Album Review: Maroon 5 - 'Love Is Like'
Maroon 5’s Love Is Like is a sleek, hook-stacked return that captures the band at their most focused and adventurous in over a decade.
Maroon 5 has always been a band that thrives in the pop limelight, shape-shifting through eras of radio dominance while clinging to an instantly recognisable identity. With Love Is Like, their eighth studio album, the Los Angeles outfit delivers their tightest, most unapologetically pop-forward record in years, a concise, hook-laden statement that plays like both a victory lap and a bold reinvention. Clocking in at just under 30 minutes, the album wastes no time, distilling the group’s glossy energy into a brisk, intoxicating burst of modern pop.
From the jump, Love Is Like feels revitalised. The opener, ‘Hideaway’, channels vintage Maroon 5 with a shimmering guitar line that recalls Songs About Jane, but it’s wrapped in neon-slick production that situates it firmly in 2025. The band leans into crisp textures and rhythmic minimalism, letting Adam Levine’s falsetto glide over sharp grooves with an almost effortless grace. This sense of renewal permeates the entire record; it’s a band remembering what made them beloved while fearlessly playing with new colours.
The title track, ‘Love Is Like’, featuring Lil Wayne, is a masterclass in balancing pop maximalism with rap icon bravado. Levine’s chorus is pure earworm, soaring, romantic, and immediately memorable, while Wayne’s verse cuts through with playful swagger, grounding the track in grit and personality. The collaboration feels less like a tacked-on feature and more like a natural conversation between artists who understand how to dominate summer playlists.
One of the album’s standout moments arrives with ‘Priceless’, a collaboration with Lisa of BLACKPINK fame. The track pulses with an understated sensuality, Lisa’s verse delivered in a blend of Thai and English that complements Levine’s vocals with magnetic chemistry. It’s sleek, global, and indicative of Maroon 5’s instinct for tapping into international pop currents without losing their own identity.
Elsewhere, Love Is Like shows its willingness to be playful. ‘I Like It’, featuring Sexyy Red, is rowdy and mischievous, injecting the project with a carefree spirit that contrasts beautifully against more introspective cuts. Meanwhile, ‘Yes I Did’ and ‘Burn Burn Burn’ bring grit back into the fold, leaning into percussive punch and distorted synths that push the band’s pop rock DNA into thrilling, darker territory.
Despite the features, some of the most affecting moments come when the band stands alone. ‘Jealousy Problems’ is a late-album highlight, stripping things back to a pulsing bassline and candid lyricism that recalls the intimacy of Hands All Over. ‘My Love’, meanwhile, is tender and unguarded, a reminder that beneath the glossy production and high-profile collaborations, Maroon 5 are still master craftsmen of the pop ballad.
The closer, ‘California’, is a love letter to the band’s roots. With breezy guitar textures and sun-drenched harmonies, it’s a wistful yet celebratory ending, grounding the album in a sense of place and history. It feels like Maroon 5 is acknowledging the journey, from small LA clubs to global superstardom, and embracing it with gratitude.
At just under 28 minutes, Love Is Like is strikingly lean, but its brevity plays to its strength. There’s no filler, no wasted motion, just ten tracks that showcase Maroon 5’s ability to craft undeniable pop while still pushing themselves into new sonic territory. After over two decades in the game, the band sound hungry, energised, and deeply attuned to the moment.
Love Is Like is not just a reminder of Maroon 5’s staying power; it’s proof that they’re still evolving, still chasing the thrill of the perfect pop song. And here, they come remarkably close to catching it.
Words by Danielle Holian
