It seems that sooner or later top 40 pop radio will take notice of the artists graduating from Radio Disney territory and correct the ignorance of such major pop album artists as Hilary Duff, Miley Cyrus, Aly & AJ, and, now, the Jonas Brothers. Presumably the lack of radio airplay is related to a perception that adult listeners don't want to hear such obviously teen-oriented material. The reality of the situation is that groups like the Jonas Brothers play music based on the pop tunes today's adults grew up on.
Energy With a Capital "E"
New Jersey's family group the Jonas Brothers are nothing if not energetic in their approach. Their second album kicks off with the uptempo, slightly electronic sound of their current hit single "S.O.S." and refuses to let up. Even when the boys launch into a big ballad like "When You Look Me in the Eyes," their drive is so powerful it practically bursts from the huge, pleading sound they generate.
Room for Maturity
The same energy that animates the pop hooks of the Jonas Brothers can also get a bit wearing on the listener working their way through 14 songs. Lyrically, the brothers are on comfortable ground addressing everyday concerns like relationships with girls. However, when they stretch toward big "M" meaning, a confusing mishmash like "Hollywood" results. Maturity and experience with songwriting is likely to lend the songs even more powerful resonance with fans.
Top Tracks on the Jonas Brothers
- S.O.S.
- Hold On
- That's Just the Way We Roll
- When You Look Me In the Eyes
- Kids of the Future
The Evergreen Appeal of a Boy Band
Just when the Backstreet Boys seem to be getting a bit long in the tooth and the likelihood of an *NSYNC reunion grows ever more dim, new young acts like the Jonas Brothers rise up to breathe new life into the ongoing parade of boy bands. The brothers are most frequently compared to another brother group, the Hansons, but their sound has more in common with the BritPop boy band McFly. Those boys, now in their early 20's, recently celebrated their 7th #1 pop single in the UK. That's certainly a mark worth shooting for by the Jonas Brothers.
