Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato and the music in 'Camp Rock'

For as big as Disney's "High School Musical" franchise has been, it lacked one magical ingredient that graces "Camp Rock," the studio's latest multi-platform TV/music extravaganza: the Jonas Brothers.

Though the accompanying soundtrack is less a Jonas Brothers property than it is a coming-out party for Demi Lovato, tipped to be Miley Cyrus 2.0 (or is that Hilary Duff 3.0?), the soundtrack is a stronger bid for musical legitimacy than the first two volumes of "High School Musical."

Although the "High School Musical" discs have resulted in sales well into the millions, neither walked away with a Grammy nomination, and as music, "High School Musical" came off as more of a karaoke sing-along than fresh teen pop.

"Camp Rock"  is a far more contemporary snapshot of the Radio Disney playlist. In addition to the high-energy rock of the Jonas Brothers, the soundtrack has a slow-dance showcase for lead Jonas, Joe, three self-esteem-boosting tracks from Lovato, and some bad-girl spunk -- in the form of club-ready dance -- from Meaghan Martin.

But does it all stand up outside of the made-for-TV film? The "Camp Rock" soundtrack is broken down below:

The songs of Joe Jonas/the Jonas Brothers: While "Camp Rock" will undoubtedly be a hit, it's also a momentum builder for the upcoming Jonas Brothers album, "A Little Bit Longer," which is due in August. As a full band, the Jonas Brothers only get one cut on the album, "Play My Music," but it's one of the film's showcase songs, and was one of the earliest videos released to hype the film.

The Jonas Brothers like to tell us that they're "living the dream," but too often they sound as if they're playing a part. "Play My Music" is no different. It's an inoffensive dash of power-pop, with a simple, slicing rhythmic guitar riff, but the song never takes off. As bubblegum pop goes, it lacks a spark.

The pre-chorus should be filled with hooks, with a plea for "hand-clapping, hip-shaking, heart-breaking" tunes, but every word is strained as if the boys are magically trying to grow some rock 'n' roll stubble. Like a kid trying to fit into his papa's suit, it doesn't fit.

And that cuts to the heart of the problem with the Jonas Brothers: For a band of teenagers traveling the world playing music, the brothers rarely sound like they're having fun. Even a mid-verse "whoo" sounds more processed than the guitars, and the Jonas Brothers try so hard to tell us how earth-shatteringly important rock 'n' roll is in the song, that it sounds like they're trying to convince themselves more than the audience.

But it's pleasantly ignorable compared with Joe's "Gotta Find You" ballad. The re-emergence of the rock 'n' roll tearjerker (see OneRepublic's "Apologize") is one of pop music's more distressing trends of late, and "Gotta Find You" doesn't add to the genre. With a cellphone-waving melody driving by an acoustic guitar (acoustic means sensitive!), the song manipulates by over-dramatizing its mundane lyrics.

What's up with this Demi Lovato: The Jonas Brothers had an apprenticeship opening for Miley Cyrus, and now that the former are top-billing, the siblings will take Lovato under their wing as a support act this summer. Her debut album is due in November.

"Play My Music" doesn't stray too from the Jonas Brothers' brand of bouncy pop, and that act is already a known quantity. As for Lovato, the young singer recently told Billboard that most of the music she's interested in is "too dark" to "make it on a Disney album." Supposedly, as the story goes, she turned to the Jonas Brothers to lighten her act up.   

Let's hope her three songs on "Camp Rock" aren't any indication of what to expect later this year. Her "Who Will I Be" will likely get the big push, and it cops a page from the Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana playbook -- guitars, brief and zany musical breakdown and a lyrical quest for an identity -- but it does so without any of the joy of Miley's music.

The music created for Miley had a bit of a self-deprecating streak, where a chorus that screams "Nobody's Perfect" is a cause for celebration. Lovato's "Who Will I Be," in contrast, strives for bratty mall-punk, but is instead pure cockiness. Like the popular kid no one can stand, she sings, "If I decide I'm the girl to change the world, I can do it anytime."

But to be fair, Lovato's a capable singer -- a cleaner Avril Lavigne, but just as tough -- and she will get a free pass here. Her songs lack any details in the lyrics, and are clearly plot-drivers first and foremost. For instance, her "This Is Me" is more or less a rewrite of "Who Will I Be" with a slower arrangement.

But more promising is "Our Time Is Here," with Lovato showing off some range. She's the tortured balladeer at the piano at the song's start, and then she powers into the soundtrack's most lilting chorus with a bit of brawniness. 

Disney plays it safe. Lovato doesn't get anything in "Camp Rock" that's as sparkly and spunky as Miley's current single, "7 Things." Instead, the studio is keeping Lovato a blank slate -- for now.

The best of the rest of the lot: Renee Sandstrom's ballad "Here I Am" is appropriately over-the-top, swelling to a full-orchestra by song's end, and is much better than the wimpy-boy earnestness of "Gotta Find You." Meaghan Martin's "Too Cool" is a much-needed burst of silliness, smoldering cheesy hard rock guitars over amped-up dance floor beats, and her "2 Stars" fashions a groove out of a squealing car.

But it's the Aaron Doyle-sung "What It Takes" that's the soundtrack's catchiest song. Next to the so-awful-it's-not-worth-discussing "Hasta La Vista," it's one of the film's hip-hop breakdowns. It succeeds with a chilling keyboard, video game swirls and a rattling rhythm. Doyle turns a request to borrow a sweatshirt into a pick-up line, and is playfully confident in the song's drawn out chorus.

But it's just kid's music: No. The Jonas Brothers/"Camp Rock"/Miley Cyrus/"High School Musical" are big business. If Disney is asking for the time and money of the consumer -- or the consumer's children -- the product is to be held to the same standards as any other piece of popular culture.

Photos: Disney

Comments

[Paige]

I have to say that I almost completely disagree with everything said here, too much to list; all I have to say is that I'm no "tween", but I bought the soundtrack and love most of the songs. I'll end with this: I don't think that "What It Takes" is the best song of Camp Rock. In fact, it was one of my least favorite.

[Bayley]

I think you're being a little harsh. The music was written for the movie, not for personal albums. Demi and the Jonas Brothers probably didn't write that music. So bash the Disney crew for writing it, not the performers

[casey]

ARE YOU AN IDIOT? All the songs you slammed are the best. All the songs you praise are the worst. Too cool is the dumbest song ever written and what it takes was forgettable and unnecessary to the movie. SO you like immature songs with vapid lyrics, yet ones about love, finding yourself or standing up for what you believe in are bad? People like you don't need to be music critics,

[Mallory]

wow!wow!wow!wow!

[Suzy]

I think the main goal for music written by Disney is to be catchy, and Camp Rock definitely pulled that off. I got the soundtrack the first day of its release, and I've been listening to it non-stop ever since. Again, it's very catchy, but it's also very eclectic. I think it's a great album which is fun for the kids, but parents, and also regular young adults like me, can enjoy it too.

[maddy]

I love every song on that track so who cares what you think your not even a tween or teenager thats who they made the movie for da! so dont even think about trashing stuff if you dont even know why the wrote it by the way if you trash them again think about how your making children feel about their idol's and rolmodel's think about that you big JERK

[Sophie]

I really don't think that this is a fair review. I found it quite biased and not well researched. These songs were written for the movie and do NOT reflect the singers' personalities so give those artists more credit. I aslo think that the sounds that were trashed in this artivle were some of the best on the soundtrack. The Jonas Brothers have proved agian and again that they are capable of being America's favorite and I am almost certain that they are enjoying what they are doing and I don't know what position you are in to say that you're not. If you listened to anyything they have ever said, you would know that they care about what they do and how it affects others. Also, Demi Lovato's songs clearly explain the plot of the film which is an uplifiting and inspiring tale about finding exactly who you are. Which is something that almost all viewers can relate to. So I commend Disney for this production and have no doubt that this will be quite the sensation. And I am thouroghly disappointed with the quality of this review.

[Iheartjoejonas12]

I agree with the person above me. This is a really bad review and not well researched. The Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato have the best music on here and not whoever else u mentioned. THE JONAS BROTHERS rROCK!!!

[Kai]

I find your review to be biased and off-target. The music featured on the soundtrack is set to match the personalities of the characters, not the actors and actresses. The cast did not write the music or the lyrics, they just perform them in character. I'm no tween or teen; I just turned 20, and found the music to be catchy and fun to listen to.

[OMG*NICK*JOE*AND *KEVIN!]

OHM! I love the jo bro's! WILL YOU MARRY ME JOE? I LOVE YOU ALL! I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE MOVIE! AHH! YOU HAVE THE BEST MUSIC EVER! ONCE AGAIN I LOVE YOU ALL! AND MY CUZIN LOVES DEMI! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

[I love JOE!!!]

I LOVE YOU JOE ! YOU ARE DA BOMB! WHO CARES ABOUT THE OTHER BAD COMMENTS!!!

[I love NICK!]

I LOVE YOU KEVIN! WILL U MARRY ME???

[I love KEVIN!]

i love you kevin! you rock my socks

[Cierra]

all of these songs are used for the movie, and i believe they are great songs, the perfromers didn't write them so you shouldn't be saying harsh things, and Demi Lovato sounds great and i think she did great with the movie, she has a wonderful voice and she will be bigger than Miley Cyrus, because atleast Demi is NATURAL and not fake.

My opinion.

[Katie]

Camp Rock is directed at kids and tweens, so I'm not surprised that the ignorant cynical critic that wrote this review didn't enjoy it. It sounds like the person who worte this review was just looking for something to complain about, and in the process made a total fool of themslef cos the movie and songs aren't even targeted at his age group and he reviewed them as if ithey were. Honestly, a good critic takes into account the target audience when reviewing something so that they can give an honest and unbiased review of the film, with respect to who will be reading the review and who will be watching the film. We don't want to know whether an old fart enjoyed the movie, we want to know if the target audience will enjoy the movie. DUH!

[Beth]

Are you kidding? Play my Music is catchy, bouncy, and just basically perfect. It's stuck in my head all day long, and it's just insane. Besides, Nick Jonas is the one who sings 'hands clapping, hip-shaking, etc.', not Joe! Get your facts straight! Gotta Find You is a good song, I'll go with that. I loved it. This is Me is also great, and you're just being really harsh here. Too Cool is also a good song. Demi is SO much better than Miley, it's unbelievable.

[Todd Martens]

Hi Katie,

I definitely wasn't looking for something to complain about, as I actually praised the soundtrack and Demi Lovato in multiple places. But I disagree with your thoughts on reviewing to a specific audience. "Toy Story" is a great movie, not a "great movie for a tween market." "Camp Rock" should be held to the same standard. Writing a review in regards to whether or not a specific, targeted audience will like it is an easy way out.

And I enjoyed the film.

Thanks

[Cheyda]

This review was very biased and badly-researched. You do realize that the artists did NOT write these songs, do you?

Besides, if the Jonas Brothers didn't like jetting all over the world to perform, would they be doing it? I mean, as of now, they have enough money for the three of them and their whole family to live a pretty lavish life.

You obviously haven't listened to this album enough. Go play it back a few more times, then come back and write a reasonable article also taking into account the target audience. Ok? Ok.

[xoxoxoxoNickisonxoxoxox]

I watched the movie on tuesday and it was great and it is deff. catchy which is good.

[Zaki]

I agree with the review. Yeah, I'm a teen, but I don't buy into the BubbleGum stuff Disney is cranking out. Yes, I know that the hype will get the targeted age group, but this will be just like High School Musical and Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: too drawn out until it gets the point where no one even likes it anymore (apart from the 12 year olds). I haven't seen the movie yet (seeing as it's Thursday), but like all of the other DCOM's I feel that the movie will live up to what a DCOM always is- corny, too fairytale, emotionless, and meant to be an icon.

[Morgan]

LUV CAMP ROCK WACHED IT AY PREMEIR IT WAS AH-MAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LUV DEMI

[Misty]

I think you're taking this all the wrong way. These songs don't reflect the artists at all, they were written FOR A MOVIE!!!

I think you're being unfair. It's suppose to be inoffensive, it's Disney. Would you want children listening to things that are offensive and screamo? Because they are the ones the movie was made for.

And to compare Demi Lovatos songs on the movie to Miley's "7 Things" is DUMB! "7 Things" is Mileys song, she wrote it, it's for her album, not for a movie.

Everything you said is wrong and very biased and it would appear as though you have no idea what you're talking about.

You are a terrible critic and I don't think I like you. This is a terrible review!

[jackie]

ha! i cont wate for camp rock to show tonight!I just wanted to say I love you all!

[Liz]

Well...it's all a matter of opinion. I will say, I think the energy and style the Jonas Brothers put forth LIVE far outpaces their recorded career so far...I count that as a plus in their corner. Still, when listening to the radio (I rarely do) most of it sounds like garbage in comparison.

But I do hope their producers learn to match the energy and sound of their live shows soon - I have been to many, and they get better and better and better. Really a fun group of musical performers - I love them, and am braced to endure the obvious and inevitable backlash that comes with ridiculously overbaked critical scrutiny.

[moe aka makayla]

your great i love you i can really relate to your songs !!:)