Album Review: "Music For People Who Believe In Love" - Joe Jonas

Photo Credits via joejonas.com

In his new album Music For People Who Believe In Love, Joe Jonas inspires listeners with a refreshing perspective of perseverance.

TRACK LIST

Woven (with DOMi & JD BECK)

Parachute

Work It Out

Only Love

Heart by Heart

Honey Blonde

My Own Best Friend

Velvet Sunshine (with Franklin Jonas)

Sip Your Wine (with Sierra Ferrell)

Hey Beautiful (with Louane & Tiny Habits)

What We Are (with Luísa Sonza)

You Got The Right

What This Could Be

Constellation

With a vibrant solo and group career, Joe Jonas is a pop sensation and a household name. Starting off as a member of the Jonas Brothers, wrapped up in the world of Disney, Joe gained a wide audience from a young age. Staring in films and television shows including Camp Rock and Jonas, his musical talents captured the hearts of so many young audiences. As his career blossomed, various milestones marked growth in his musical journey. When the Jonas Brothers temporarily disbanded in 2013, he branched out and became lead singer of the musical group DNCE, releasing iconic songs like "Cake By The Ocean". He begins a tour across the US this summer as a part of the Jonas Brothers. All the experience and music Joe has brought to life has carved him out a special place in the alternative pop-rock scene.

Woven (with DOMi & JD BECK)

Starting off the album with character, this eclectic instrumental track offers listeners a feeling of disorientation reminiscent of the beginning of a whimsical adventure story. The sound of a young child's babbling layers overtop simple high piano arpeggios to open the song. From there, the energy builds as various instruments progressively join the tune. Fast strumming, continuously rapid arpeggiated chords on the keyboard, and the sound of violin give the storied instrumentals a vibrant and exciting feeling. The frantic instrumentals fold in the sound of woodwinds and drums, bringing the song to an almost dizzying climax before it closes with the simple piano that began it.

Parachute

Positivity and resilience pulse through the heart of the second track in the album. Combining invigorating instrumentals including drums and electronic pads with Joe's vocal swagger, the sound of this song exudes confidence. Through the verse, he skillfully walks the line of speak-singing and singing as the lyrics sprinkle nuggets of wisdom on moving on including "heartbreak only lasts a couple seasons" and "memory is thicker than a picture". Whether you're trying to get over a relationship or period of time in your life that is holding you back, this song is a motivating saving grace. The chorus uses the metaphor of its title for a continuous internal supportive mindset and observes the possible difficulties that the speaker may face, ultimately coming to a conclusion of perseverance.

Work It Out

The next track starts with twangy acoustic guitar strumming before diving into a dynamic blend of electric guitar, fast-paced drums, and expressive singing. The song comes across like a fun pep talk you would give yourself when you need a reminder to keep your head up. "Work It Out" puts a direct and introspective spin on the message of perseverance in "Parachute", offering a literal manifestation of the preceding song's metaphors. This track is riddled with fun mantras like "even baddies get saddies" that provide an uplifting twist and sense of universality to struggles. With an inspiring message and upbeat tune, this is the perfect track to make you smile on those days that you feel like life's getting you down.

Only Love

The next track in the album is a touching mix of swagger and emotion from its sound to its lyrics. "Only Love" uses percussion, expressive electric guitar, and Joe's confident, low vocals to hone in on an in-the-moment feeling captured in the lyrics. The speaker of the song tells a tale of a popular girl encouraging a shy boy to embrace the love between them and not to be afraid of romance. The sound of the chorus glows in contrast to the edgy storytelling tone of the verse, and as the song goes on into the bridge, the tune gains a love-struck softness. With strong vocals, an upbeat vibe, and a chorus with a sun-kissed sound, this might just be the love song of the summer.

Heart by Heart

Exploring how time commitments outside a romance can drive a wedge into your love life, "Heart by Heart" tells a tale of familiarity and longing. Along with drums and guitar, comforting and expressive vocals open the song with a touch of country in their sound. This song is a reminder to a partner who has started to move on that the speaker still feels tied to them and is around if their new romance does not go as planned. Refreshingly, as the speaker dotes on his former love, the tone is not bitter. Compassion and understanding come through lyrics like "you gotta live your life". Through the pre-chorus, high vocal layers repeat "just remember I will always remember" as electronic instrumentals sound. Through the chorus and verse, there is a progressively intense passion in the vocals, very much feeling like longing and hope are loaded in the meaning of each word.

Honey Blonde

Electric and acoustic guitar smoothly open the track with a gentle, comforting atmosphere. Adoration and everything sweet shines through the lyrics of this song, with words like "orange wine" and "antidote" painting a picture of a truly precious romance. High vocals make up the chorus, offering a floaty and dreamlike tune. Memories and metaphors for closeness come through the romantic lyrics of the verses as Joe's storytelling vocals rhythmically annunciate the syllables. This warm track draws listeners into the simple wonders of a relationship, basking in the sweet, sweet taste of closeness.

My Own Best Friend

Freeing and introspective, this folk-pop track allows listeners to look at the good in life alongside the bad. With beautiful imagery and metaphysical questioning, the lyrics take on deep questions of belonging and identity. An ultimate message of learning to support yourself is fostered throughout the song. Soft, comforting guitar opens the song alongside a whistling pattern that appears throughout the tune. Joe's conversational vocals have a hushed tone through the verse, almost as though his tone is protective of the vulnerable thoughts in the lyrics. Rounded and resolved, the vocals in the chorus are warm with layers of high, breathy singing in the background supporting Joe's deep, soulful expression.

Velvet Sunshine (with Franklin Jonas)

Ah, to be young and strange and in love! This track explores the excitement of a chaotic romance. Expressing a desire for a certain level of dramatics, the song uses honest lyrics like "kinda like the feeling when you lead me on". Bright guitar, upbeat percussion, and energized singing have the thrill of the lyrics pulsing through the sound of the song. Joe blends singing, speak-singing, and vocalizing creating a dynamic and fun sound. Throughout the chorus, the romance-fueled energy is brought to a crux through bouncy instrumentals on the keyboard and the way the lyrics joyfully coast in attraction.

Sip Your Wine (with Sierra Ferrell)

Guitar and retro vocals with a slight distortion open the track, delving into the freeing chorus straight away. A feeling of nostalgia and reflection looms over the tune and lyrics of the song as it conveys the blissful wisdom that comes from broadening your point of view. Coasting on the vibe of a journey with storytelling lyrics like "thousand of miles left 'til Reno", the song embodies the spirit of enjoying the ride. Words like "let's sit back and waste some time" paired with the broad revelations of perspective invites listeners to embrace every moment. Sierra Ferrell's high, breathy vocals echo Joe's speak-singing in the pre-chorus, and blend dynamically throughout the choruses in the song. The way the two singers trade verses and blend through the chorus feels like a meaningful conversation. It takes on the way the lyrics climb towards the idea of embracing love.

Hey Beautiful (with Louane & Tiny Habits)

Devotion and admiration shine through this glowing declaration of love. With lyrics in both English and French, "Hey Beautiful" profoundly takes on the holy and eternal feelings that come with romance. This entrancing track reflects the way love can fulfill a person. Gentle strumming accompanies soft and soothing humming to open the track before Joe's vocals begin slowly working through a message of all-consuming love. Louane's airy vocals blend with Joe's deeper sound in the chorus with beautiful harmonies expressing the heavenly feelings the lyrics take on.

What We Are (with Luísa Sonza)

There are so many little questions and experiences that people search out in the beginning of a relationship. This track skillfully conveys support, excitement, and curiosity in that new romance stage. Groovy, rhythmic, and atmospheric, the percussion and electronic instrumentals set a blissful tone for the track. Joe's singing moves at a deliberate pace through the verse, quickly flowing through wondering thoughts the speaker has for his new partner before slowing on the words "don't lie". His tone is so soft that it makes the lyrics' demand for vulnerability feel like they are coming from a safe place. Luísa Sonza's singing through the Spanish verse of the song is warm and melismatic, with an entrancing range of breathy lows.

You Got The Right

With any romance, there is a risk of heartbreak. This intimate song acknowledges that risk, boldly expressing the way taking your partner for granted is a truly foolish endeavor. The song starts with a whisper of the chorus before delving into the folk-like alternative guitar and vocals of the verse. Lyrics like "you got the right to find someone new" look at the speaker's partner with autonomy and respect, and showing the gratitude they feel for their current relationship. Percussion, acoustic guitar, and electric guitar bring an exhilarating pulse to the chorus: a catchy expression that builds in texture and passion throughout the song.

What This Could Be

This inspirational track is an uplifting look into strength and resilience, especially when it comes to love. It uses warm, stimulating major chords, electronic instrumentals, percussion, and guitar to reign in on a motivating energy. Reflecting on the speaker's former view on what could be too much for them to handle, the lyrics proudly reflect on the way he managed to move forward despite life's hurdles. The comforting realization expressed through the song: "my heart was made for making mistakes", is one that so many people need to hear. Life, much like everyone on this Earth, is imperfect. These words are a message to avoid living in fear because we were made for life and all of its imperfections. This track expresses the beauty of taking the good alongside the bad with words like "I'd give up my peace of mind to lose my mind again with you".

Constellation

Finishing off the album with a message about how things in life come full circle, this song uses the stars as a metaphor for perspective. A glowing, soft electric guitar picking pattern supports Joe's high, angelic vocals through the verse before empowering percussion and deeper singing that is roaring with passion builds towards the chorus. Exhilaration and joy soar through the highs of the chorus. The track takes on the spirit of accomplishment, with all the preceding songs' revelations of identity, romance, growth, and perseverance fueling the energy of the lyrics.

Perseverance, self-love, and romance make up the heart of Music For People Who Believe In Love. This pop album uses alternative, rock, and folk influences with guitar and drum-heavy tunes that have an overall warm atmosphere. A refreshing message is woven through each and every song in the album: no matter what, life will keep moving forward. This collection of songs is the perfect support for listeners locked in post-breakup pain, letting them know that no matter what, new opportunities for happiness will come along. Joe Jonas has truly unlocked a can-do attitude with this uplifting album.

Written By Hanna Kowal

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