It Won't Be Soon Before Long is Maroon 5's second studio album, released on May 22, 2007. It came almost a full five years after their debut, Songs About Jane. The name was inspired by a phrase the band adopted to keep themselves motivated while on their tour. The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling 429,484 copies in its first week.^[1]

Background

It Won't Be Soon Before Long has twelve songs, plus 7 bonus tracks. The band stated in interviews that the album has a different feel to it than the Songs About Jane. The songs will not all be based on one specific relationship, as in Jane; and will also have a different sound than their first album, being more electric and drawing inspiration from such artists as the Talking Heads, Michael Jackson and Prince. A review written prior to to the album's release described the songs as having a very retro feel.^[2] Adam Levine explained that this record is a little more self-confident and powerful lyrically: "...you can dance to it, there's a little more attitude."^[3] The 12 official album tracks, as well as the 7 bonus tracks, have all been leaked onto the Internet.

According to Levine working with other artists had influences on the album: "Kanye West and Alicia Keys are amazing talents, in totally different ways. Just seeing such amazing people working in the studio. I definitely took things away from them."^[4]

The lead single from the album is "Makes Me Wonder", which has recently been nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Video.

The chorus of "Nothing Lasts Forever" is the same used in the Kanye West single "Heard 'Em Say", which features Adam Levine with exclusion to the line, "...the distance between us makes it so hard to stay..."^[5]

Critical reception

The album was well received by critics. All Music Guide rated the album 4.5 stars out of 5, commenting that the production of the album "is so immaculate that it glistens".[3] Billboard rated it 4.5 stars.

Promotion

• Maroon 5 performed a small six-date club tour in June. They hit small venues in Boston (May 30), San Francisco (June 1), Los Angeles (June 2), Minneapolis (June 7), Miami (June 9) and New York (June 11).^[6]

• Maroon 5 introduced their first single "Makes Me Wonder" at the 2007 Kids Choice Awards where they performed it live, although edited for the younger audiences.

• May 16 Performed on American Idol Semi-finals Result Show.

• May 18 Maroon 5 performed at the Nassau Coliseum.

• May 19 Maroon 5 performed on Saturday Night Live. They performed "Makes Me Wonder" and "Won't Go Home Without You".

• May 21 Maroon 5 performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. They performed their lead single "Makes Me Wonder" and "This Love".

• May 23 Maroon 5 performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show with Ellen. They performed their lead single "Makes Me Wonder". Then, Ellen interviewed Adam Levine.

• May 29 Maroon 5 performed on TRL. They performed "Makes Me Wonder" and "Won't Go Home Without You".

• June 12 Maroon 5 performed on Late Night with David Letterman. They performed "Makes Me Wonder". They were the musical guests, which means no interview.

• June 22 Maroon 5 performed the songs "Wake Up Call", "Makes Me Wonder" and "This Love" at T4 On The Beach in Weston Super Mare, England, to promote their album in the UK.

• July 1 Maroon 5 performed on the Australian show Rove Live, as a Musical Guest. They performed "Makes Me Wonder". No interview with the Band was made.

Track listing

1. "If I Never See Your Face Again" (Adam Levine/James Valentine) (Produced by Mike Elizondo, Mark "Spike" Stent and Maroon 5, additional production by Mark Endert) – 3:21
2. "Makes Me Wonder" (Adam Levine/Jesse Carmichael/Mickey Madden) (Produced by Mark Endert and Maroon 5) – 3:31
3. "Little of Your Time" (Adam Levine) (Produced by Eric Valentine and Maroon 5) – 2:17
4. "Wake Up Call" (Adam Levine/James Valentine) (Produced by Mike Elizondo, Mark "Spike" Stent, Sam Farrar and Maroon 5, co-produced by Mark Endert) – 3:21
5. "Won't Go Home Without You" (Adam Levine) (Produced by Mike Elizondo, Mark "Spike" Stent and Maroon 5) – 3:51
6. "Nothing Lasts Forever" (Adam Levine) (Produced by Mike Elizondo, Mark "Spike" Stent and Maroon 5) – 3:07
7. "Can't Stop" (Adam Levine/James Valentine) (Produced by Eric Valentine and Maroon 5) – 2:32
8. "Goodnight Goodnight" (Adam Levine) (Produced by Mike Elizondo, Mark "Spike" Stent and Maroon 5) – 4:03
9. "Not Falling Apart" (Adam Levine) (Produced by Mike Elizondo, Mark "Spike" Stent and Maroon 5) – 4:03
10. "Kiwi" (Adam Levine/Jesse Carmichael) (Produced by Mike Elizondo, Mark "Spike" Stent and Maroon 5) – 3:34
11. "Better That We Break" (Adam Levine) (Produced by Mike Elizondo, Mark "Spike" Stent and Maroon 5) – 3:06
12. "Back at Your Door" (Adam Levine/Jesse Carmichael) (Produced by Mark Endert and Maroon 5) – 3:47

Bonus tracks

UK, Australian and New Zealand release

1. "Until You're Over Me" – 3:15
2. "Infatuation" – 4:25

Japan release

1. "Until You're Over Me" – 3:15
2. "Infatuation" – 4:25
3. "Losing My Mind" – 3:21

South East Asia, Mexico and EU release

1. "Infatuation" – 4:25

iTunes release

1. "Figure It Out" – 2:59
2. "Infatuation" – 4:25 (Pre-Order Only)

Maroon 5 Soundcheck (Wal-Mart Exclusive)

1. "Makes Me Wonder" [Original Performance Series] - 3:30
2. "This Love" [Original Performance Series] - 3:31
3. "Won't Go Home Without You" [Original Performance Series] - 4:06
4. "Sunday Morning" [Original Performance Series] - 4:18
5. "She Will Be Loved" [Original Performance Series] - 4:01

USA Best Buy release

1. "Losing My Mind" – 3:21
2. "Miss You Love You" – 3:11

USA Circuit City release

1. "Story" – 4:33

B-sides

"Makes Me Wonder"

• "The Way I Was" – 4:20
• "Story" – 4:33

"Wake Up Call"

• "Story" – 4:33
• "Losing My Mind" – 3:21

"Won't Go Home Without You"

• "Miss You Love You" – 3:11

Singles

The song "Goodnight, Goodnight" has gotten airplay in Canada already, causing confusion against "If I Never See Your Face Again" (the next planned single).

Charts and sales

Release history

References