The Fourth World (album)

The Fourth World is the second studio album and major label debut by the Los Angeles band Kara's Flowers, who later achieved greater success under the name Maroon 5. The album contains 11 tracks, plus one bonus track on the Japanese edition.

The Fourth World
Studio album by
Kara's Flowers
ReleasedAugust 19, 1997 (1997-08-19)
Genre
Length39:30
LabelReprise
ProducerRob Cavallo
Kara's Flowers chronology
We Like Digging?
(1995)		 The Fourth World
(1997)		 Stagg Street Recordings
(1999)
Alternative cover
Japanese cover
Singles from The Fourth World
  1. "Soap Disco"
    Released: July 22, 1997
  2. "Myself"
    Released: 1997[3]

The band, which had previously self-released an album called We Like Digging? (1995), signed with Reprise Records and released The Fourth World album on August 19, 1997.[4] However, the band had little success with the album and parted with the record label two years later.

The band continued to explore different musical styles until finally coming together again with James Valentine under the name Maroon 5.[5]

On January 24, 2020, a limited edition of the album was released, with a marbled blue vinyl.[6]

Singles

The 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. 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 an airplay on 120 Minutes.

The band made an appearance from the television series Beverly Hills, 90210, where they performed the song in the episode "Forgive and Forget".[7]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[9]
Pitchfork3.5/10[10]
Sputnik Music[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."[9]

Track listing
Standard edition

All tracks are written by Adam Levine, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(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 Carmichael3:58
6."Loving the Small Time" 3:32
7."To Her, with Love" 2:52
8."Sleepy Windbreaker"Levine, Carmichael3:05
9."Pantry Queen"Levine, Carmichael3:46
10."My Ocean Blue" 3:11
11."Captain Splendid"Levine, Carmichael5:59
Total length:39:30
Japanese edition bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Buddy "Two Shoes" Wilson"Levine, Carmichael2:29

Personnel

Kara's Flowers

Additional musician

Production

References
  1. Buss, Bryan. "Kara's Flowers - "The Fourth World"". AllMusic. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  2. Cafarelli, Carl (1998). "Kara's Flowers". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. p. 623.
  3. "Kara's Flowers – Myself". Discogs. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  4. VH1.com: Kara's Flowers Artist Page Accessed August 18, 2007.
  5. allmusic: Kara's Flowers Accessed August 18, 2007.
  6. "Kara's Flowers – The Fourth World: Limited Edition". The Sound of Vinyl. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  7. "Adam Levine's First Band, Kara's Flowers, Appeared on What '90s Drama?". Wetprint. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  8. AllMusic review
  9. Lanham, Tom (August 15, 1997). "The Fourth World". Entertainment Weekly. No. 392. p. 74. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  10. Moll, Susan (January 2005). "Kara's Flowers: The Fourth World". Pitchfork. Archived from a dead link on November 2, 2005. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  11. "Kara's Flowers The Fourth World". Sputnik Music. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.