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Mixed or average reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 169 Ratings

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  • Summary: The fifth full-length release for the Los Angeles rock band features a guest appearance from Gwen Stefani.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12
  1. Billboard.com
    Sep 2, 2014
    86
    Levine's hummingbird vocals and passionate delivery are as earnest as they were on their 2002 debut Songs About Jane.
  2. Rolling Stone
    Sep 2, 2014
    80
    It's hard to care about any shortcomings when the tunes are as masterfully crisp as they are on much of V.
  3. AllMusic
    Sep 8, 2014
    70
    Sometimes, the group achieves a delicate balance between the two extremes--"It Was Always You," "New Love," and the aforementioned "Feelings"--but the best moments on V are when Maroon 5 embrace the tuneful, slightly soulful adult contemporary pop band they've always been.
  4. PopMatters
    Sep 3, 2014
    50
    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.
  5. Boston Globe
    Sep 2, 2014
    40
    Too often the trend-chasing sounds both tiring and tiresome; that weariness persists through the syrupy album-closing duet with Levine’s future “Voice” costar Gwen Stefani.
  6. New York Daily News (Jim Faber)
    Sep 2, 2014
    40
    The hooks on the album are memorable mainly for the wrong reason; They’re so annoying, you won’t be able to scrub them from your mind.
  7. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Sep 5, 2014
    5
    Nearly every song on this record is misogynistic in some regard, from the obvious predatory ramblings of “Animals” to the Robin Thicke-level douchebaggery of “Feelings.”

See all 12 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 36
  3. Negative: 9 out of 36
  1. JBBotes
    Sep 2, 2014
    10
    Awesome album. if you like Maroon 5 you will love this album. They always come out with some new and fresh. The critics say it is not catchingAwesome album. if you like Maroon 5 you will love this album. They always come out with some new and fresh. The critics say it is not catching tunes, then why do the songs get stuck in my head? Just like Hands All Over, the more I listen to the album the more I like it. I like the retro feel of the album and the honest lyrics. Maroon 5 is just awesome.… Expand
  2. musical_maniac
    Nov 16, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. In my opinion, the best tracks include New Love, Unkiss Me, Coming Back For You, In Your Pocket, Animals and Leaving California. The least liked tracks would be Sex And Candy and Sugar.
    Overall, out of 14 tracks..
    10 are very likeable!
    2 are neutral (My Heart Is Open and It Was Always You)
    2 are not so great (Sex And Candy and Sugar)    … Expand
  4. EstellaKimberly
    Nov 25, 2021
    10
    Another great mainstream pop album by Maroon 5, Adam Levine's voice is amazing
  5. SumitSumbria
    May 28, 2016
    5
    Another album in the crowd with familier sounds and themes. Not at all impresive. "Suger" and "This Summer" are the best tracks in the album.Another album in the crowd with familier sounds and themes. Not at all impresive. "Suger" and "This Summer" are the best tracks in the album. "Animals (Danny Olson Remix)" is my personal favourite.
    Jewel of the album - "Sugar"    … Expand
  6. NolanLundgaard
    Mar 25, 2020
    5
    V by Maroon 5: 4.66

    Maps: 1 :) Animals: 1 :) It Was Always You: 1 :) Unkiss Me: 0.75 Sugar: 1 :) Leaving California: 0.5 In Your    V by Maroon 5: 4.66

    Maps: 1 :)
    Animals: 1 :)
    It Was Always You: 1 :)
    Unkiss Me: 0.75
    Sugar: 1 :)
    Leaving California: 0.5
    In Your Pocket: 0.5
    New Love: 0.5
    Coming Back For You: 1 :)
    Feelings: 1
    My Heart Is Open: 0.25
    This Summer: 0
    Shoot Love: 0.75
    Sex and Candy: 0
    Lost Stars: 1 :)

    10.25/15 ~ .683 -> 4.66

    Not a horrible album, but definitely falls short of Maroon 5’s previous efforts such as Songs About Jane and Overexposed. Some songs are really good, but the lyric writing has taken a steep downhill, This Summer especially has a huge problem with this. Seems like Maroon 5 only wrote this song as an excuse to say the F-word 100 million times in the duration of 4 minutes. A lot of the songs are also super electronic, which I don’t really understand because Maroon 5 had so much success in their first couple albums. On the other hand, there are some gems in V, such as Maps, Lost Stars, and It Was Always You, it just depends on the song. V has its fair share of winners and stinkers, which brings down its overall score, though it’s still in the green. Highlights: Maps, Animals, It Was Always You, Sugar, Coming Back For You, Feelings, and Lost Stars.    … Expand
  7. Willduffy
    Nov 4, 2020
    4
    I wasn't a big fan of a couple songs in this album, but overall I think it's great. A great upgrade from Overexposed and basically a betterI wasn't a big fan of a couple songs in this album, but overall I think it's great. A great upgrade from Overexposed and basically a better version of Red Pill Blues.… Expand
  8. PauliAlexander
    Sep 23, 2018
    0
    It looks like the torture in Abu Ghraib isn't enough, so Maroon 5 had to unleash this collection of torture, including, but not limited to,It looks like the torture in Abu Ghraib isn't enough, so Maroon 5 had to unleash this collection of torture, including, but not limited to, noises labelled Animals, This Summer Is Gonna Hurt Like a MF, Maps.

    Sorry Adam Levine, but just because you have looks, doesn't mean it's gonna cut it.    … Expand

See all 36 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

34
#34 Most Discussed Album of 2014
68
#68 Most Shared Album of 2014

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