New Maroon 5 album cements band's staying power

Maroon 5 must experience a lot of loving and losing because it has served them with material for two albums including enough emotion for their third and latest studio album "Hands All Over."

In order to generate hype prior to the Sept. 21 release of "Hands All Over," Maroon 5 embarked on a month-long summer tour spanning from July 30 to Aug. 29. Any hardcore fans of the band hopefully attended this concert as lead singer Adam Levine thinks the band is approaching its peak.

From their beginning, Maroon 5 has been known for catchy lyrics and solid beats, which hypnotize their fans into loving their music and playing it at an impossibly high volume while in their cars. I've been a witness (victim) at a particular example of this occurrence with my aunt in her car as she played their second album "It Won't Be Soon Before Long" at high volume as we raced down a steep Californian mountain.

It's hard to disagree that the band is at their pinnacle because the opening track to the CD "Misery" represents the best of Maroon 5 in their 8-year career. Listening to this song gave me the name to a song I've heard repeatedly played on the radio for the past month. Yes, I found myself mumbling the words I thought I knew when I heard it in the car and yes, I do like the song, immensely. "Misery," along with the majority of their songs, past and present, is just so appealing, even if it is in a haunting way.

"Hands All Over" is another album of song material that appeals to happy-go-lucky and in love women everywhere with songs like "Never Gonna Leave This Bed," which sings the praises of an unnamed woman. However, "Hands All Over" also features ditties for those who like listening to songs that mirror the same unhappiness they feel in their lives and relationships. "Runaway" highlights the feelings of leaving a relationship and not being able to let go.

Unlike some of their other work, "Hands All Over" offers a little more in terms of song selection. The track listing of the album includes the song "Out of Goodbyes" featuring Lady Antebellum, the country pop trio who made it big after their surprise hit "Need You Now."

From the onset, it was easy to surmise what the song would offer and the slow, sleepy country tinge that Lady Antebellum brings to the table really changes the way Levine's voice sounds as he croons the song to match the lead singer of Lady Antebellum Hillary Scott's own strong words.

Although Levine may feel like his band is on its way out, "Hands All Over" cements Maroon 5 as a band that still obviously has power and persuasion. Maroon 5, at least for the time being, will still rock and roll at an impossibly high volume out of people's cars – just like they always have.