Jonas Brothers, 'Lines, Vines and Trying Times'

Release date: June 16, 2009
Record label: Hollywood
Official Web site: http://www.jonasbrothers.com/

The buzz: Verging on has-been status, Disney boy band Jonas Brothers attempt to recover from a year that saw them lose at the Grammys, flop in theaters with their 3D concert movie and debut a low-rated, poorly received TV show. This LP, their fourth, marks a move toward more serious and mature music from the peach-fuzzed, purity-ringed trio bred in New Jersey.

The verdict: The bland, glossy pop-rock that comprises "Lines" won’t reverse the Jonas Brothers’ downward trajectory, but it shouldn’t accelerate it, either. Though unremarkable pap such as the lame, tame lead single “Paranoid,” horn-heavy, ‘N Sync-worthy “World War III,” and the rest of this set’s Disney-fied power pop and Top 40 certainly won’t gain JoBros any new fans, it’s not the worst work within the genre. Response here comes down to expectation: if you want to hate it, there’s plenty to deride; if you want to like it, you can probably find a few things to enjoy; if you don’t care, nothing on this record will cause you to pay any attention. Artistically, that’s probably the most damning thing of all.

Did you know? Joe Jonas tends to populate the Jonas Brothers’ Twitter feed with almost stoner-style food tweets. Recent updates: “French pizza is good,” “I want a bagel,” and “Why does a round pizza come in a square box?”

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