1.22.03.Acoustic, so named for the date it was recorded live at the Hit Factory, New York, is a live EP by Californian band Maroon 5. It contains acoustic versions of many of the songs on their international hit album, Songs About Jane, as well as two cover songs (The Beatles' "If I Fell" and AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" ).

The album reached #42 in the United States and was certified Gold (Sales: 500,000).

Critical reception

Giving the EP an C grade, Entertainment Weekly said that "Maroon 5 cement their reputation as kings of the new faceless pop," adding, "Adam Levine...sounds more grating than usual without the much-needed studio gloss."Browne, David (2004-08-06), "Mini Revolution". Entertainment Weekly (777):78-79

References

Category:Maroon 5 albums

Category:2004 live albums

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Artist/Band Information

Maroon 5 is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. While they were in high school, vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adam Levine, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, base guitarist Mickey Madden, and drummer Ryan Dusick formed a garage band called Kara's Flowers in 1995 and released one album in 1997. They reformed, with guitarist James Valentine, in 2001 and pursued a new direction as Maroon 5. The following year they released their debut album Songs About Jane, which contained four hit singles: "Harder to Breathe", "This Love", "She Will Be Loved" and "Sunday Morning"; it also enjoyed major chart success, going gold, platinum, and triple platinum in many countries around the world.

In support of Songs About Jane, Maroon 5 toured extensively throughout 2003–2005, during which time two live albums were released. They received the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2005. Dusick left the band in September 2006, citing injuries sustained by constant touring, and was replaced by Matt Flynn. Maroon 5's second studio album It Won't Be Soon Before Long was released in 2007, with the singles "Makes Me Wonder", "Won't Go Home Without You" and "Wake Up Call". The band performed live in two tours between June and November 2007, during which time a compilation of previously unreleased songs, The B-Side Collection, was released.

Two more live albums and a remix album were issued in 2008. Maroon 5's third studio album is scheduled to be released in September 2010. Since debuting in 2002, the band has sold over 10 million albums in the United States and nearly 15 million worldwide.

History

Kara's Flowers and formation of Maroon 5 (1994–2002)

The four original members of Maroon 5 have known each other since attending Brentwood School together in Los Angeles.Visakowitz, Susan (2007-04-28), "Sophomore Jump". Billboard. 119 (17)Hoard, Christian (2004-06-10), "A Whiter Shade of Funk". Rolling Stone (950):43–44 While attending Brentwood School, Adam Levine and Jesse Carmichael joined up with Mickey Madden and Ryan Dusick to form Kara's Flowers, a garage/grunge band. The name was taken from a girl that the band had a "collective crush" on. The band played its first gig at Whisky a Go Go on September 16, 1995. While they were playing a beach party in Malibu, indie producer Tommy Allen heard them playing and offered to manage them, which eventually led to their deal with Reprise Records and producer Rob Cavallo. Very early on, their sound was what Carmichael called "Fugazi and System of a Down meets Sesame Street ". However, by the release of The Fourth World in 1997, they had morphed into band reminiscent of 1960s Brit pop. Despite high expectations from the band and record company, the album failed to catch on and their lead single, "Soap Disco", was a failure.Kimpel 2006, pp. 87–88. According to Levine, the failure of the album was "a huge disappointment" that nearly led them to break up in 1998.Rosen, Craig (2005-06-04), "MAROON 5". Billboard. 117 (23): Levine and Carmichael went to college in Long Island, New York, while Madden and Dusick stayed home in L.A., and attended a semester of college at UCLA. In the interim, Levine and Carmichael were exposed for the first time to the gospel, hip-hop and R&B of their largely African-American schoolmates.Kimpel 2006, p. 88. Levine credits the period with informing the band's new style stating:

When the two returned in 2000, they brought those influences with them. Sam Farrar (bassist for Phantom Planet and former roommate of Levine and Valentine) says that the Aaliyah song "Are You That Somebody?" affected the band and influenced the song "Not Coming Home." Jordan Felstein, a friend of Levine's family and a junior agent at ICM, stopped by one of the band's rehearsals and was so surprised, by what he heard, that he quit his job in order to manage the band full time. The band put together a demo that was rejected by several labels, before falling into the hands of the executives at Octone Records—James Diener, Ben Berkman and David Boxenbaum. Especially impressed with song "Sunday Morning", Berkman encouraged the other three to fly out to L.A. to observe Kara's Flowers at their showcase gig at the Viper Room. After watching Levine onstage, they were convinced, and Kara's Flowers became the new label's first act.

Octone immediately insisted that the band change its name to break with its pop-rock past. Also, the label began looking for a full-time guitarist to enable Levine to focus on performing as the frontman. James Valentine (from the L.A. band Square) was recruited for the job. Even still, the only songs of their repertoire that showcased the band's new direction were "Sunday Morning" and the soon-to-be-written "She Will Be Loved"—neither of which the label approved of as a first single. The band toured for a full year before entering the studio with producer Matt Wallace. Levine's frustration with Berkman's demands for a lead single inspired him to write just that—a song called "Harder to Breathe".

Songs About Jane and Dusick's departure (2002–2006)

Maroon 5 was constantly on tour, after releasing their album in mid-2002. Their first major tour was the 2002 Jeep World Outside, a "grassroots" summer festival tour with such acts as O.A.R., Ziggy Marley, Train and headliner Sheryl Crow.Waddell, Ray (2005-06-04), "HIT THE ROAD". Billboard. 117 (23):

Valentine attended Berklee College of Music with John Mayer in 1996, where they developed a rapport. In 2002, the two reconnected at a Mayer radio appearance. After Mayer heard their album, he was so impressed (particularly by "This Love") that he invited them to open for him during his early 2003 tour. The first single "Harder to Breathe" slowly started to pick up airplay which helped spur sales of the album. By March 2004, the album had reached the Top 20 of the Billboard 200 and "Harder to Breathe" had made the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts. The album peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200 in September 2004, 26 months after its release; this was the longest period between an album's release and its initial Top 10 appearance since SoundScan results were included in the Billboard 200 in 1991. Mayer invited the band to open for him again in 2004.

Over the next three years, the band toured virtually non-stop, including visits to seventeen countries. During this time, the band toured with Michelle Branch, Nikka Costa, Vanessa Carlton, Graham Colton, and The Rolling Stones. Others they have toured alongside include Cowboy Mouth, Gavin DeGraw, Matchbox Twenty, Sugar Ray, Counting Crows, Phantom Planet, The Hives, Dashboard Confessional, Big City Rock, The Like, Simon Dawes, Jason Mraz, The Thrills, Thirsty Merc, Marc Broussard, The Donnas, The RedWest, Michael Tolcher and Guster.

Songs About Jane eventually reached #2 on the Australian albums charts, while "Harder to Breathe" made the Top 20 singles charts in the US and UK, and Top 40 in Australia and New Zealand. The album also eventually climbed to #1 in the UK and #2 in Australia. The second single, "This Love", reached #5 in the US, #3 in the UK, and #8 in Australia. The third single, "She Will Be Loved," reached the Top 5 in both the US and the UK, and went to #1 in Australia. The fourth single, "Sunday Morning," reached the Top 40 in the US, UK, and Australia.

Maroon 5 also played Live 8, in Philadelphia in 2005. Their set included a cover of Neil Young's "Rockin' In The Free World" and frontman Levine performed with one of his heroes, and the closing act, Stevie Wonder. On May 13, 2005, in Santa Barbara, California, the band wrapped up the Honda Civic Tour, which they headlined. On June 9, 2005, the band performed at the American Film Institute's tribute to filmmaker George Lucas. Lucas himself had selected Maroon 5 for the event, as they were his children's favorite band at the time.

Over the years of touring with the band, percussionist and back-up vocalist Ryan Dusick had been suffering from the touring life.Maroon 5 2006, pp. 86–87. The strains of non-stop touring aggravated an old sports injury. After several absences of tours with Ryland Steen of Reel Big Fish and Josh Day taking his place for a couple of tours, Dusick officially left Maroon 5 in September 2006 with Matt Flynn, Gavin DeGraw and The B-52's former drummer, assumed the position initially temporary, but then permanently.

It Won't Be Soon Before Long (2006–2008)

Maroon 5 1286796956.jpgthumbleftMaroon 5 lead vocalist Adam Levine performing in August 2007

After recording for most of 2006, in May 2007, Maroon 5's second album, It Won't Be Soon Before Long, was released worldwide by A&M/Octone Records. According to Levine, the follow-up to Songs About Jane is "sexier and stronger", gaining inspiration from iconic 80s artists such as Prince, Shabba Ranks, Michael Jackson and Talking Heads. Before its release, "Makes Me Wonder" was the #1 selling single and video on iTunes. It was also the #1 selling album, with more than 50,000 digital pre-sales. After its release, the album broke iTunes sales records its week of release, selling over 101,000 albums.

The first single, "Makes Me Wonder," was released to radio March 27, 2007. The making of the music video was previewed on MTV's Total Request Live, and premiered on the show March 29. The song debuted at number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100, the lowest debuting single of the group's five chart entries. In the first week of May, the single skyrocketed from a lowly position of #64 to #1, the biggest jump in Billboard history at the time. "Makes Me Wonder" has also achieved #1 on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs, Pop 100, and Hot Dance Club Play charts.

To support the album, the band performed on a "six-date club tour" in which they visited small venues in Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Miami, and New York City in early June 2007. They followed with a concert that streamed live via MSN Music in mid-June. On July 10, they opened for The Police, in Miami, and followed with an acoustic performance at the Miami club, Studio A, the next day. Their 2007 It Won't Be Soon Before Long world tour began September 29 in Detroit and concluded November 10 in Las Vegas. The Hives, as the tour's special guest, performed on all of the dates while Sara Bareilles, Kevin Michael, and Phantom Planet each performed in a portion of the tour. They are currently touring with Dashboard Confessional in their world tour and, beginning March 28, 2008, they will tour with OneRepublic, Brandi Carlile, and Ry Cuming. They have also performed "Makes Me Wonder" on season 6 of American Idol and "If I Never See Your Face Again" on season 7 of American Idol. The re-release of the album featured a new duet version of "If I Never See Your Face Again" with Rihanna; the new version of the song also appeared on the re-release of Rihanna's album Good Girl Gone Bad. They also released as the album's 5th single "Goodnight Goodnight."

Hands All Over (2008–present)

Maroon 5's third studio album was recorded in 2009 in Switzerland, where the band joined forces with record producer Robert "Mutt" Lange. Valentine said that November that the new album had been titled Hands All Over., Retrieved March 18, 2010. In April 2010, they revealed titles of 11 of its 15 songs: "How", "Never Gonna Leave", "Wasted Years", "Last Chance", "Don't Know Much About That", "Out of Goodbyes" (featuring Lady Antebellum), "I Can't Lie", "Give a Little More", "Misery", "Stutter" and "Hands All Over".http Retrieved April 29, 2010. Hands All Over is scheduled to be released on September 21, 2010. The album's first single, "Misery", was released on June 22. Maroon 5 has planned a month-long summer tour in advance of the album's release, from July 30 to August 29.

Levine has stated that he believes the band is reaching its peak and may make one more album before disbanding.Greene, Andy (2007-06-28), "Maroon 5: Back on Top". Rolling Stone. (1029):16 He explained "Eventually I want to focus on being a completely different person because I don’t know if I want to do this into my 40s and 50s and beyond, like the Rolling Stones."Paton, Maureen (August 2, 2008), . Mail Online. (accessed 2009-01-16)

Explicit content

Maroon 5 This Love music video.jpgthumbComparison of the uncensored (top) and censored (bottom) versions of the music video for "This Love"

The music video for "This Love" featured lead singer Adam Levine and his then-girlfriend, model Kelly McKee, in extended sex scenes. The video used creative camera angles to show as much as possible without actually revealing any of the couple's genitalia, thereby avoiding possible FCC action. A version of the video where a stream of computer-generated flowers cover up more was created for more conservative markets, such as in the Philippines. When asked about his feelings on this, Levine commented, "That was ridiculous." Bassist Madden called it "an absurd over-reaction."

More steamy scenes appeared in the video for "She Will Be Loved," which featured a love triangle and sexual imagery involving Levine and actress Kelly Preston, the wife of actor John Travolta. (Music video) (2005). Octone Records/J/RCA Music Group. Retrieved on July 26, 2007. The video for "Wake Up Call" also contains such material and also presented as a trailer for a fictional NC-17 rated movie. Giving insight into his view on violence in entertainment, in 1999 Levine wrote a letter to the editors contradicting an article that linked school shootings with the film Natural Born Killers, saying "where people copied the violence they saw elsewhere only speaks to the disturbed nature of these individuals and their lack of originality."Levine, Adam (1999-06-21), "CORRESPONDENCE". New Republic. 220(25):53

Band members

*Adam Levine – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1994–present)

*Jesse Carmichael – keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1994–present)

*Mickey Madden – bass guitar (1994–present)

*James Valentine – lead guitar, backing vocals (2001–present)

*Matt Flynn – drums, percussion (2006–present)

Former members

*Ryan Dusick – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1994–2006)

Discography

Studio albums

* 1997: The Fourth World (Kara's Flowers)

* 2002: Songs About Jane

* 2007: It Won't Be Soon Before Long

* 2010: Hands All Over

Compilation albums

* 2007: The B-Side Collection

* 2008: Call and Response: The Remix Album

Live albums

* 2004: 1.22.03.Acoustic

* 2005: Live – Friday the 13th

* 2008: Live from SoHo

* 2008: Live from Le Cabaret

Awards and nominations

2004

*Billboard Music Award — Digital Artist of the Year

*MTV Europe Music Award — Best New Act

*MTV Video Music Awards Latin America — Best Rock Artist, International

*MTV Video Music Awards Latin America — Best New Artist, International

*New Music Weekly Award — AC40 Group/Duo of the Year

*Teen Choice Award — Choice Breakout Artist

*World Music Award — World's Best New Group

2005

*Grammy Award — Best New Artist

*Grammy Award — Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "This Love" (Live - Friday the 13th version)

*Groovevolt Music and Fashion Award — Best Collaboration, Duo or Group for "She Will Be Loved"

*NRJ Radio Awards — International Breakout Act & Best International Song for "This Love"

2007

*Billboard Music Award — Top Digital Album for "It Won't Be Soon Before Long"

*Grammy Award — Best Pop Performance by A Duo or Group With Vocals "Makes Me Wonder"

*Grammy Award — Best Pop Vocal Album "It Won't Be Soon Before Long" (Nominated)

2009

*Grammy Award — Best Pop Performance by A Duo or Group With Vocals "Won't Go Home Without You" (Nominated)

*Grammy Award — Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals"If I Never See Your Face Again" (with Rihanna) (Nominated)

References