MORE CHILLIN' OUT THAN BURNIN' UP: REVIEW OF THE JONAS BROTHERS' 'HAPPINESS BEGINS'

2019 is the year that iconic Disney band the Jonas Brothers have finally made their comeback 10 years after the release of their last proper album, and I'm not ashamed to say I'm excited. After years of pretty successful other music careers, they're finally back together with the Happiness Begins album released last Friday.

'Sucker', the first track on the album and the introductory single to the new era, is a perfect way to begin. It's catchy pop at it's finest, with a slight little bit of edge, and Sansa Stark in the music video, but most importantly it is super radio friendly. It's no surprise that Sucker was a success, and I understand why it was chosen for the lead single because it summarises the vibe of the rest of the album.

If I could give one word to summarise Happiness Begins as a whole, it would be chilled. From the acoustic sounds of 'Cool' and 'Love Her', to the mellow 80s vibe presented by 'Don't Throw It All Away' and 'I Believe'; the whole album gives a sense of effortless music-making that's not particularly emotional in any way. I imagine these tracks were fun and relaxing to create, just as much as they are fun and relaxing to listen to. From what can be assumed from what the brothers themselves have said, it seems like a lot of the reason they hadn't got together before now was due to conflict, and the music they've created really reflects that that's not the place they're in anymore.

The standout feature of Happiness Begins is the vocals. This is something the Jonas Brothers have been successful at throughout every point in their career. They way their, mainly Joe and Nick's voices harmonize together is something really special, and adds a completely new level to most of the songs on the albums. There are a couple of tracks that could have easily been basic, and dare I say boring if created by a solo artist but because of the harmonies and incredible vocal ranges of the band, it makes these tracks a little more special.

It seems that with Happiness Begins, the Jonas Brother's are wishing to find their feet again. They haven't created anything game-changing or out of the box; they've created music that introduces them properly back into the industry, and it's easy to listen to quality means that there won't be much contention with fans either. I understand this decision for the band not to be particularly risky with their new album, but I wish they'd taken it a little further. The last two songs on the album 'Rollercoasters' and 'Comeback' is where things get slightly more interesting and go in a different direction, with 'Rollercoasters' having an almost Avicii x Mumford and Sons type vibe. It was in these songs where I really felt like the band was pushing themselves to something new, and it's a shame that it was only in the last two songs of the album.
However, it does bode well for future releases. Happiness Begins is a safe album but it shows hints of pushing things further, and I have no doubt that's what they'll do in their next musical projects.

Overall, Happiness Begins is on the borderline between fine and goo. It's an album that is dipping the toes of the Jonas Brothers into the music industry before they plunge in properly. All the tracks are mellow and catchy, and they all bring a little something extra that elevates them from being fine to being good. Right now the album very much feels like a mix between Nick Jonas's solo music and the music of DNCE, sort of smashed together to make a coherent album, and the sounds do mix well. Happiness Begins is taking what the band knows about their own successful music from recent years, and the general climate of pop, and creating an album tailor-made to that. However, I'm looking forward to more experimental releases in the future, that really show the sound of the Jonas Brothers. 
And to answer the 'burning' question if you will: 'Burnin' Up' is still the Jonas Brother's best song, but to be fair to them it's going to take a hell of a lot to beat it.

RATING: 3.5/5

Written by Ruby Crowhurst.