Joe Jonas' New Single "See No More" Is Really Old (By Pop Music Standards)

With Kevin married off and Nick making music with his own band, you didn't expect Joe to be sitting around twiddling his fingers, did you?

Nope, the middle Jonas Brother has been doing his own growing-up process, by recording his own solo album.

Today, alongside Coldplay and Paramore, Joe released "See No More" the first single from his debut album. Surprisingly, Joe co-wrote the song with Chris Brown; it's a pretty odd collaboration, huh?

After listening to the song a few times, it sounds like a pretty dated one, too (and not in the cool retro way). "See No More" is basically the result of throwing the Backstreet Boys' "Incomplete" and Jesse McCartney's "Leavin'" in a blender and slapping some new lyrics on the cup. Even if there had been anything particularly special about the lyrics (sorry Chris, it's pretty generic), the song has been done before.

Joe's singing doesn't help elevate the song. While his voice has improved since the irritating squealing of the Jonas Brothers days (which was only two years ago), he still has a limited range that is stretched a bit too thin in some parts of the song. To be honest, Joe sounded a lot more believable singing the pop/rock-lite songs with his brothers than he does here.

Joe's venture into solo-land is as necessary as it was expected, but I think he should re-consider the genre path he's chosen. While I appreciate him accepting his role as a pop star instead of a serious rock artist (like Nick), taking the R&B/pop route isn't working that well for him. His fans will be satisfied (they would be satisfied if he sang the phone book, though), but "See No More" is a long way from establishing him as a substantial pop act.

Check the song out below and let me know your thoughts in the comments section:
 SeeNoMore(Radio) by TheProphetBlog

New Music Alert: "Who I Am" by Nick Jonas and the Administration

It was only a matter of time.

At last night's Grammy nomination concert, Nick Jonas, a third of Disney teen sensation Jonas Brothers, premiered the new single from his side project, titled Nick Jonas and the Administration. Today, "Who I Am" was released to iTunes, and as 2:13pm, sits at #8 on the chart. You can say that it is proof that the Jonas brand is still a bankable one, even after the disastrous flop that was their latest album Lines, Vines, and Trying Times.

But is the song any good?

A pretty standard pop-rock song, "Who I Am" is very John Mayer-esque, right down to the song's message. It happens to be one of Jonas' most relatable; he simply wants to be loved for he is as a person, not anything else. With just the music and lyrics considered, it's a surprisingly solid effort with some nice sentiments.

Then, we hit the roadblock, which is Nick Jonas' voice.

As I have written in previous posts reviewing his music, Nick's voice is a serious problem that, I believe, is stopping him from reaching the levels of fame that his predecessor Justin Timberlake did when he first broke out. He just doesn't have the range for the songs that he writes. His upper register, which he regrettably uses throughout most of the song, is irritating to listen to, even if he is singing earnestly. When he aims to growl, he almost squeals his desperation for love, which is quite embarrassing, especially for an 17 year-old.

With all of that said, "Who I Am" will most certainly regain the fans he lost with his last album. It it mature, while being appropriate for his age. His voice probably won't add any converts, but let's be honest here: his fans weren't that concerned with that anyway, were they?

Rating: 6 out of 10

So, Does “Paranoid” Signal The End of the Jonas Brothers?

As I wrote earlier, teen pop trio Jonas Brothers are releasing a new album less than a year after their last, titled Lines, Vines, and Trying Times. The first single is called “Paranoid", and it was released last week to surprisingly little fanfare. While it did peak at #2 on the iTunes chart, it quickly, very quickly, fell down the chart. This past Thursday, it was revealed that the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #37, quite embarrassing considering the #5 entry of their single “Burnin’ Up” just 13 months ago.

So, is “Paranoid” so bad that even their loyal fans have abandoned the brotherly trio?

Actually, no.

While the vocal abilities of Nick and Joe Jonas cannot be helped (it sounds like Nick’s voice finally broke), “Paranoid” as a song is a considerable improvement over their past material. Last year, lyrics from the Jonas Brothers about taking pills, background checks, and mental illness seemed absolutely impossible to conceive. Yet, here they are, singing about the stages of paranoia, which presumably comes with being a pop star. “Paranoid” serves as their most adult offering yet, suggesting the group is finally evolving from annoying tween heartthrobs into serious adult pop stars. Of course, the irony is that just as they are tossing away the vestiges of their musical youth, they’ve wrapped themselves in an ill-advised adventure for the Disney Channel.

Maybe that is the problem, and why it appears that “Paranoid” has flopped with their fans. The boys are in a time warp, of sorts. They are stuck in the world of Disney, with Hannah Montana and their own ridiculous television show, while they are striving to succeed in the adult of pop music, with their influences Kings of Leon and the Zutons. Their choice not to cut one loose has left fans confused as to their direction, which is alienating them. Similarly, the adult world cannot take them seriously if they continue hanging on to the laughable world of Mickey Mouse.

“Paranoid” is not a sign of Jonas Armageddon. Instead, it is a warning that the Jonas Brothers have to choose which world they want to occupy before they are kicked out of both.

Rating: 6 out of 10

New Music Alert: Releases From Daughtry, Jordin Sparks, Jonas Brothers, Kanye, and Beyonce

It’s looking to be an interesting month for pop music.

Kelly Clarkson won’t be the only Idol alum to fill the radio waves this summer. Two of the most popular contestants are releasing new singles ahead of their summer album releases: Daughtry and Jordin Sparks.

Daughtry, the band fronted by season 4 frontrunner Chris Daughtry, will premiere their single “No Surprise” on this week’s American Idol results show. Their follow-up to their quadruple-platinum debut album is due in June. The week after, season 6 winner Jordin Sparks will debut her new, Ryan Tedder-penned single “Battlefield”, with a radio adds date of May 25th.

Miley Cyrus may seem to be the leader of the teen pop world with her #4 smash “The Climb”, but she may want to hold off on the crowning. Also coming to radio on May 25th is “Paranoid”, the latest single from Jonas Brothers. “Paranoid” is the lead single from their newest album Lines, Vines, and Trying Times, which will be released in June.

Another “Paranoid” single comes from Kanye West, who is reportedly releasing the remix he made with pop princess Rihanna. A video has also been filmed with a release in the future.

Beyonce is preparing another double single release. Like “Single Ladies”/”If I Were a Boy” and “Diva”/”Halo” before, the diva has paired the ballad “Broken-Hearted Girl” and the feisty “Ego” together for a May release. “BHG” will be released to pop radio, while “Ego” goes to Urban stations.

Stay with BWU for the latest in pop music coming your way…

Cover This: Lines, Vines, and Trying Times by Jonas Brothers

This is the cover of the new Jonas Brothers album Lines, Vines, and Trying Times, out for release on June 15th.

I just have one question: why the HELL are they releasing a new album already?

I mean, come on. They just released A Little Bit Longer in August, which means they released this record less than a year ago. And that is just studio albums, since they released the soundtrack to their flop concert movie just a few months ago. Combine this with their new television show airing on Disney Channel in May, the three brothers are quickly approaching overexposure status. In fact, the conspiracy theorist in me believes that Hollywood Records (their label) is anticipating their demise and just wants to release as many products as possible before they burn out. It seems like the excitement of being pop stars has blinded them to the possibility. As I’ve said before, they want to maintain any career into the future, they need to cut Disney loose, now.

Anyway, the album’s lead single is reportedly “Dynamite”, with a release date of May 15th. And about the cover, I’ve got to admit, it’s not terrible.

Jonas 3D Concert Movie Flops at Box Office: Is The Jonas Craze Dying?

Barbara Walters made an interesting point in her interview with the Jonas Brothers on her Oscar special: no one is a teen idol forever.

Many have calculated the expiration date of the three musical brothers: some said 2009 was their swan song, others proclaimed their future as limitless.

It seems like the former may have been right.

Jonas Brothers:The 3D Concert Experience, expected to top Miley Cyrus' 3D movie released last year, proved to be a colossal flop at last weekend's box office. The concert film brought in an abysmal $12 million in ticket sales, coming in second to Tyler Perry's Madea Goes To Jail. Miley's Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour brought $31 million in its first week, with half the amount of theaters as her labelmates. Right behind the Jonases is the 8-time Oscar winner Slumdog Millionaire, which was $500,000 short of usurping the #2 slot.

Disney was expecting a gross of $30-40 million, which makes the weekend results all the more shocking and disappointing, and begs the question, what happened?

Was it the $15+ ticket price, which is quite outrageous in these economic time (plus, why do people need to see a concert on film in 3D anyway)?

Were more interested in Madea's latest exploits?

Is the public shifting more towards Team Taylor Swift (her album Fearless sits atop the Billboard album charts for an astonishing tenth week, while "Love Story" enters the UK charts at #2)?

Or, has the inevitable ebbing of the Jonas tidal wave finally begun to take effect?

UNBelievable: Girls Aloud + Jonas Brothers = Successful US Tour?

AND ?

While in the UK promoting "Burnin' Up" and the Camp Rock film, the Jonas Brothers revealed that they attempted to sign girl group Girls Aloud as their support for their "Burnin' Up" tour.

The trio are big fans of the pop group, and they wanted GA to play with them in the United States, but they were busy with their upcoming album and their own Tangled Up tour in the UK. However, in an interview, Kevin said that they were going to make sure something would happen the next time around.

Girls Aloud coming to the US would be a dream, but I have to go to a Jonas Brothers concert to see them? Why??

Jonas Brothers Not Offended By Russell Brand VMA Jokes

OK, its official, the Jonas Brothers are classier than Jordin Sparks. They also have better senses of humor, too.

During an interview with the BBC to promote Camp Rock in the UK, the trio were asked about Russell Brand's jokes about their promise rings during the VMAs.

What did they say?

Kevin: "I think he focused on certain things and didn't move off of them. People's attention spans in America need more than that...We had a lot of friends there and everybody's so nice. We had a good time."

Nick: "For us it's cool to see that he recognises we are gentleman...I think he did a good job. We saw him on Conan O'Brien and thought he was hilarious.:

So, there you go. They have senses of humor, and they are not rude, bratty bleeps.

Get it yet, Jordin? (For fans of hers, I will get over my dislike of her in a few days, so sorry)

Me to Jonas Brothers: Remain Silent, Remain Strong

Pop star Jordin Sparks showed her true, bitchy colors last night at the VMAs last night when she "defended" promise rings against the jokes made by host Russell Brand. Before introducing T.I., Jordin said, "It's not bad to waer promise rings because not everyone, guy or girl, wants to be sluts."

Um, excuse me?

The butt of said jokes were the Jonas Brothers, the teen pop sensations who recently sold 1/2 million copies of their album A Little Bit Longer. The musical brothers are wearers of the promise ring, which signifies a person's promise to God to remain virgins until matrimony. Despite revealing in a magazine interview, they haven't made it a prominent part of their selves, a smart decision in my opinion. That didn't stop host Brand from joking about it quite crudely. One joke mentioned the Jonases genitals, and there is enough mind soap in the world to erase that statement. Despite the roasting, the brothers remained quiet, and they didn't look particularly offended (Kevin actually looked slightly amused). If only Jordin exercised the same restraint.

The truth is, the Jonas Brothers and other famous promise ring-wearers are celebrities. This means that their lives up for discussion, whether its love, hate, or parody. Considering their promise rings are a known fact about them (and one of the only interesting things about them), its pretty much fair game. Yes, his jokes were crass, but Jordin's comments were insulting to the majority of the population, as well as being petty, bitchy, and judgmental. I would like to think the Jonas Brothers are not like her, so what should they say in response?

Nothing.

The saying goes, "your silence is your strength". They may be hurt or embarrassed, but at the end of the day, it was a joke. I think they should exhibit the class I'm sure their parents bestowed on them and remain silent on the issue. It will be better in the long run.

UNBelievable! Dr. Phil Calls For Jonas Brothers/Hannah Montana Addicts!

Apparently, OJD (Obsessive Jonas Disorder, according to the fans) is a legitimate illness.

Enough so that Dr. Phil is calling for parents of children who are obsessed with the current album chart-toppers and Hannah Montana, both under the Disney umbrella. This is the official release:

Is your son or daughter obsessed with Hannah Montana or the Jonas Brothers?  Do they have posters ALL over their room?  Do you have to make sure you keep up with their latest releases because if not, your kid won't talk to you?  Are you worried their obsession is becoming TOO extreme?

If your son or daughter has an obsession, and you'd like Dr. Phil's help, send us an email today! Please only respond if you're willing to appear on national television.

It's ironic, because I was just thinking about writing a feature about the obsessive fans and haters. Now, I definitely will.

This actually seems like an interesting show topic. It would be even better if the Jonas Brothers and Miley were there to discuss it. I would definitely watch it!

Billboard 200 Update: Jonas Brothers Top Chart with 525K

Below expectations but still huge, the Jonas Brothers new album A Little Bit Longer debuts at the top of the Billboard 200 with over 525,000 copies sold. A Little Bit Longer is their first album to go to #1, and is currently in third place for the biggest sales week of the year, behind Lil' Wayne's Tha Carter III and Coldplay's Viva La Vida. It should be noted that they outsold Miley Cyrus' album Breakout, which is quite ironic since they reached their massive levels of success while on tour with her an alter-ego Hannah Montana.

At #2 is the Mammia Mia soundtrack, which sold around 109,000 copies this week, bringing its six-week total to 686,000. Kid Rock's album, Rock N Roll Jesus comes in at #3 with 101,000 copies sold, after 45 weeks on the chart. The large sales are likely being stimulated by sleeper hit "All Ssummer Long", which Kid Rock won't release as a digital single.

Album Review: A Little Bit Longer by Jonas Brothers

It was revealed today that the Jonas Brothers are expected to sell around 725,000 copies of their new album, A Little Bit Longer, officially making them power players in the music industry.

To many, the idea that the Jonas Brothers could outsell Coldplay, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Usher, etc. is a travesty. How did three Jersey kids become the leaders of the teen pop craze?

By catering to their audience.

A Little Bit Longer is nothing if not a gift to their millions of tween fans (and their credit-card wielding mothers). While the trio attempt to push forward, the album is still largely directed towards the screaming girls who make their concerts minute sell-outs. For the rest of music-buying public, there isn't much to appreciate.

Back to the "pushing forward". Their last, self-titled album contained songs that sounded the same. This time around, the brothers try at diversifying their sound. Whether its Maroon 5-style funk, Jack Johnson-like soft rock, or Backstreet Boys-flavored balladry, each song seems to have its own identity. Their basic sound is still a mix of pop and rock, which I'm not a big fan of. Still, the album's variety is a sign that maybe they can do more as they get older and the fanbases change. Along with expanding their musical horizon, they also dabble in more intricate and complicated production. Some of their songs are layered with a variety of instruments. Sometimes, it works (the title track and "Tonight"). Other times, it fails ("Pushin' Me Away" and the fourth quarter of "Love Bug"). You can appreciate the hit and miss as their growth as musicians.

That's when the growth pretty much stops.

Remember when I noted that the album would please the tweens, but not everyone else? Well, its pretty much the truth. Virtually every song on the album (save for the title track) deals with teenage love, relationships, etc. To be fair, they are teens (except for Kevin), but if only the same attention given to production value was given to lyrical content. "BB Good", the opening track, sounds like something they would do a year ago, completely below the rest of the album. "One Man Show", a kiss-off to a girlfriend, sounds more petulant than its meant to be. "Pushin' Me Away", while it is one of the most interesting songs production-wise, does nothing lyrically. Those noted, there are some songs that show lyrical growth. "A Little Bit Longer", Nick's song about diabetes, has more depth and complexity than is expected from a 15-year old. "Video Girl", a teen version of "Gold Digger", is pretty clever in its scolding of gold-diggers.

Along with the lyrics, there is one more thing keeping this album from true goodness; their voices. To be frank, they're not good singers. They are talented, no one's denying that (and if you do, you're just being a jerk). Singing just isn't their thing. Regardless of that fact, the two lead singers Joe and Nick tend to go out on a singing, stretching their thin vocal chords, releasing screeches and squeals that are hard to tolerate. They sound better when they don't push their voices to the limit, like they believe rock stars do. "Love Bug" is a good example of their voices sounding okay, when they just play it safe. "Pushin' Me Away" is a great example of their voices sounding tragic when they push things too far. Nick is more guilty of this than anyone. On "Sorry", he sings the second verse, and its excruciating (and I'm being polite).

Song-wise, the album is a mixed bag of good, terrible, and okay.The best song on the album, no contest, is "A Little Bit Longer", with its unabashedly poignant lyrics. The worst on the album is a tie between "BB Good" and "Pushin' Me Away". The first is a step backward for the group, while the second is a vocal disaster. The other songs fall somewhere in between (Burnin' Up toward the top).

Before I end this, let me make a few things clear. One, I am not dissuading the fans from buying this. It's perfect for them. For the rest of us, I can't be too sure. Two, I do not hate the Jonas Brothers. For personal reasons, I just can't (Nick and diabetes). I have listened to this album (thanks to MTV's The Leak) and I have done my best to write a unbiased review, from what I believe makes a good album. This review was written without malice, because I have none for them. Three, hating the Jonas Brothers is both pointless and pretentious. While I'm not jumping for joy over this album, the random hate for them is dumb. They are talented, and they have appeal (they sold 201,000 copies of an album in one day, for God's sake). That should be respected. Plus, insulting a group who are still practically kids for no real reason sounds not only pathetic, but obnoxious and tactless.

Now, I give this album a 6 out of 10. It is by far much better than their last album (it was practically impossible to listen to), but they still have a lot of growing as musicians to do. They showed that they can grow and expand their sound, but they still lack both the vocal ability and the complete lyrical maturity to cross over. Disney's support won't last forever (in fact, the head honchos are probably auditioning their replacements as I type), so they need to take bigger steps into the pop world. Hopefully for them, it will only take "a little bit longer".

BWU Recommends: "A Little Bit Longer" (#2 on the BWU Hot 40 as of 8/13), "Burnin' Up", "Love Bug" (try to ignore the ending), "Got Me Going Crazy"

Jonas Brothers Expected to Sell 725,000 In First Week!

Don't underestimate the buying power of tweens.

Trade publication Hits Daily Double expect the new Jonas Brothers album A Little Bit Longer to sell around 725,000 copies in its first week after examining first week sales. Those numbers don't include the "Complete My Album" feature on iTunes.

If it makes those numbers, it will be the second best-selling first week sales, behind Lil' Wayne's Tha Carter III.

Rolling Stone and Blender gave the album four stars. Don't forget to check out my album review later today.

Nick Jonas Holds Press Conference About Diabetes Struggle

I may not support the Jonas Brothers musically (save for "A Little Bit Longer and "Burnin' Up"), but I will definitely support Nick in regards to diabetes.

Yesterday, the younger Jonas held a press conference in New York City to discuss both his diabetes and his partnership with Bayer to help spread awareness about the serious illness. They have established a website, www.nickssimplewins.com, that will share with the world how Nick handles his illness, in an effort to inspire others who suffer from diabetes. If you aren't well-versed in the basics of diabetes, then I suggest visiting the site to learn.

His song about his diabetes, "A Little Bit Longer", is #1 on iTunes and is #6 on the BWU Hot 40 (with a platinum certification to boot). You can check out my review of the song below.

Keep up the good work, Nick!

Download of the Day 8/5: "A Little Bit Longer" by the Jonas Brothers

The time has come.

For those who have been reading my blog for a while, you are very well aware of my feelings about the Jonas Brothers. At first, I despised them, like most other Disney factions. Then, I found out Nick had Type 1 diabetes. Seeing that I have Type 2, my hate for them dissipated a bit. Still, their music still sucked.

A few months ago, I wrote about the Jonas Brothers' upcoming record, and the song Nick wrote about his diabetes. I was intrigued, because I wasn't sure what to expect. I would've forever hated Nick Jonas if he even dared to make light of such a terrible illness like diabetes. An hour or so after writing that post, I found the two live versions of the song on YouTube. The concert version was impossible to listen to, so I stuck with the Stripped version. When I heard the song, I was utterly shocked. The lyrics were poignant, sad, lamenting. How the hell could the same trio who unleashed "S.O.S." on the unsuspecting world create this?

I was very impressed when I first heard the song live, so I was expecting to be even more so after hearing the recorded version. So, did it?

Yes.

Truthfully (and I am not even a fan of the Jonas Brothers), this is unarguably, without question, their best song to date. The growth between this song and the crap that was their last album is exponential.

Of course, the biggest achievement of this record is the lyrical content. Hearing the recorded version, it still is surprising how poignant, somber, and beautiful the lyrics to this song are, especially when you consider the bouncy, teenybopper material they've released in the past. His feelings about his diabetes (reportedly written in a hotel's ballroom) seem completely unfiltered, as he takes the listener through his experience in the beginning verses. The recurring line "A little bit longer, and I'll be fine" is a promise to himself, one that he repeats as that little becomes bigger than he hoped. The ending is the true kicker:

So I'll wait till kingdom come

All the highs and lows are gone

A little bit longer and I'll be fine

In case you don't know, the highs and lows he mentions are the highs and lows that a diabetic's blood sugar levels go through. The implication that he'll only be truly okay when he goes to Heaven is unnerving, striking, and tragically beautiful all at the same time. It makes you realize how much of a toll all of that touring and recording could take on someone, and even if you hate their music, not admiring both his bravery and strength is unspeakably cruel.

The arrangement of the song, compared to the live version, isn't better. In fact, I felt that the extra instrumentation took a little bit away from the mood he was trying to convey. Maybe he was trying to lighten it, but it wasn't necessary. The piano and the guitars coming into the middle were enough. It sounds good regardless, especially with the welcome addition of the violin. It's good to see them expanding their musical horizons; they just overdid it a bit.

My only vice with this song is the vocals, but its not big enough to detract from the song's greatness. Thanks to studio magic, Nick's voice sounds much better than its does live. I may not like his voice, but I can appreciate the passion-filled delivery. The light harmonies of his brothers when the second chorus comes around is a nice touch.

When everything together is considered, "A Little Bit Longer" is a triumph for the brothers. They finally made a song that can't be easily thrown away when (or if, when this song is considered) the Disney novelty wears off. If they continue developing their craft for a more mature audience, then they could easily move past teen idols, into true, respected performers.

To those who declare the Jonas Brothers utter failures, put the hate in a box of 3 minutes and listen to the song. Listen to the story of a kid whose world was turned upside down by a terrible illness. If you can't even listen to the song, at least read the lyrics. If you still feel nothing, then I question your taste in music.

To Nick, I commend him on writing a song this personal. As a fellow juvenile diabetic, I could easily identify with everything he wrote. I may never completely like their music, only time will tell. He does have my respect, which counts more in the long run.

Rating: 8.5/10

Brandon's Best and Worst...of the 2008 Teen Choice Awards

BEST

Blake Lively - Just her being there....(and she won some stuff too!). Best Dressed Female

Mariah Carey performing "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time" - one of her best performances in the last few months

The "Do Something" Award Winner - It's nice to see normal kids rewarded for the good things they do.

Jonas Brothers' bodyguard getting a mini-surfboard - It's nice to see normal bodyguards rewarded for keeping three musical brothers from being mobbed/kidnapped/attacked/clothes torn off by crazed fans

Jojo - She hasn't done anything in awhile, but she looked fantastic

Jonas Brothers - Among their six awards tonight, they won something about Red Carpet Fashion. Tonight, they deserved it (even with Nick channeling Don Johnson from Miami Vice). Best Dressed Male(s).

The Dance Crew stuff - The ACDC Dance Crew kicked some serious ass.

Gossip Girl Dominance - It was no brainer that Gossip Girl would end up winning big at the TCA.

WORST

Miley Cyrus - I have seen some bad hosts before (Ryan Seacrest at last year's Emmys, for one), but she sucks. She sucks so bad, that she can barely get the audience hyped.

Ask The Jonas Brothers - I was bored by the second question. I know that the TCA people moderate the questions, but come on! Ask them anything, and those are the ones they are asked? GMAB.

Miley Cyrus Winning Choice Music Female Artist - OK, WTF!?!?!?!

Mariah's Outfit - I love you Mimi, but Blake Lively is dressed classier than you are, and right now, there are ads circulating across the country of her in mid-orgasm. If she is dressing classier than you are, and you are like 15 years older than her, there is a SERIOUS problem!

Lil' Mama's Outfit - What the HELL is was she wearing? I didn't know Little Bo Beep was hood!

Lauren Conrad winning ANYTHING - Isn't her 1/2 hour of fame up yet?

The Overall Show - Quite frankly, I was bored. I used to watch the TCA along with The Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards, and it used to be really cool and exciting. Now that I'm actually a teen, hmmm, not so much.

[Picture of Blake Lively provided by JustJared]

Song Review: Jonas Brothers' "Tonight"

Three down, one more to go!

Actually, its just three down, because I almost know for certain I will love "A Little Bit Longer".

So, we've had "Burnin' Up" (a double platinum success on the BWU Hot 40) and "Pushin' Me Away" (a colossal flop with me and fans apparently, since the song plummeted to 89 on the Hot 100 this week) so far. Now, its time for the third of the A Little Bit Longer album preview, "Tonight".

I figured this song would have to be better than the last, since I believe that was rock bottom in terms of music. I was right. Unlike their last release, "Tonight" embraces the slicker pop sound of "Burnin' Up" while maintaining the "rock" edge with the Kevin-driven guitar. The hook isn't the best, so don't expect to have this stuck in your head, but its still a decent enough song to hold some presence in your memory.

Vocally, its not excruciating because, like a smart musician would, they don't highlight their deficiencies as singers by trying to stretch their ranges to unlistenable heights. Joe sounds 100 times better on this track than he did on "Pushin' Me Away". 1000 times better where Nick is concerned. My advice is that they should just write and sing what they know they can. Trying for more will only hurt them in the long (or short, depending on your opinion of them) run.

Another plus from last song; the lyrics. The guys take a stab at a topic many can relate to, arguing with a significant other. Basically, they're saying that a fight isn't gonna be solved "tonight", so they decide to walk from it and deal with it in the morning. Sounds like good advice? Either way, the topics of their music continue to mature, although its at a slow pace.

So, I consider "Tonight" another good song from the brothers. Next week's release is Nick Jonas' song about his diabetes, "A Little Bit Longer". The album of the same title comes out that next week.

Rating: 6/10

The Jonas Brothers On The Cover of Rolling Stone

With the sales of their album A Little Bit Longer expected to explode in three weeks, the Jonas Brothers continue to solidify their stance as a serious band with a cover and feature article in Rolling Stone magazine.

The title of the article? The Clean Teen Machine (they stole that from One Tree Hill!)

Of course, what everybody cares about is the cover:

What's funny is that I had just read an article talking about the Gossip Girl being risque. Doesn't this cover look like its gonna send their teen fans into a frenzy?

I guess congrats are in order for the three brothers. It seems like they may just escape the teen pop stigma and actually continue. A Rolling Stone cover means credibility in the industry, right? (if you ignore the dreadful The Hills cover, then definitely).

Also in JB news, their new single "Pushin' Me Away" debuted at #16 this week on the Hot 100, the "Hot Shot Debut". The song was a number one on iTunes for a day, and is currently plummeting down the chart (because it sucks ass).

Their previous single, "Burnin' Up" (the better single) went up to #11, thanks to ever-increasing airplay and still strong downloads.

For those who are interested, the album is released on Tuesday, August 12th. Their next single "Tonight" will be released next Tuesday, and their final single "A Little Bit Longer" (the one I'm interested in because of the diabetes connection) will be released the week after.

Expect JB mania to reach a fevered pitch in the next few weeks.

So, what do you think of the cover? Is Rolling Stone selling out? Are they recognizing burgeoning talent? Is the cover too risque? Weird? Why is Kevin pulling Joe's shirt?

Photo courtesy of justjared.net

Song Review: Jonas Brothers' "Pushin' Me Away"

I'm kinda mad here.

Just as I was on the verge of deciding that Disney teen pop idols Jonas Brothers were musically acceptable, they release the next single from their upcoming record A Little Bit Longer.

The beginning starts off well, with an ominous sound. Then Joe sings the first verse. From there, the song quickly falls into musical hell. By the chorus, I'm slightly cringing, much like I was when I first heard "S.O.S" during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The truth is, that their breakout single, which I despised, is better than this song. For one, its catchier. Apart of you can't help but hum the tune whether you're walking to work or just sitting at home, if you've heard it recently. The hook is weak and forgettable, which leaves for a pretty unsatisfying listening experience. Then there is the first major problem I had with the trio in the first place. I'm sorry to say this, but vocally, the Jonas Brothers just aren't that good. In fact, I have heard and seen the terms "whiny", "underdeveloped" and "screechy" to describe their talents (specifically Joe). While most of their songs (save "When You Look Me In The Eyes") do a pretty good job of hiding what they lack in vocal quality (JB are nothing if not great musicians in that sense), this track takes a highlighter and clearly points out where their voices tap out. Joe sounds particularly bad during the verses. He tries for a rock star smolder, yet it sounds uncomfortable and unnatural. He sounded much better on "Burnin' Up". The chorus is just as bad. The high notes they aim for are cringeworthy. It's as if they trying to prove that they have ranges. If that's the case, they failed, miserably.

It's disappointing to see them follow up a song I generally liked with a song that's evidence to why I disliked them in the first place (so much for growth). So far, I'm pretty unimpressed.

In two weeks, they are releasing their next iTunes single "Shelf", followed by "A Little Bit Longer", which probably will be their first "Download of the Day", if the live versions are any indication. Considering how underwhelming their latest release is, I wouldn't hesitate to send out the next as soon as possible.

Rating: 5/10

Note: "Pushing Me Away" is currently #2 on iTunes as of 5:07 pm.

Nick Jonas Gets Emotional At Toronto Concert

Okay, I'm a bit of a sap.

I love it when artists get emotional during their concerts. Whether they're filled with unbridled joy (Whitney Houston in South Africa in '94) or they take a moment of solemn reflectiveness (Michael Jackson after a ballad during a tour), the concert-going experience becomes all the more personal when the performers open up past what the song requires.

While I have yet to resolve my like/dislike relationship with the Jonas Brothers, I couldn't help but feel a little heartstring tug when, at the end of a performance of "A Little Bit Longer" during the first show of the "Burnin' Up" concert, Nick had to stop the song and place his head on the piano to hide his presumable tears.

I definitely can understand why he would lose his composure, considering "A Little Bit Longer" (which, when its released, may become their highest rated song on this blog) is about dealing with his Type 1 diabetes. Also, when you have thousands of girls obnoxiously screaming during a song that is his most personal, it can become overwhelming. Let's not forget he is still 15, even though he is pretty much a pop star.

It's always endearing to the cynics of an artist to see them emotionally connect with their audience; it's a sign of their longevity and it shows the thought they put into the song they're performing. Knowing how important the song was to Nick, this is just further confirmation.

Here's the video: