Customer Reviews

Lines, Vines and Trying Times

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

First, I am not in the expected fan base for Jonas Brothers. Not by a long shot. However, their lyrics are clean and their hooks catchy and the boys aren't hard on the eyes; all of that has me won over before hearing anything else. In their new CD the songs aren't just catchy, they are flat out contagious. If I am not listening, I have found myself singing or humming the songs. I have to hand it to JB for maturing their sound in the right way. Most "boy bands" go on the extreme of "we're not kids anymore" when they try to branch out their sound. JB has done it right: writing relevant songs to their lives in a sophisticated and mature way. The band boasts a wider variety of instruments and the metaphorical writing suits them well. It's clear the guys will be around for a while and they and their fans won't be doomed to bubblegum for the duration.

Lines Vines and Trying Times is quite a growth from A Little Bit Longer and a complete 180 from It's About Time. The brothers really step it up with power pop numbers like Paranoid and Hey Baby and smooth ballads like Black Keys and Turn Right. The diversity on this album is admirable and a sophisticated departure from the teeny bopper tunes that is often associated with the Jonas Brothers.
Tracks:
World War III-a super fast paced tune that would feel at home on any pop/rock playlist
Paranoid - Embodies the boys' gift for scoring the perfect hook and a great first single. A real improvement from their last CD's first single, Burning Up
Fly With Me - Though it is a little sappy, it's amazingly catchy. Even for you older listeners.
Poison Ivy - Despite it's incredibly annoying lyrics that seem a bit repetitive at times, the music on this song is irresitable
Hey Baby - again, a great pop/rock song that would make a great single
Before the Storm - a bitter sweet duet with pop sensation Miley Cyrus. The vocals are great on this one as is the heartfelt lyrics
What Did I do To Your Heart - With a country feel, this song is a refreshing filler for teh album
Much Better - Despite it's obvious target (a direct hit at the heartbroken Taylor Swift), this song is a real winner with it's clear homage to the legendary Neil Diamond. One of the best songs they've recorded.
Black Keys - Great vocals and astounding lyrics. It's easy to forget a sixteen year old wrote them.
Don't Charge Me for the Crime - An interesting pop and rap medley. It's a good attempt, but the lyrics are not really believable coming from Disney's favorite squeaky clean poster boys
Turn Right - Easily one of the best songs that the Jonas Brothers have recorded. The music is clean and beautiful and the lyrics are unbelievably real and relatable
Don't Speak - I see this as another excellent single. Excellent hook, very catchy
Keep It Real - In case you were forgetting who you were listening to, this song will remind you that the Jonas Brothers are still kings of pop for young people

Length:: 8:35 Mins

This is a fairly long video, but I felt I couldn't do a good review of the album in wrtten for w/o being very very long and I figured a video review that's long would be slightly more tolerable. :)

So enjoy!

God Bless ~Amy

PS: And as a side note, I'm sure that "Keep it Real" was more released for promoting their TV show, but I still feel they should have released a different 3rd single. In fact, I think they should have a released a different second single because I don't like "Fly with Me" Either which also should have been left off the album as it was fine on "Night at the Museum", but here it is just a reminder of how much better they sound without the pure power pop sound they used to proudly where.

I really didn't like Jonas Brothers until Lines, Vines and Trying Times. I don't have nothing against them, I just don't like the sound of music on there previous Cd's. On Lines Vines and Trying Times Jonas Brothers have matured there sound of music. They remind me of Hanson. Jonas Brothers to me is the new Hanson. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. I really found myself enjoying this CD. It's amazing how 16 year old Nick wrote two lyrics to songs on this album. I say anyone will like this CD. I think teens and young adults will like it the most.
My favorite songs on Lines, Vines and Trying Times are:
1. Fly With Me
2. Before The Storm featuring Miley Cyrus
3. Much Better
4. Black Keys
5. Turn Right
6. Don't Speak
7. Paranoid
I really like this whole CD. It's really hard to pick a few songs to be my favorite.

This album is great.I dont care what anyone says I am very proud of these boys for their growth.TRUE artists grow.They can't sing songs like "Mandy" forever.Come on now..My fav songs are "Much Better","Hey Baby",and "WW3" To me,they show how much the boys have grown as people as well as artists.

I am a recent Jonas Brothers Fan. I purchased this CD after a friend loaned it to me. I honestly didn't think I was going to like it as I figured the Jonas Brothers were for teeny-boppers only (I do not like teeny-bopper music!). Wow was I surprised at how great this CD is. It hooked me right away with the first track, which I think is one of the best tracks I've ever heard. This album is very mature in its lyrics, music, and sound and I can see how the group might alienate its younger fans who want their music to be less substantial and more bubble-gum. Hopefully people who initially weren't fans of the Jonas Brothers will give this CD a listen and be a recent convert- like me.

I bought this for my 10 year old when it first came out and she hasn't listened to anything else since. She loves it.

The songs really speak to me. I can relate to every one of them.

I've read through some reviews, both good and bad, so I feel the need to redeem them some. As my title says, I was not a fan of the Jonas Brothers before, because I had never listened to their music. But I came across this at a friend's house, and I'm hooked.

Lines, Vines and Trying Times is an amazing mix of different styles. The Brothers really pay homage to their favorite artists throughout the CD.

High Points:
Despite what you may read about repetitive or annoying lyrics, World War III is a fun, catchy song that fans old and young can enjoy. Paranoid is so good that it gets stuck in my head more often than not. Fly with Me is super sweet. Much Better is truly original from these guys, and you'll find yourself humming the "doo-doo-doo" that runs throughout the song. Poison Ivy is a killer, impossible to resist even at my "post-Jonas" age. Turn Right, Black Keys and Before the Storm (even with my usual dislike for Ms. Cyrus' voice) are all winning tracks.

Not as high points:
Don't Charge me for the Crime and What Did I do to Your Heart didn't win me over, but they didn't turn me off the Boys. Don't Charge Me was probably a fun collaboration for JB, and even I can appreciate that.

Can't Decide:
Keeping It real. I don't hate it. I don't love it. But soon I think it'll win me over.
Hey Baby. They should release this as a single. I think I'll love it.

Overall, this is a winner for The Brothers Jonas. (What my sister calls them) The diary to song method has worked for artists for years, and I vote yes to this JB musical feelings-fest. WARNING: Every song is about JB relationships with their lady friends. You probably won't be able to tell, and I don't think it takes anything away.

All in all, this CD may not be a chart topper, but I think most people will appreciate having this mix of sounds in their media library.

This latest cd from the Jonas Brothers are different but a good different. This shows just how much these guys have changed music styles since there last CD. They are matured in a good way and I hope they keep coming up with songs like this!