Search - Maroon 5 :: Call and Response

"Is it better" is not the question to ask in this case

Aneta Rusek | New York | 12/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Whether you like this album or not, you should most likely ask yourself why you like Maroon 5 at the first place. What made you listen to their music from the start? At least for me, it was quite refreshing to know that this one group has been always experimenting and I am happy with the direction this CD took. I love the fact that the original songs are not sung the same way that the lyrics and melody can be interpreted in so many ways (including rhythms and styles)... and this is just a bunch of examples of how to do it. It makes me inspired!"

Better Than The Originals?

Lance G. Augustine | The Midwest, USA | 12/09/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After listening to "Call and Response: The Remix Album", you may never think of Maroon 5 in the same way again. The creativity of this release almost takes it out of "commercial" radio pop/rock...into something much more difficult to define.



A case could be made that some of these remixed versions of Maroon 5's greatest hits are actually better than the originals...especially if you don't care for the normal stylings of a typical M5 radio hit...as a matter of fact, I believe you don't even have to like M5 to like this record.



Sure, the basis of each song is still there...with a very strong "original" appearance, and yet these versions are so different, and for the most part, that's in a good way.



It doesn't seem to matter which talented artist contributes to each of these tracks, it all seems to work...the album has a nice flow despite the fact that so many people worked on it.



The musical additions and arrangement changes add tremendously to the impact...moody synthesizers, better-than-your-average drum grooves, and tasteful Rap take these songs into another dimension...even subtle changes make a major impact on a song's character.



There are two different versions of three songs: "Wake Up Call", "Little Of Your Time", and "If I Never See Your Face Again"...and you're sure to find at least one of the two suitable for your tastes. One remix of "Wake Up Call" features the vocal talents of Mary J. Blige, and her contribution is excellent...blending perfectly with M5 vocalist Adam Levine. And what Pharrell Williams did with "She Will Be Loved" is nothing short of brilliant...that song, along with "Not Falling Apart", are almost hauntingly beautiful.



While you may find a few tracks that are not to your liking, overall nothing seems to be too overdone...and you can hear that a lot of thought and effort went in to the creation of these remixes. And after listening to some of these new takes on Maroon 5's greatest hits, you may find yourself liking them more than the originals."

Good Mix of Genres

dirt55 | United States | 12/10/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"At first play I thought it was going to be 100% club DJ mixing, I was pleasantly surprised at how wrong I was! Unlike another review you actually have to listen to the album, not just click a couple 10sec clips. This is a mix for anyone who is a M5 fan. Some mixes are average (normal club mixes for example with generic hip hop beats), some are terrible (two...yes two techno versions of "Little of Your Time" back to back!), and some are genius (MJB on "Wake Up Call" and a great bass backed beat on a slowed tempo of "Makes me Wonder"). Trust me though, if you're not a big fan of M5, skip this because it's still 100% Maroon 5 at the core."