They’re back! Not that Nick, Kevin and Joe ever really went away. But now, one year, one Disney Channel original movie, one “Single Ladies” video (we thought Joe’s moves were hilarious!), and a whole lotta other stuff later, the Jonas Brothers are back in full force with their latest album.
Credit needs to be given to the boys for expanding their sound, as it would have been very easy to sit back and release A Little Bit Longer Volume Two. While the songs on Lines can be clearly identified as J Bros, they reach farther into the realm of classic rock music than ever before, calling out to some of the band’s idols in the process.
Nick shines as the band’s driving creative power, penning tracks like the disc’s opener “World War III” and “Black Keys” by himself. In “Black Keys,” Nick takes a simple melodic concept, like the black keys on a piano to write a song, and transforms the notes into a skillfully written ballad. But, most of the album’s best songs are the result of the writing talents of all three brothers.
Our fave tracks are “Fly With Me” with classic string arrangements, “Hey Baby” and its groovy bass line, and “Before the Storm” (which the boys take a cue from guest vocalist Miley Cyrus’ country roots). “Don’t Charge Me For the Crime,” a story within a song about crime and punishment in society, is an interesting dip into hip-hop with guest vocals by Common.
We also love the first single, “Paranoid,” but we’re not sure it has the same punch as “Burnin’ Up” or “S.O.S.” We also think that it’s awesome that the Bros are shaking things up and not releasing the same single over and over again. Paranoid is a sample of the album’s solidarity as a whole. And, of course, it’s still SO catchy.
Even as the boys take ambitious steps, both lyrically and musically, some familiar notes are still hit on the disc. Lyrics are still an insightful glimpse into the Jo Bros’ ever-evolving lives in the spotlight. On “Much Better,” Joe sings a not so subtle lyric about an ex-girlfriend: “I get a rep for breakin’ hearts/ Now I’m done with superstars/ And all the tears on her guitar/ I’m not bitter.” We wonder what Taylor thinks of the song!
The Jonas Brothers are out on tour this summer with Jordin Sparks and Honor Society. What do YOU think of the new album? Are you catching the Bros on tour in your city? Blog about it, babes.
--Haley Blum