Released: 11 June 2021
Maroon 5’s seventh album ‘JORDI’ might boast an A-list line-up of guest stars, but the ensemble can’t save the largely undercooked LP.
Adam Levine and co. return with their latest effort, named in honour of Jordan Feldstein, the group’s former manager and the frontman’s childhood friend, who died unexpectedly in 2017.
It’s title is a statement, and with musicians including Stevie Nicks, H.E.R, Megan thee Stallion, Jason Derulo, blackbear and more, it appears to have all the makings of a sure-fire hit.
But while the group has soared in the past on tracks like This Love, Payphone and She Will Be Loved – not forgetting the epic Christina Aguilera collaboration Moves Like Jagger – ‘JORDI’ barely ventures out of the shadows of their past success.
On a positive note, the group are on top form musically, with Levine’s distinctive vocals carrying the LP through its 11 tracks. Yes, there’s autotune, but that’s far from the biggest issue here.
Instead, the main issue is the songs themselves, the majority of which clock in around the three minute mark (or less) and meander without direction.
Take Remedy, for example, a Stevie Nicks collaboration that, on paper, seems like the perfect pairing. But clocking in at 2.29, with the Fleetwood Mac frontwoman relegated to backing vocals, her feature spot is all but redundant, and what initially sounds like a future summer anthem is over before it really begins.
The same can be said for the majority of collaborations; late rapper Juice WRLD’s appearance on Can’t Leave You Alone is forced, while Nipsey Hussle and YG’s version of Memories – awkwardly sequenced after the band’s solo recording – isn’t needed.
It’s not all bad; Echo, featuring blackbear, appears to tackle Feldstein’s death as both Levine and the rapper discuss filling the void of grief, while Convince Me Otherwise with H.E.R. is an instant earworm.
But the production throughout ‘JORDI’ is so dense that, alongside songs that lack substance and a handful of guest spots that serve only to entice listeners, it all falls a little flat.
No doubt some tracks will linger on our playlists for a while, but as an album ‘JORDI’’s undercooked, over-produced formula is a sadly underwhelming listen.
Standard and Deluxe editions of ‘JORDI’ are available on CD now.
