It Won't Be Soon Before Long

Though it took them five years to do it, Maroon 5 more than fulfilled expectations with their sophomore album, 2007's <i>It Won’t Be Soon Before Long</i>. Frontman Adam Levine and his cohorts concentrated on getting the essentials right by delivering expertly crafted songs buffed to an ear-catching sheen by such production notables as Spike Stent, Mike Elizondo, and Eric Valentine. Tracks like “If I Never See Your Face Again,” "Little of Your Time,” and “Kiwi” combine insistent catchiness with a cocky attitude that retains a boyish charm. The band skew toward elegant R&B on “Nothing Lasts Forever,” fuse rock and funk on “Can’t Stop,” and offer bittersweet acoustic balladry with “Better That We Break.”