The Fourth World is the debut studio album and major label debut by the band Kara's Flowers, who later became Maroon 5. The album contains 11 tracks, plus one bonus track on the Japanese edition.
| The Fourth World | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 19, 1997 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 39:30 | |||
| Label | Reprise | |||
| Producer | Rob Cavallo | |||
| Kara's Flowers chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
 Japanese cover | ||||
| Singles from The Fourth World | ||||
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Following their 1995 self-released demo album We Like Digging?, Kara's Flowers signed with Reprise Records, teamed up with the people who worked with Green Day and released The Fourth World on August 19, 1997.[4] The band had little success with the album and parted with the record label two years later. They continued to explore different musical styles until finally coming together again with James Valentine under the name Maroon 5.[5]
Soap Disco
editThe lead single, "Soap Disco", was released on July 22, 1997. A music video was produced for the single, depicting the group walking through a park and performing in an orange and green room.[6] A storm appears at the end of the video. The video was directed by Mark Kohr (who has directed music videos for Alanis Morissette and Green Day). The video made airplay on 120 Minutes. The song was included in Volume 50 of CMJ New Music Monthly.[3][7]
The band made an appearance from the television series Beverly Hills, 90210, where they performed the song in the episode "Forgive and Forget".[8]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+[10] |
| Pitchfork | 3.5/10[11] |
Giving the album a B+, Tom Lanham with Entertainment Weekly said the "optimistic, lyrically awkward kids spend 10 more happy tracks turning the tables on lethargic slacker cynicism, with Green Day producer Rob Cavallo bridling all that youthful zeal."[10]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Adam Levine, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Soap Disco" | 2:40 | |
| 2. | "Future Kid" | 4:44 | |
| 3. | "Myself" | 3:05 | |
| 4. | "Oliver" | 2:38 | |
| 5. | "The Never Saga" | Levine, Jesse Carmichael | 3:58 |
| 6. | "Loving the Small Time" | 3:32 | |
| 7. | "To Her, with Love" | 2:52 | |
| 8. | "Sleepy Windbreaker" | Levine, Carmichael | 3:05 |
| 9. | "Pantry Queen" | Levine, Carmichael | 3:46 |
| 10. | "My Ocean Blue" | 3:11 | |
| 11. | "Captain Splendid" | Levine, Carmichael | 5:59 |
| Total length: | 39:30 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Buddy "Two Shoes" Wilson" | Levine, Carmichael | 2:29 |
| Total length: | 41:59 | ||
Personnel
editKara's Flowers
- Adam Levine – lead vocals, lead guitar, additional keyboards
- Jesse Carmichael – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Michael Madden – bass guitar
- Ryan Dusick – drums, percussion
Additional musicians
- Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. – keyboards
- David Campbell – string arrangement
Production
- Rob Cavallo – producer
- Jerry Finn – mixing, engineer
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
- Ken Allardyce – engineer
- Steve Holroyd – engineer
- Mark Agostino – engineer, second engineer
- Billy Bowers – engineer, second engineer
- Tony Flores – engineer, second engineer
- Barry Goldberg – engineer, second engineer
- Brandon Harris – engineer, second engineer
- Billy Kinsley – engineer, second engineer
- John Srebalus – engineer, second engineer
- Adam Day – guitar technician
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Edition | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | August 19, 1997 | Standard | CD | Reprise | [12] |
| Japan | October 5, 1997 | WEA Japan | [13] | ||
| United States | May 25, 2004 | Reissue | Rhino Entertainment | [14] | |
| Various | January 24, 2020 | Limited | Vinyl | Music on Vinyl | [15] |
References
edit- ^ Buss, Bryan. "Kara's Flowers - "The Fourth World"". AllMusic. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ Cafarelli, Carl (1998). "Kara's Flowers". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. p. 623.
- ^ a b S. R. Kheas (5 February 2019). "Stand Out Albums: Kara's Flowers 'The Fourth World' (1997)". Late To The Game. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ VH1.com: Kara's Flowers Artist Page Accessed August 18, 2007.
- ^ allmusic: Kara's Flowers Accessed August 18, 2007.
- ^ "Gone Digital: Army of Lovers, Matt Bianco, Steve Forbert, Kara's Flowers, and The Monochrome Set". Rhino Entertainment. August 18, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ "CMJ New Music Monthly Volume 50 October 1997". Discogs. October 1997. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ "Adam Levine's First Band, Kara's Flowers, Appeared on What '90s Drama?". Wetprint. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ^ AllMusic review
- ^ a b Lanham, Tom (August 15, 1997). "The Fourth World". Entertainment Weekly. No. 392. p. 74. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
- ^ Moll, Susan (January 2005). "Kara's Flowers: The Fourth World". Pitchfork. Archived from a dead link on November 2, 2005. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ "Kara's Flowers – The Fourth World". Rate Your Music. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ "Kara's Flowers – The Fourth World" カーラズ・フラワーズ (フォース・ワールド). Discogs. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ "Kara's Flowers : Fourth World CD (2004) - Rhino". Oldies.com. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ "Kara's Flowers – The Fourth World (Limited Edition)". Music on Vinyl. Retrieved August 8, 2023.