Discography Deep Focus: The Jonas Brothers
The bond between siblings is something sacred and unique. Some children take this bond and use it to argue; others turn it into a band.
In 2005, this is precisely what Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas did.
What started as three ordinary brothers from a small town in New Jersey has turned into a band that forged their path to fame with six albums and over 60 awards to their name.
It’s About Time (2006)
Teen girls’ hearts swooned all over the world in 2006 when the heartthrobs Kevin, Joe and Nick released their first album.
“It’s About Time” is a glimpse into the mind of what any teenage boy is thinking about– girls and futuristic societies.
The album opens with “What I Go to School For”, a song about pining after a girl in the senior class who, much to the narrator’s dismay, is in a relationship already. This song may be cheesy and yes, somewhat cringe, but the upbeat melody makes for a song guaranteed to be stuck in the head of all listeners.
This album wouldn’t be complete, though, without the catchy, but as it turns out the not quite original song “Year 3000”. The Jonas Brothers’ version of this British boy band Busted’s track continues to be a hit at many karaoke nights and road trips 17 years later.
Reviewer's Favorite Songs: “Year 3000” and “Please be Mine”
Jonas Brothers (2007)
Arguably the Jonas Brothers’ best album of all time, “Jonas Brothers” is where the band really starts to find their unique sound.
Starting with four upbeat and lively songs guaranteed to lighten any mood, “Jonas Brothers” features tracks like “That’s Just the Way We Roll” and “Hold On” where listeners are encouraged to shake off the world and not worry about life.
The album continues with a few mellow love songs, which are different and more mature than anything that the Brothers had sung before, and ends with their first live track, “S.O.S- Live.”
Reviewer’s Favorite Songs: “Hold On”, “That’s Just the Way We Roll” and “When You Look Me In The Eyes”
A Little Bit Longer (2008)
“A Little Bit Longer” marks when the Jonas Brothers started to grow into their fame. At this point, Kevin was 21, Joe was 19 and Nick was 17, so it was evident that their lyrics were growing up with them.
While most songs still have the subject of girls and love (or heartbreak), the themes become more sophisticated with songs like “Video Girl,” which is about women who use them for their fame.
Also on this album is the Jonas Brothers’ most famous song, “Burning Up”, which features a fire rap from their former bodyguard Big Rob and plenty of metaphors that fans still love scream-singing today.
Reviewer’s Favorite Songs: “BB Good”, “Burnin’ Up” and “Got Me Going Crazy”
Lines, Vines and Trying Times (2009)
All good bands try new things to keep their fans interested, but sometimes the experimentation can go a bit far.
Featuring tracks with rock, disco and country sounds, as well as a few ballads, this album is avant-garde for the Jonas Brothers.
Songs like “World War III” and “Don’t Charge Me for the Crime” have a darker aesthetic, but the catchy choruses and Joe Jonas’ vocals make them must-listen tracks.
The country vibe comes in with “What Did I Do to Your Heart” and “Much Better” has an almost techno sound to it.
Also on this album are a few notable guest artists. Miley Cyrus is featured on “Before The Storm” and Common is featured on “Don’t Charge Me for the Crime”.
Reviewer’s Favorite Songs: “Keep it Real”, “Fly With Me” and “Hey Baby”
JONAS L.A. (Music from the TV Series) (2010)
“JONAS L.A.” is a welcome change from “Lines, Vines and Trying Times”. Given that this album was written for their TV show, “Jonas L.A.”, where the band lives in a mansion in L.A. for a summer, “JONAS L.A.” reminds the listener of a summer filled with fun and carefree times.
Opening with “Feelin’ Alive”, the album starts with the brothers arriving in L.A. for the first time and experiencing those first fruits of teenage freedom, which is evident through the upbeat and lively tempo.
The cohesion of this album is fantastic as the tracks flow together well, curating a timeline of the entire summer.
Their song “L.A. Baby (Where Dreams Are Made Of)” premiered on Radio Disney in May of that year and quickly reached No.1 on the Top 30 Countdown.
Reviewer’s Favorite Songs: “L.A. Baby (Where Dreams Are Made Of)”, “Hey You” and “Drive”
Happiness Begins (2019)
It’s no secret this album was a bit of a surprise after the Jonas Brothers broke up, seemingly for good, back in 2013, but thankfully the brothers put their differences aside to make music together once again.
“Happiness Begins” started out strong when “Sucker”, which was released as a single before the album debuted, became the Jonas Brothers’ first song to open at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March of 2019.
But this track was just the start. Later that year, “Happiness Begins” went on to debut at No.1 on the Billboard 200 in July with 14 tracks, clocking in just shy of 45 minutes of new music.
The Jonas Brothers have aged like fine wine, and their sound is no different.
Featuring tracks like “Comeback” with soul-tickling harmonies and “Cool” which showcases Nick Jonas’ alluring falsetto, “Happiness Begins” brings healing to any young Jonas Brothers fan’s soul.
Reviewer’s Favorite Songs: “Comeback”, “Hesitate” and “Cool”
5 Essential Jonas Brothers Songs:
“Year 3000”
“That’s Just the Way We Roll”
“Burnin’ Up”
“L.A. Baby (Where Dreams Are Made Of)”
“Comeback”
Ainsley Spitz is a second-year student majoring in broadcast journalism and criminology. To contact her, email aes6441@psu.edu.
