The Jonas Brothers comeback: Happiness Begins album review

Some of my fondest memories of my nine-year-old self include me screaming and dancing along to the Jonas Brothers with my closest friends. Ten years later, I am so thrilled to be reliving those moments I cherished so dearly, this time with a new Jonas Brothers album.

I have always had a soft spot for the Jonas Brothers. Before Big Time Rush, One Direction, or BTS came along, Kevin, Nick, and Joe were the first to steal my heart. I distinctly remember my best friends and I sitting on the bus to middle school, discussing which brother we thought was the cutest (I was more of a Joe girl myself, sorry Kevin and Nick). By the time Camp Rock (2008) came along, I was fully obsessed, so much so that I suffered through two seasons of their *not so great* TV show Jonas, and when they said they were taking a “break” in 2010, I was heartbroken beyond belief. So, you can only imagine how I felt ten years later when I found out the JoBros were making a comeback. Would their new music live up to the legacy of hits like “Year 3000” and “S.O.S”, or would they break my heart once again?

When their fifth studio album, Happiness Begins, was released on June 7th, 2019, I went through each and every song meticulously, keeping the album on repeat until I made up my mind about what I truly thought of their comeback. Here’s my verdict.

The first song on the album, “Sucker,” a No. 1 debut and their highest-charted single yet, is a song made for summer. It reminds me of the fun-loving Jonas Brothers (or JoBros, as I lovingly refer to them) I first grew to love ten years ago, proving to listeners that although they may be older, their music is still just as catchy, young, and upbeat. Although the lyrics and chord progressions can seem a bit repetitive, nothing says Jonas Brothers like the sound of Nick’s signature falsetto and the brothers’ wonderful harmonies. Their usual infectious pop has now also grown to include traces of funk and rock. Between “Sucker” and their next song on the album, “Cool,” the JoBros are ready for summer, whether it is road-trips or long days on the beach. “Only Human,” one of my three favorites on the album (the other two being “Don’t Throw It Away” and “I Believe”) is a dayger essential; tropical pop mixed in with a hint of reggae, this song embodies it’s lyrics — “dancing in the living room, love with an attitude, and drunk to an 80s groove.”

With all three JoBros happily married and in love, there is no doubt this album delivered some heartfelt lyrics and melodies. “I Believe,” Nick’s love song to Priyanka, and “Hesitate,” Joe’s love song to Sophie, will manage to keep you humming and dancing while simultaneously placing you deep within your feels, thinking about the one(s) you love(d). While there’s nothing too special about the melodies in these slower ballads, the love, intimacy, and emotion in Joe and Nick’s voices can be heard, making the songs fan favorites. It is clear that these songs are not sung and written by teenage boys anymore; from their lyrics to their vocal performances, the Jonas Brothers have come back as better musicians, clearly knowing how to please both their long-time and new listeners.

These summer bops and slow jams are essential to every Jonas Brothers album. However, what makes this album so special as a comeback are the songs that the brothers sing about their brotherhood and their journey back together. “Don’t Throw It Away” lyrically describes the pain and struggles the brothers faced when they were apart, and it shows that there is some magic in the overlay of Nick and Joe’s leading voices and Kevin’s guitar playing and supporting vocals. The chorus of “Rollercoaster,” which goes “It was fun when we were young and now we’re older / Those days that were the worst, they seem to glow now / We were up-and-down and barely made it over / But I’d go back and ride that rollercoaster with you,” describes how fondly the brothers look back at their rocky past. (Yes, I too would go back and ride that rollercoaster with the JoBros any day!) And of course, what better way to end a comeback album with the last track named “Comeback.”

The Jonas Brothers’ new album only proves that these brothers needed their time apart to come back better than ever, especially considering Happiness Begins marks their first No. 1 album debut. While I miss their angsty teen days that inspired songs like “Burnin’ Up,” I appreciate that this album represents the maturity and growth that has come with the last ten years and still manages to retain the fun-loving nature of the group.

Happiness Begins, through and through, marks an incredible return for the Jonas Brothers. My nine-year old self and I are looking forward to singing and dancing along to their newest bangers on their highly anticipated tour this summer.

P.S: Kevin, if you ever read this, you’re my favorite now.

Article by Nikita Bhatia