Is Red Pill Blues a good place to start with Maroon 5?

Yes, Red Pill Blues is recommended as a starting point for new Maroon 5 listeners. A polished blend of pop and funk-driven grooves, showcasing Maroon 5's signature catchy hooks and modern production flair. Released on November 3, 2017, 'Red Pill Blues' is Maroon 5's sixth studio album, following the commercial success of 'V' from 2014. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their status as pop mainstays while experimenting with collaborations and diverse sounds, including features from artists like SZA and Future.

Who is Red Pill Blues for?

Red Pill Blues works well if you're into steady mid-tempo groove throughout, sing-along moments with friends and reflective lyrics for introspection.

How many songs are on Red Pill Blues?

Red Pill Blues has 14 tracks, running approximately 57 minutes.

Red Pill Blues

Maroon 5 · 2017

57 min · 14 tracks · alternative rock

A polished blend of pop and funk-driven grooves, showcasing Maroon 5's signature catchy hooks and modern production flair.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Best 4 U Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Girls Like You — This track became a massive hit and anthem for female empowerment, featuring a catchy chorus that blends pop sensibilities with an infectious groove.
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What Lovers Do — With its playful lyrics and upbeat rhythm, this collaboration with SZA highlights the band's ability to create vibrant, radio-friendly tracks that capture the essence of modern romance.
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Don't Wanna Know — This song features a collaboration with Kendrick Lamar and showcases the band's skill in merging pop melodies with hip-hop elements, making it memorable and impactful.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

46 /100

Foothills

Higher than 10% of albums we've rated

The album showcases polished production and catchy hooks but lacks significant depth or innovation.

What we noticed

The first half of the album maintains a consistent mid-tempo groove, while the second half introduces slower ballads that shift the overall energy.
Several tracks feature prominent collaborations with other artists, which alters the vocal dynamics and adds variety to the sound.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 5/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady mid-tempo groove throughout
sing-along moments with friends
reflective lyrics for introspection
for casual gatherings
catchy hooks that linger

Maybe skip if you

prefer fast-paced listening experiences
seek deep experimental soundscapes

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — This album solidified Maroon 5's status in pop with major hits and commercial success.
Themes: modern romance complexities· digital age relationships· cultural diversity celebration
Moods: Introspective· Chill
Career context: Released on November 3, 2017, 'Red Pill Blues' is Maroon 5's sixth studio album, following the commercial success of 'V' from 2014. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their status as pop mainstays while experimenting with collaborations and diverse sounds, including features from artists like SZA and Future.
Stylistic neighbors: OneRepublic· Panic! at the Disco· Train