Summer and sex: Jonas Brothers romp with a carefree, '70s vibe on 'The Album'
By calling their sixth release "The Album," the Jonas Brothers make a subtle point.
It’s a blank slate.
Maybe they’ll stick to the R&B-dusted pop of "Sucker" and "Cool" from 2019’s comeback "Happiness Begins." Maybe they’ll glance back at the power pop that drove "Burnin' Up" and "Lovebug" more 15 years ago.
Or maybe they’ll funnel their maturity – all of the brothers Jonas are now in their third decade of life – into a sound that is both Laurel Canyon/'70s radio kind of nostalgic and freshly zippy.
Indeed, the dozen songs on "The Album" punch with economic melodies and impressive tautness.
The backdrop of summer laces the tracks together, while many of them contain a variation on sex – either having it ("Summer Baby"), hoping to have it ("Vacation Eyes") or thinking about having it ("Summer in the Hamptons").
But Joe, Kevin and Nick aren't just randy.
"Little Bird" is a sensitive rumination on fatherhood, and album closer "Walls," an Oasis-inspired mishmash of layered background vocals, crashing cymbals and Joe’s guttural singing, is a pained plea for eternal togetherness.
The opening track, "Miracle," includes Joe yelling "New Jersey!" at the start, a bit of a tone-setter and reminder of the band’s roots.
Here are some of the highlights of where life has taken the Jonas Brothers, and where they take fans on "The Album."
'Montana Sky'
With its glossy vibe and heavenly collection of voices on the chorus, this could have been the theme song to a thoughtful ‘70s sitcom. Georgia sunsets, New York nights and yes, Montana skies, provide the vivid imagery as the guys determine that they’ve “seen the world,” and yet, “you’re still the where I want to go.”
'Wings'
Take some pop-funk bass, pristine singing and vocal effects that would have sounded comfortable on a Styx album in 1977 and revel in the song that also pays homage to the instrumentation of Earth, Wind & Fire. The pop mélange builds to a lope then decelerates for the chorus, all while retaining enormous swagger.
'Americana'
Perky acoustic guitar and a shuffle beat drive the song, which name-checks cultural touchstones including Jay-Z, the Jersey Shore, Springsteen and "Country Grammar" (hi, Nelly!). It’s an appealing swirl of musical styles – pop, disco, a whiff of hip-hop – packed into a brisk two minutes.
'Waffle House'
The guys have said the song was inspired by "Uptown Funk," but '70s singer Jay Ferguson would like a word considering the melodic shades of his "Thunder Island" in the chorus. Regardless, the message that Waffle House is the JoBros' haven for "deep conversations" and working things out is certainly original. And it's hard not to be swayed by the busy synths that rain in the background of a good old-fashioned "na na na" fade out.
'Vacation Eyes'
A sumptuous piano riff opens the languid song, which cruises on its bass line. The brothers' Bee Gees-esque harmonizing that pops in and out and the swirling strings in the background are appealing enough. But then a harmonica break shows up like a sax solo in a Lady Gaga song: unexpected, but somehow fitting perfectly.
'Little Bird'
All of the guys are married with children, making this ode to parenthood not just sweet but organic. For now, it’s "small hands wrapped around my finger," but the dads are levelheaded about having to let go in the future ("So please just keep me in your heart/When you fly into somebody else’s arms, little bird"). The acoustic guitar ballad doesn’t fit the vibe of the rest of the album, but the the guys' poignant vocals spotlight a tender moment of maturity amid the carefree fun.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jonas Brothers The Album full of '70s influenced pop
