V (Maroon 5 album)
V (Roman numeral for five)[3] is the fifth studio album by American band Maroon 5. The album was released on August 29, 2014, through 222 and Interscope 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 vocalist Jesse 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 US Billboard 200 and produced with three hit singles, "Maps", "Animals", and "Sugar", peaking at numbers 6, 3 and 2 on the US Billboard 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.[4] "Feelings" was released as the album's fifth and final single on September 14, 2015.
V
August 29, 2014
2013–2014
- Conway Studios (Hollywood, California)
- Kingston Sound (Los Angeles, California)
- Luke's in the Boo (Malibu, California)
- Matzah Ball (New York, New York City)
- MXM (Stockholm, Sweden)
- Patriot (Denver, Colorado)
- Record Plant (Los Angeles, California)
40:10
Background and production[edit]
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 Christina Aguilera), a single which lead singer Adam Levine credited as having "revived the group",[5] and the album's lead single, "Payphone", which became both a critical and commercial success.[6] Overexposed was described by the band as their "most poppiest [sic] record to date", with critics giving the album mixed reviews upon its release.[7]
V was recorded by the band at Conway Studios in downtown Los Angeles, California, over a year-long period from 2013 through to mid 2014.[8] The recording sessions for V saw the band's keyboardist Jesse Carmichael return to the band after a two-year hiatus, which saw him absent during the recording and promotion for Overexposed.[9] The album also features a collaboration with Gwen Stefani called "My Heart Is Open",[10] co-written with Australian singer Sia. Guitarist James Valentine stated that the band had known Sia for a long time and working with her was "really cool".[11]
Artwork[edit]
The album cover for V was created by South Korean photographer Lee Jung.[12] It features a 1.3m neon lighted crosstube formed in the shape of the roman numeral for five, the title of the album.[13] The red neon display is placed in front of a reservoir in the Gyeonggi Province,[12] with mountains in the background. The Maroon 5 logo appears out of focus in the background as a sign perched on the side of the mountain, similar to the famous Hollywood Sign.[14] An alternate cover for the album was created by Indonesian graphic designer Bayo Gale (who won the band's alternate album cover art contest).[15] It features the tiger's face with a shape of the letter V with a vertex at the bottom and the Maroon 5 logo.
Release and promotion[edit]
Departing from then-active A&M Octone Records, the band signed with its related label, Interscope Records[16] and frontman Levine's record label 222 Records to release the album.[17] 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.[18] Through a signed contract with Live Nation, the band had also announced that they are also set to embark on a world tour in late 2014 through to early 2015 in support of V.[8] The artwork for V was unveiled through a series of five puzzle piece clues released daily through the band's Facebook page from July 17 through to July 21.[19][20] After the series was completed, the album's artwork, in addition to its track listing, were unveiled on July 21, 2014.[21] The album also includes a limited-edition of ZinePak.[22] Moreover, to promote the album, Maroon 5 performed at the iHeartRadio Theater in Burbank, California on August 26, 2014[23] and on The Today Show (as part of the Toyota concert series) at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, New York on September 1.[24] Later, the band started the Maroon V Tour in February 2015 at venues mainly to take place in North America and Europe.[25] The tour ended on May 12, 2018, in Zapopan, Mexico, comprising 137 shows.
Commercial performance[edit]
In the United States, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, with first week sales of 164,000 copies[43] and earned their second US number-one album and their first since 2007's It 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 the Canadian 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]
Notes