Is it any secret that I kind of have a hate-on for Adam Levine? I think he’s a d-bag. I think he’s smug and dirty and gross and probably a real piece of work in his private life. So… it’s kind of surprising that I don’t like him more, right? I always go for the bastards. Those of you who watch The Voice tend to say that he’s pretty decent on there, and Levine’s career continues to sky-rocket, because A) He’s a judge on a hit show, B) He and Maroon 5 are still making hit records, C) He’s like a Leonardo DiCaprio-esque dater – he just picks out a new model from the Victoria’s Secret catalog, and D) Everyone wants to talk to him and validate his existence, and Adam LOVES attention. Thus, he appears on the cover of Inked Magazine, showing off his tattoos and talking about how much he hates music critics:

“Music critics are all f**king idiots,” Adam Levine proclaims at the very beginning of his interview, taking a stand against some of the negative reviews of his band’s latest album, “Overexposed.”

“There’s obviously a certain balance between pursuing an audience and pursuing what you love to do, but I love what we do,” he adds. “I would never put out a record I didn’t want to listen to.”

And when it comes to criticism that the band has sold out, Levine admits he loves having major, mainstream attention.

“I get off on that ability to connect with a large group of people. That’s what I aim for when we’re making music,” he says. “I’d much rather be able to go to Indonesia and sing a song that we wrote and have everyone sing the words than be hiding and playing in a little club.”

“If I wanted to make a record that was super self-indulgent and all about the art I would, but I’d rather take those skills and apply them to something else, which is gathering a huge audience to appreciate the music,” he adds.

Making music isn’t his only love though, as Adam opens up to the mag about two other passions: Tattoos and acting. Levine shows off his many tatts in the issue, revealing that he had his first one done — of a dove — when he was 21. Since, he’s added a tiger, and a “Mom” heart.

And his latest: A string of beads around his neck. “I was in Japan and I got this necklace. I’m not sure why I got it—I think I was bored. But I like it.”

We’ll see more of Levine this fall when he makes his acting debut on Season Two of “American Horror Story,” a career move he’s that makes him a little nervous.

“It’s challenging,” he says. “The first thing I did when I got the job was ask friends who are actors what the f**k I was supposed to do.”

[From Too Fab]

He doesn’t come across too badly here. I guess I should bash him for bitching about music critics (especially since Maroon 5’s records are almost always critically panned), but I don’t care for most music criticism either. Music criticism, like film criticism, can be an art. But music criticism in particular tends to veer into what I like to think of as “insiderism”. As in, only “insiders” like a particular band, and that band is the ONLY band making good music and everyone else can suck it, and of course the music critic likes that band. I’m just saying… as far as Maroon 5 goes, I can definitely think of more offensive pop/rock acts. Is Levine a douche? Of course. But I still have “One More Night” stuck in my head (although the video is super-douchey, and seeing Minka Kelly in there makes me sad):

Photos courtesy of Inked via Idolator.