Maroon 5 Album: “Call And Response: The Remix Album”

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.

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.

This CD is all the best songs by Maroon 5 mixed with dance jams and rap. It was even better than what I expected. It's a fabulous mix of great lyrics and rockin beats for when you feel like kickin it up a notch. A couple of the songs are repeated but with a different DJ remix so you don't feel like you just heard that song. A great fun CD to add to your collection!

When songs are written with inspiration, they usually shine because they reflect the artist's vision. Remixes, with few exceptions of some very talented individuals, are usually an attempt to cram a square peg into a round hole so they fit into another genre, usually house music. What you end up with is something that is somewhat interesting to hear as a study, for example, hearing isolated tracks of harmonies and the purity of a good singer. But as something that is "music" with replay value, well... the end result usually sucks - different for the sake of being different. That is the case here.

Maroon 5 is a great talent that has a unique sound and blend of music that, unfortunately, becomes minimized in these remixes and the identity and trademark is completely lost in most of these tracks. It becomes fair filler music.

Wake Up Call is a good example of something "different" but sounding incredibly empty. The entire power of the ballad is lost and we get to hear isolated tracks which might be good for a measure or two but not the entire song.

Goodnight Goodnight sounds remarkably empty and hollow.

Harder to Breathe is missing the powerful guitar, instead, opting to just have something that sounds like yet another hollow 80s beatbox. Add in a rap-like track that is nothing but attitude without much but a beat behind it.

If I Never See Your Face Again - A combo of the song totally redone 80s style, somewhat interesting. The second remix is another example of empty isolated tracks with too much junk stuck in for the coolness factor. Empty, boring.

Little of Your Time - A bad joke. Isolated stuff, toss in a ton of effects, junk.

Makes Me Wonder - A much softer take than the original, completely lacking the power of the original. If you like it mellow, this has some redeeming value and somewhat interesting. But it did seem to highlight the processing on the vocals.

Not Falling Apart... ho hum.

Secret... A different take, an emptyish spacious version. Somewhat neat in the sense that it brings up some interesting background dissonance and puts it in the forefront.

She Will Be Loved - An example of a bad mix. Drums, no bass... not sure what this is supposed to be.

Shiver - One of the better examples of an interesting remix. Slap guitar funk. One of the reasons why this album gets even some stars. Probably the best cut on this shallow disc.

Sunday Morning - Not much different than the original, just more emphasis on the drums, giving them more kick. This might be a bit more snappy.

This Love - An example of a very fine song destroyed by remixing, shoving it into a disco era sound and the song is completely unrecognizable and has no redeeming differentiation of junk that preceded it. The second version is a bad rap/hip-hop take. Total garbage.

Wake Up Call - First version is junk and not worth a listen. Ronson's version a good intro, a cool isolated chorus but then it goes nowhere and results in a song that isn't that powerful, just an empty run on.

Woman - I don't know the original... somewhat interesting tune but also feels empty.

it's very good original cd with many good songs with many remixes. it would be better if it was a dvd