Thanks to steady touring and a debut album whose sales picked up at a steady clip after its release, Maroon 5 became one of the surprise break-out acts of the early 2000s. Expectations ran high for the band's sophomore release, and 2007's IT WON'T BE SOON BEFORE LONG delivers. Five years in the making, the album has the sound of a pop album that is well written and performed, painstakingly put together, and slickly and smartly produced. <p>Maroon 5 have come a long way from the grunge-rock flavor of their tenure as Kara's Flower's (the band's first incarnation). The group still rocks when they want to, but IT WON'T BE SOON finds M5 emphasizing smoother, melodic fare with an R&B twist. Traces of Michael Jackson, Hall & Oates, Prince, and other mainstream soul-pop icons can be heard in the mix, but Maroon 5 gives their sound a distinctive stamp, melding electronic influences, hip-hop, balladry, rock, and keen pop sensibilities. The overall vibe is stylish and sexy, and the top-shelf production glitters, but it's the songwriting that takes center stage (just check the album's first single "Makes Me Wonder").