MIDDLETOWN - With reggae having a bit of a ‘hot’ summer, the timing of Maroon 5’s New LP, V, was prime.

       Singer Adam Levine’s weekly appearances into millions of living rooms as a judge on â€�"The Voice” has undoubtedly helped keep his band in the spotlight in between LP’s. Continuing down the path that the band’s last LP, 2012’s Overexposed, opened, Maroon 5 stuck to the validated formula of collaborating with outside writers like One Republic’s Ryan Tedder, Max Martin and Shellback.

       V’s lead off single â€�"Maps” works the ropes that have kept Maroon 5 on the radio for years and shows off Levine’s falsetto without showing off. â€�"It Was Always You” strobes with synthesizers, giving it a bit of an 80’s feel. â€�"Leaving California” literally has fun written all over it, since it was co-written by Fun.’s Nate Ruess.

       Although â€�"Animals” Has been slated as the band’s second release from V it is one of the LP’s weakest rides. Lines like â€�"Baby I’m preying on you tonight / Hunt you down eat you alive” give it a creeper feel.

       Maroon 5 tags a more inventive pace on â€�"Sugar” and â€�"Feelings.” These two cuts hit hard on the 80’s funky evocative style. It’s no secret that Levine adores Legend Stevie Wonder and he comes very close to mimicking his idol on these two.

       â€�"In Your Pocket” has Levine commanding a young maiden to hand over her iPhone to him. Sealing the LP is the duet â€�"My Heart Is Open,” with pop princess Gwen Stefani and written by Sia Furler, who has established herself as the go-to girl for fretting lyrics and drama ballads.

       V will not produce the catchy singles that Overexposed produced but the album does provide some pop offerings and danceable anthems.

      

       Track List:

       Maps

       Animals

       It Was Always You

       Unkiss Me

       Sugar

       Leaving California

       In Your Pocket

       New Love

       Coming Back For You

       Feelings

       My Heart Is Open (feat. Gwen Stefani)

      

       UPCOMING EVENTS

      

       Mohegan Sun Arena

       Oct. 10 brings country legend and one of the most successful female recording artists in history to the Sun: Reba McEntire. Reba has sold over 56 million albums worldwide and is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. She has won 15 American Music Awards, 13 ACM Awards, nine People’s Choice Awards, seven CMA Awards, two Grammy Awards and is one of only four entertainers in history to receive the National Artistic Achievement Award from the U.S. Congress. Reba’s reign of #1 hits spans four decades and Billboard, Country Aircheck and Mediabase recognized her as the biggest female hitmaker in country music history.

      

       Oct. 26 has rockers Mötley Crüe bringing their final tour to the Sun with over 80 million albums sold. Mötley Crüe has sold out countless tours across the globe. Mötley Crüe has proven they know how to make a lasting impression and this tour will be no different. Fans can expect to hear the catalogue of their chart-topping hits and look forward to mind-blowing, unparalleled live production.

      

       Foxwoods

       Oct. 10 has comedy legend Whoopi Goldberg at the Fox. Goldberg is one of a very elite group of artists who have won the Grammy, the Academy Award, the Golden Globe, the Emmy and the Tony. Whoopi has placed prints of her hands, feet and braids in the forecourt of the famed Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in front of the Kodak Theatre.