Quick hits

'it won't be soon before long'

CD BY: Maroon 5

RELEASED: May 22

MY THOUGHTS: This sophomore release is Maroon 5's much-anticipated comeback after its first hit Songs About Jane. Because that was just so good, it made this follow-up album, well, hard to follow up. It just didn't hit me the same way Songs About Jane did.

The sound is definitely edgy, in old Maroon 5 fashion, but the album, in general, sounds as though the band's trying too hard to fit in with the times in a Justin Timberlake-kind of way.

Believe me, it pains me to put the two in the same sentence.

GRADE: B-

- Maryclaire Regan

'from nothin' to somethin'

CD BY: Fabolous

RELEASED: June 12

MY THOUGHTS: Fabolous' fourth effort has been pushed back so many times that it is great to see it has finally made it into the stores. He discusses jewelry and cars and how the perfect woman treats him. With many guest appearances - the first single, Diamonds, included Young Jeezy, and the current single Make Me Better (which is my favorite track), features Ne-Yo - this album is another great effort by F-A-B-O-L-O-U-S.

GRADE: A

- Brianna Mack