "mostpoppiest[sic] record to date", with critics giving the album mixed reviews upon its release.[6]
V was recorded by the band atConway Studios in downtownLos Angeles,California, over a year-long period from 2013 through to mid 2014.[7] The recording sessions forV saw the band's rhythm guitarist/keyboardistJesse Carmichael return to the band after a two-year hiatus, which saw him absent during the recording and promotion forOverexposed.[8] The album also features a collaboration withGwen Stefani called "My Heart Is Open",[9] co-written with Australian singerSia. GuitaristJames Valentine stated that the band had known Sia for a long time and working with her was "really cool".[10]
Thealbum cover forV was created by South Korean photographer Lee Jung.[11] It features a 1.3mneon lighted crosstube formed in the shape of the roman numeral for five, the title of the album.[12] The red neon display is placed in front of areservoir in theGyeonggi Province,[11] with mountains in the background. The Maroon 5 logo appearsout of focus in the background as a sign perched on the side of the mountain, similar to the famousHollywood Sign.[13] An alternate cover for the album was created by Indonesian graphic designer Bayo Gale (who won the band's alternate album cover art contest).[14] It features thetiger's face with a shape of the letter V with a vertex at the bottom and the Maroon 5 logo.
Departing from then-activeA&M Octone Records, the band signed with its related label,Interscope Records[15] and frontman Levine's record label222 Records to release the album.[16]V was unveiled by the band and Interscope on May 19, 2014, slated for a release date of September 2, 2014, in the United States.[17] Through a signed contract withLive Nation, the band had also announced plans to go on tour in late 2014 through to early 2015 in support ofV.[7]The artwork forV was unveiled through a series of fivepuzzle piece clues released daily through the band'sFacebook page from July 17 through to July 21.[18][19] After the series was completed, the album's artwork, in addition to its track listing, were unveiled on July 21, 2014.[20] The album also includes a limited-edition of ZinePak.[21] Moreover, to promote the album, Maroon 5 performed at theiHeartRadio Theater inBurbank, California on August 26, 2014[22] and onThe Today Show (as part of theToyotaconcert series) atRockefeller Plaza inNew York City,New York on September 1.[23] Later, the band started theMaroon V Tour in February 2015 at venues mainly to take place in North America and Europe.[24] The tour ended on May 12, 2018, inZapopan,Mexico, comprising 137 shows.
"Maps" was released as the album's lead single on June 16, 2014.[25] The song peaked at number 6 on the USBillboard Hot 100,[26] giving the band their ninth top-ten hit in the country. "Maps" also reached the top-ten in an additional fourteen countries, including a peak of number 2 on theUK Singles Chart.
"Animals" was released as the album's second single on August 25, 2014. The song peaked at number 3 on the USBillboard Hot 100, giving the band their tenth top-ten hit in the country.[26] The song also peaked within the top-ten in an additional ten countries, and has also sold in excess of 200,000 copies in the UK alone. Likewise with their previous single, "Animals" achieved platinum status in the US for sales exceeding 1,000,000 copies.
"Sugar" was released on January 13, 2015, as the album's third single.[27] It is the most successful single from the album, reaching the top-ten in 24 countries, including number 6 in Australia, number 7 on theUK Singles Chart, and number two on the USBillboard Hot 100.
"This Summer's Gonna Hurt like a Motherfucker" was released on May 15, 2015, as the album's fourth single.[28] Through it doesn’t appear on the standard edition, it is included on the album's reissue deluxe edition.
"It Was Always You" was released on July 29, 2014, as the first and only promotional single of the album.[30] The song peaked at number 40 on theUK Singles Chart and number 45 on the USBillboard Hot 100.
V received generally mixed reviews upon its release. OnMetacritic,V received aweighted average score of 55/100 based on 12 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[32] In a four-star review, Jon Dolan ofRolling Stone called the songs "precision-tuned and lustrously polished, jammed with hooks and choruses that build a man cave in your brain."[41]Brian Mansfield ofUSA Today gave the album two and a half stars out of four, remarking the album was "easy to digest and contains all sorts of flavors while still being its own thing."[42] In an 86 out of 100 review forBillboard, Brad Wete argued the album "reveals that their foundation has not been removed."[35] Writing on behalf ofAllMusic,Stephen Thomas Erlewine rated the album three and a half stars out of five, praising the band for "[embracing] the tuneful, slightly soulful adult contemporary pop band they've always been".[33]
In a mixed review, Kyle Anderson ofEntertainment Weekly graded the album a C, suggesting Levine's songwriting didn't "live up to his ability to work a crowd."[36] Writing forThe Guardian, Tim Jonze gave the album two out of five stars, dismissing it as "evidence as to why most people can't remember a Maroon 5 song two seconds after it finishes."[37] In a two star review fromThe Observer, Theo Leanse called the album "a gaudy chunk of over-produced electro-pop-rock", but noted its accessibility, saying it "flips a smug V-sign at us, knowing we'll never free its singles from our skulls."[1] But, Kathy Iandoli ofIdolator gave the album 4 out of 5 stars and called the album "lives up to that formula of big songs while never faltering, for better or for worse".[38]
Evan Rytlewski gave a C+ review on behalf ofThe A.V. Club commenting the band "stayed hip", but only by "furnishing a too-perfect, soundstage ideal of whatever the kids are into these days."[34] In theNew York Daily News, Jim Farber criticized the hooks on the album for being "so annoying, you won't be able to scrub them from your mind."[39] Annie Galvin delivered a 5/10 review forPopMatters stating, "As far as lightweight, easy-listening charts pop goes,V doesn't totally offend the sensibilities, and that's surely more than can be said about some of Maroon 5's overly pandering, less exploratory 'pop-rock' peers."[40]
In the United States, the album debuted at number one on theBillboard 200, with first week sales of 164,000 copies[43] and earned their second US number-one album and their first since 2007'sIt Won't Be Soon Before Long. As of August 2015, it has sold over one million copies in the US.[44]
In Canada, the album also debuted at number one on theCanadian Albums Chart, with 15,000 copies sold for the week.[45] In its second week, the album remained at number one with 7,700 copies.[46]
Japan special edition released without songs shoot love, sex and candy but including few remixes like Maps- Rumba Whoa remix feat J. Balvin, Animals featuring J. Cole, Animals Danny Olson Rwmix and Sugar Featuring Nicki Minaj
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
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