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
