This week’s music playlist: Maroon 5, Lady Antebellum, Charli XCX

1. Maroon 5 – “Maps”: Adam Levine taps into his crisp tenor on Maroon 5’s newest hit. The drumset is as persistent as Levine’s requests. Levine still hasn’t lost it, but someone should still get him that map.

2. Lady Antebellum – “Bartender”: This trio uses more pop than their usual country sound but with good reason. When the everyday drags, best friends can lift the lift your spirits, those in the heart and in the glass.

3. Parker Millsap – “Palisade”: This bluesy singer/songwriter from small-town Oklahoma has a big-city sound. His voice carries a gravely, seen-the-world tone, pretty impressive for someone still in his 20s. Luckily for us, he will be back in his native midwest this Sunday at the Pumphouse.

4. Charli XCX – “Boom Clap”: Charli pulls off some onamatopia with a serious beat. This party-starter works perfectly as part of the “Fault in Our Stars” soundtrack. The beat goes on, indeed.

5. Meghan Trainor – “All About That Bass”: Meghan Trainor has no qualms with being honest. She just snaps her bubble gum and tells it like it is: real men want real women, and none of that fake nonsense. It’s not hard to love yourself, especially when Trainor can make the message this catchy.

This story was originally published September 22, 2014 at 12:35 PM with the headline "This week’s music playlist: Maroon 5, Lady Antebellum, Charli XCX."