Jonas Brothers
It's About Time


2.5
average

Review

by Pedro B. USER (365 Reviews)
April 7th, 2010 | 20 replies


Release Date: 2006 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Three perfectly sweet boys making perfectly sweet music – what’s so wrong with that?

The Jonas Brothers. Along with the likes of Hannah Montana, they are largely viewed these days as a sign of the apocalypse, as well as a clear reason why our youth is going to the dogs. They are also abhorred and reviled by pretty much anyone who consider themselves a music fan. But if you stop to think for a moment, you’re at a loss as to the reason for all this hatred. I mean, yeah, they’re almost too squeaky-clean to believe, and yeah, they’re a product of the Disney Channel, AKA Satan’s spawning ground, but guys, seriously? It’s not like they’re the second coming of Nickelback or anything. They’re just three (sort of) normal kids making perfectly sweet, bland and inoffensive pop-rock music. Besides, their syndicated show is eminently viewable, and looks positively highbrow next to stuff like That’s So Raven! and The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody. All in all, while they’re by no means good, there are far worse role models for little girls to follow (starting with Ms Montana herself) and far worse boy-types for them to crush on (Pattinson, anyone?)

Anyway, now that you have my clear-cut opinion on the trio of siblings, let’s move on to the music portion of this marketing equation. The Jonas legacy started back in 2006, with the release of the brothers’ first album, It’s About Time, on review here. At the time, the kids’ main distinctive factor was the Disney marketing push; aside from that, they were just another addition to a long line of pubescent pop groups, harking back to The Osmonds and Jackson 5 and having Hanson as their most immediate example. In fact, the Jonas Brothers can conceivably be viewed as a new Hanson, since both groups have more than their fair share of similarities. Both are trios composed of good-looking and musically inclined teenage brothers who play their own instruments and have a certain degree of involvement in writing their songs; in both groups, the drummer is the youngest brother; and even the adopted style is the same, with both outfits investing in radio-friendly, guitar-driven pop-rock with puppy-love lyrics and a sprinkling of teenage bounciness. The difference is that, in Jonas’ case, that style is crossed with a dose of pop-punk, so as to update this sound for the youth of the millenium.

Also like Hanson, listening to the Jonases can be a guilty pleasure. Of course you’re not supposed to like this type of music; it’s for kids and teenage girls. But try telling yourself that while you’re nodding along to Mandy or I Am What I Am. The fact is, the brothers and their assisting crew know how to craft a bouncy, breezy pop-rock album which may be inoffensive, forgettable and at times bland, but is thankfully never oturight horrible. In a normal band growth situation, these kids would still be playing at Homecoming and hosting free concerts out of their garage; but since they were picked up by Disney and unleashed into the world in their developing stages, one might as well recognize that there’s at least a modicum of worth to their output

Of course, not all is perfect on the Western front. The ballads included here are excessively sappy, and One Day At A Time, in particular, is awful, with its heavy-handed seriousness more befitting an adult artist like Bryan Adams – whose ballads it resembles – than the pre-teen with the squeaky voice who is actually singing it. In fact, this is a recurring problem throughout the album, as they seem to put Nick, 13 at the time, in charge of all the sentimental heartbreak ballads. Hearing him talk about “dying” for some girl creates a sheen of creepy innapropriateness that is hard to shake off. The more “romantic” portion of this album ends up suffering from this fact, becoming much less appealing than its upbeat counterpart.

Fortunately, there is also that side to the album. The band are at their best when they’re delivering catchy slabs of youthful energy like Mandy, I Am What I Am, Underdog or Year 3000. To be sure, these songs also have their problems, like the lyrics, the type of overemotional stuff that means the world to anyone when they’re 14, then gets scoffed at the minute they hit college; but these are forgivable in light of the brothers’ actual ages at the time. The best thing to do is to just kick back and enjoy the lively punk-pop riffing and occasional sparkplug solo. If you do that, you may even enjoy certain parts of this album.

Still, the fact remains – this album is aimed squarely at the under-18 crowd, and it’s them who’ll enjoy it the most. It’s About Time may sound simplistic or cheesy to an older listener, but to its target demographic, it’s damn near perfect. If I was 11, I know I’d be all over this sh*t, pretty–boy image or not; furthermore, I know that if my sister was still at the age when she might like the Jonas Brothers, I’d much prefer her to listen to them than to aural cancers like High School Musical or sluts like Ke$ha, Amy Winehouse and the like. Unlike those turds, the Jonases are nothing but three perfectly sweet boys making perfectly sweet music – what’s so wrong with that?

Recommended Tracks
Mandy
I Am What I Am
Underdog



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user ratings (133)
1.4
very poor

Comments:Add a Comment 
Asiatic667
April 7th 2010


4651 Comments


Great review. Can't say I'll be running out to get a jonas brothers album anytime soon, but you argue a good case.
And Hanson kick ass

gimo80
April 7th 2010


271 Comments


Good review. I agree with the points you made - their music isn't absolutely horrific, but in all honesty there's no artistic credibility, just pre-packaged, manufactured drivel that is probably controlled by the record label/Disney. Or Mickey Mouse...you've seen the South Park episode? Don't mess with him man!

NeutralThunder12
April 7th 2010


8742 Comments


good review, but don't be so nice, it literally is as bad as people say it is. 2.5 is way to high, I've listened to most of the songs, it lacks so so so much, a 1.5 on its best day.

ReturnToRock
April 7th 2010


4807 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Well, I am being nice. The Jonases don't deserve so much meanness directed at them. Now those Sprouse brats, that's a whole other story...

Asiatic667
April 7th 2010


4651 Comments



good review, but don't be so nice, it literally is as bad as people say it is. 2.5 is way to high, I've listened to most of the songs, it lacks so so so much, a 1.5 on its best day.


Sounds like you could write your own review about it

ThePalestMexican
April 7th 2010


2816 Comments


I love how much people defend pop music nowadays.

PearlDrummer20
April 7th 2010


1089 Comments


^ that's why I like most people on sputnik. Mostly Indie/metal/punk fans.

PearlDrummer20
April 7th 2010


1089 Comments


I hated Hanson, because when they were big when I was into Beck Hansen (still am) and whenever I was
telling people about him they thought I was talking about one of the Hanson Brothers.

mmfarva
April 7th 2010


1352 Comments


"YOU ARE ALL ANTS AND I AM YOUR DESTROYER."

hoipolloi
April 7th 2010


152 Comments

Album Rating: 1.0

i actually like this review and you do make a strong case for these guys but out of principle i have to give this album a 1. They may not sound horrible but they are still a product of "Satan's spawning ground" and for that, i can give them no credibility. i do apologize lol

tiesthatbind
April 7th 2010


7441 Comments


I actually thought you were gonna rip into them more. Good review.

Valle
April 7th 2010


49 Comments


I remember when they were releasing this album. Why? Because they actually played at my middle school. Oh lord, I remember thinking "these guys are never going to make it."

robertsona
Staff Reviewer
April 7th 2010


28200 Comments


"i actually like this review and you do make a strong case for these guys but out of principle i have to give this album a 1. They may not sound horrible but they are still a product of "Satan's spawning ground" and for that, i can give them no credibility. i do apologize lol"

lol

CelestialDust
April 8th 2010


3170 Comments


pedro why are you recommending people jonas brothers songs that's ridiculous

Mars Blackmon
April 8th 2010


351 Comments


Year 3000 is an amazing song. You guys are just gay

ReturnToRock
April 8th 2010


4807 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

well hello ghost negger!

JizzInMyPants
June 3rd 2010


2944 Comments


heh mandy is a cute tune

SandwichBubble
April 2nd 2017


13851 Comments

Album Rating: 1.0

*Album Rating: 5.0



Was expecting a sprawling concept album about time. Needless to say I was very confused.

butt.
November 12th 2019


11140 Comments


anyone dare me to check this

gryndstone
January 22nd 2022


2839 Comments


Mandy goes hard



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