![Review: JLS – Evolution [Album]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/geek/gars/images/2/0/3/4/1/album_packshot.jpg)
![Review: JLS – Evolution [Album]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/altthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fhangout.altsounds.com%2Fgeek%2Fgars%2Fimages%2F2%2F0%2F3%2F4%2F1%2Falbum_packshot.jpg&w=500&h=500&zc=1&q=70){kind=small}
Spread the Social Love:
Go on, admit it – with all the fuss about kindergarten pop group One Direction, I bet you’d forgotten all about JLS – the first band to really hit the big time following X-Factor. Well, guess what? They are back, they are as sleazy as ever and yes, they are still trying to sound like Boyz II Men.
With a name like ‘Evolution,’ the new album from JLS was always going to have its own cross to bear. To a degree, the sound of JLS has evolved ever so slightly. This album sees them being a little more adventurous and throwing some different sounds into their usual typical smoochy R&B sound. Opener ‘Dessert’ is a prime example. Only someone as sweet-faced and innocent as Taylor Swift or Carly Rae-Jepsen should be able to open an album with such a ridiculously titled song. The track opens with a robotic voice before slick R&B notes introduce JLS’ smooth tones. The track compares a girl to a dessert. She is so tasty she obviously reminds of JLS of cake, or crumble or something – hey, if it helps them pull then why not start using it?
The well-known ‘Hottest Girl In The World’ follows and throws the first despicably catchy rhythm down your throat. The crystal clear vocals follow and you realise just why you hate this group; they can sing, they look good, they are loaded – they are more polished than your Gran’s favourite vase but it works for them oh so well!
‘Have Your Way’ follows the typical R&B sound that JLS seem to have begun to follow, abandoning their out and out pop roots. ‘Hold Me Down’ is when the group really hit R&B status – or really begin to echo Boyz II Men – however way you want to look at it. In fairness though, if there was a boy band to emulate the great Boyz II Men then why not make it JLS? For a start they have very little originality so they are already half way to being a Boyz II Men clone. Secondly, as ‘Hold Me Down’ shows, JLS have despicably good voices. When all four members of the group together and stop hiding behind Aston, you can really see that their harmonies and melodies are so natural and soulful that you really can’t help but hate them – envious, me?? It is clear that this album is going to get the hoards of pre-teenage girls (you know those ones that scream at every cheesy boy band like they have just discovered their sexual feelings for the first time?) screaming!
‘I Like It’ is a typical pop single about a girl who doesn't know quite how good looking she is with a canny R&B twist. It has the spacious poppy rhythms of previous JLS material but is delivered with such a sleek and polished way that it almost becomes sleazy. Again, it’s the voices of the lads that really make the song special; those perfectly crafted, soulful notes that despite weeks of boot camp, you can’t teach!
‘Troublemaker’ is another song worthy of note. A collaboration with US underground rapper Bebe O Hara, it is one of those songs destined for chart supremacy that will appeal to a host of audiences from pop to R&B and of course, rap – Bebe just became overground!
In some ways ‘Evolution’ is just that – it’s an evolution of the JLS sound that shirks a short distance away from pop and begins a smooth, cheesy flirtation with R&B. In terms of the music world ‘Evolution’ is not as it suggests; it’s nothing new or ground-breaking but it does move JLS one step closer to becoming ‘the new Boyz II Men.’
As far as JLS is concerned this is a solid album; it’s smooth in production, delivery and charming in places to the point of sleazy. JLS fans will love it – but then those little children will get their parents to buy them adult nappies if JLS’ faces are on them! The neutral will tap their feet and enjoy it in passing and those that hate JLS will just have to face that they have the talent to be around for a very long time!
With a name like ‘Evolution,’ the new album from JLS was always going to have its own cross to bear. To a degree, the sound of JLS has evolved ever so slightly. This album sees them being a little more adventurous and throwing some different sounds into their usual typical smoochy R&B sound. Opener ‘Dessert’ is a prime example. Only someone as sweet-faced and innocent as Taylor Swift or Carly Rae-Jepsen should be able to open an album with such a ridiculously titled song. The track opens with a robotic voice before slick R&B notes introduce JLS’ smooth tones. The track compares a girl to a dessert. She is so tasty she obviously reminds of JLS of cake, or crumble or something – hey, if it helps them pull then why not start using it?
The well-known ‘Hottest Girl In The World’ follows and throws the first despicably catchy rhythm down your throat. The crystal clear vocals follow and you realise just why you hate this group; they can sing, they look good, they are loaded – they are more polished than your Gran’s favourite vase but it works for them oh so well!
WATCH // JLS - 'Hottest Girl In The World'
‘Have Your Way’ follows the typical R&B sound that JLS seem to have begun to follow, abandoning their out and out pop roots. ‘Hold Me Down’ is when the group really hit R&B status – or really begin to echo Boyz II Men – however way you want to look at it. In fairness though, if there was a boy band to emulate the great Boyz II Men then why not make it JLS? For a start they have very little originality so they are already half way to being a Boyz II Men clone. Secondly, as ‘Hold Me Down’ shows, JLS have despicably good voices. When all four members of the group together and stop hiding behind Aston, you can really see that their harmonies and melodies are so natural and soulful that you really can’t help but hate them – envious, me?? It is clear that this album is going to get the hoards of pre-teenage girls (you know those ones that scream at every cheesy boy band like they have just discovered their sexual feelings for the first time?) screaming!
‘I Like It’ is a typical pop single about a girl who doesn't know quite how good looking she is with a canny R&B twist. It has the spacious poppy rhythms of previous JLS material but is delivered with such a sleek and polished way that it almost becomes sleazy. Again, it’s the voices of the lads that really make the song special; those perfectly crafted, soulful notes that despite weeks of boot camp, you can’t teach!
‘Troublemaker’ is another song worthy of note. A collaboration with US underground rapper Bebe O Hara, it is one of those songs destined for chart supremacy that will appeal to a host of audiences from pop to R&B and of course, rap – Bebe just became overground!
In some ways ‘Evolution’ is just that – it’s an evolution of the JLS sound that shirks a short distance away from pop and begins a smooth, cheesy flirtation with R&B. In terms of the music world ‘Evolution’ is not as it suggests; it’s nothing new or ground-breaking but it does move JLS one step closer to becoming ‘the new Boyz II Men.’
As far as JLS is concerned this is a solid album; it’s smooth in production, delivery and charming in places to the point of sleazy. JLS fans will love it – but then those little children will get their parents to buy them adult nappies if JLS’ faces are on them! The neutral will tap their feet and enjoy it in passing and those that hate JLS will just have to face that they have the talent to be around for a very long time!
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