The basics out the way first:

• 'Proud' was the first single from this era, released last month. Peaked at #6, didn't sell very well, public cried 'Hahahahaha they're over and One Direction are better because you have to crack America to be deemed of any worth back here in Britain now.'
• Producers they've worked with so far include (but not limited to): Bangladesh, Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins, August Rigo and Babyface. They've said they're going for a more old school R&B sound on this record.
• Should probably be out end of the year with a couple more singles before that.

Now for my personal take on recent matters surrounding JLS - firstly the press rumours in the Mirror the other week that they are being 'forced' into doing a greatest hits next and that Aston is being groomed for a solo career. Having watched countless TV interviews and other bits and pieces of theirs and the 'Eyes Wide Open' film on several occasions I smell a strong reek of bullcrap on the 'Aston solo career' bit because they do have a genuine brotherhood between them unlike some other boybands I could care to mention who have members that you can just tell are going to pull a Robbie/Geri when the going gets tough in a year from now (watch where my eyes rest, Master Styles...) and I don't see them splitting anytime soon. They've all acknowledged on several occasions that solo careers would work for none of them.

 

As for the 'forced greatest hits' part...I have a quiet, terrible feeling that may be true (though I don't particularly want it to be). Largely because RCA is now listed as their label along with Sony Music on the sleeve of 'Proud', and not Epic, as has been the case since 'Beat Again'. No one on Twitter is quite sure whether they changed labels in between 'Do You Feel What I Feel?' and 'Proud' being released - but then it would kinda make sense given Nick Raphael, who signed them (and also the guy who was behind the success of Another Level and Blue back in the day), left Epic for Universal last year and he and Jo Charrington who also left were really their biggest champions creatively and knew exactly what direction to steer them in with albums/single releases etc. Then again he also signed Olly Murs and Olly's continued achieving greater and better things, more so than on his 1st album without Nick there. But Universal Island forced McFly into a greatest hits after the whole 'Motion in the Ocean' dramas and that was pretty hard to watch when I thought they'd just delivered their best studio album and I'd hate for this to be the case with JLS.

 

Yet for all the press snipery and sudden vogue for it to be 'cool' to knock JLS down and start writing them off simply because they haven't broken America (which BTW couldn't happen again anytime soon unless another Sony label in the US signed them up cos' they lost their deal with Jive over there after the EP in 2010 and 'Everybody In Love' failed to take off) or because they're not One Direction or The Wanted, they are still the best of the current boybands for me atm. Whilst 'Outta This World' is still their best album for me I'd easily listen to 'Jukebox' over 'Up All Night' or 'Battleground' any day. There's a magic about the four of them singing and performing together that bar Take That and Girls Aloud I don't experience with any other boyband or girl group when I'm watching/listening to them. The arena tour they're currently on is an amazing show, definitely their best yet - and every review for this new tour of theirs to date has been glowing, even from broadsheets who are usually begrudging of pop artists' tours. They have the right work ethic and they still have the genuine likeability about them that they had when they first auditioned for X Factor and I sincerely hope that this new album will silence everyone who's been writing them off.

Edited October 22, 201212 yr by ThePensmith

I don't have a problem with them not breaking America, many great artists fail to do so.

My only concern with JLS is the low quality of their music output, the cheap videos, the annoying "lifting your tee" trick on repeat, and many other things.

 

They are a very average band, releasing very average music.

Basically the same opinion as Hayzayy.

I don't have a problem with them not breaking America, many great artists fail to do so.

My only concern with JLS is the low quality of their music output, the cheap videos, the annoying "lifting your tee" trick on repeat, and many other things.

 

They are a very average band, releasing very average music.

 

^This.

 

JLS are very generic in terms of sound and all their songs basically revolve on the club banging theme...

I used to quite like them, but the last single I liked was She Makes Me Wanna (I'm alone I know), tbh I prefered them doing generic club bangers like Beat Again and She Makes Me Wanna (The Club Is Alive which is a 0/10 on a good day aside) rather than dull forgettable boyband by numbers ballads like Take A Chance On Me and Proud. I think they need a good amount of time to come up with much better material rather than rushing into things, and I certainly doubt they'll crack America, regardless of the fact that The Wanted and One Direction have.

JLS have done some pretty good songs if you ask me. I love the three singles from Jukebox, and the only single I haven't really liked is The Club Is Alive. I've not listened to any of their albums more than once, though. And 1D are better IMO. ;)

JLS started off their career with the brilliant "beat again" and a few other not bad tracks. However, the problem is they havent done anything near as strong since their first album and they've stuck to a particular formular with has kept them safe, but at the same time have failed to develop as proper recording artists. I think for the next album, they really need to come back with something a bit different and more mature or it could very well be their last album together as a band.

I don't have a problem with them not breaking America, many great artists fail to do so.

My only concern with JLS is the low quality of their music output, the cheap videos, the annoying "lifting your tee" trick on repeat, and many other things.

 

They are a very average band, releasing very average music.

 

 

Couldn't put it better myself! It seems that because of this their fanbase is losing a few followers or moving on to the next boyband. Its up for JLS to reinvent themselves as bands like Take That have done or they'll become like Westlife and end their own careers

 

I used to quite like them, but the last single I liked was She Makes Me Wanna (I'm alone I know), tbh I prefered them doing generic club bangers like Beat Again and She Makes Me Wanna (The Club Is Alive which is a 0/10 on a good day aside) rather than dull forgettable boyband by numbers ballads like Take A Chance On Me and Proud. I think they need a good amount of time to come up with much better material rather than rushing into things, and I certainly doubt they'll crack America, regardless of the fact that The Wanted and One Direction have.

 

CIA should never have been a B side let alone a lead single.

 

I also do not think that they will break America now as they had their opportunity and arent bringing out any music that would break the US market.

 

I actually dont think The Wanted have broken the US at all. They have had a hit single yes but until they achieve similar success from their follow up single and their album breaks into the top 10 and has strong sales I dont believe they will have broken it. If they never have another single charting over there then will they be considered in 10 years time as a success in America? No.

 

1D slightly different as they already have a number 1 album and their single is doing well. However they also run the risk of ending up like Leona who had a number 1 album and single over in the US with everyone raving about her and then since that point she hasnt matched it. Her last single didnt even chart in the US hot 100 and her album isnt in the top 300 preorder list.

 

Jls need to get their heads down, lose the 'tee shirt ripping' 'rushing out material for a quick number 1' labels and come back with a killer 4th album. If they dont..then we could be discussing a Greatest Hits and solo career in more depth

Edited April 8, 201213 yr by jay727

Her last single didnt even chart in the US hot 100 and her album isnt in the top 300 preorder list.

 

Sorry, as a Leona fan, I need to put you straight. Her last single that was actually sent to radio and pushed was 'Happy', which peaked at #31 in the US. 'Collide' was only sent to the clubs and charted at #1 on the official Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart. :)

 

On the topic of JLS, they need to actually be original with their music and unique. They haven't left it too late. They just need to take a year out and reinvent themselves as the band they should've been in 2009. They should be releasing songs like 'Love on Top' and 'Dedication to my Ex'. The old Motown feel but updated to a post-2010 sound. If they release another dud like 'Beat Again', 'The Club Is Alive' or 'She Makes Me Wanna', they are done.

Sorry, as a Leona fan, I need to put you straight. Her last single that was actually sent to radio and pushed was 'Happy', which peaked at #31 in the US. 'Collide' was only sent to the clubs and charted at #1 on the official Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart. :)

 

On the topic of JLS, they need to actually be original with their music and unique. They haven't left it too late. They just need to take a year out and reinvent themselves as the band they should've been in 2009. They should be releasing songs like 'Love on Top' and 'Dedication to my Ex'. The old Motown feel but updated to a post-2010 sound. If they release another dud like 'Beat Again', 'The Club Is Alive' or 'She Makes Me Wanna', they are done.

 

 

Not saying Leona has flopped over in America but she has never achieved the same success as Spirit and Bleeding Love got her that's all im saying. The Hot Dance Play Chart doesn't actually consist of sales according to RIAA, apparently it is just to do with Club listings and airplay so whether its number 1 or number 101 it didnt add any sales to her US total.

 

I agree 100% I think Love on Top style would suit them, this album is definately the defining one for them though. If it just manages to scrap platinum shipping (not sales!) as the Jukebox one did with sales continuing to decline then the label may make a decision or two

Not saying Leona has flopped over in America but she has never achieved the same success as Spirit and Bleeding Love got her that's all im saying. The Hot Dance Play Chart doesn't actually consist of sales according to RIAA, apparently it is just to do with Club listings and airplay so whether its number 1 or number 101 it didnt add any sales to her US total.

 

I agree 100% I think Love on Top style would suit them, this album is definately the defining one for them though. If it just manages to scrap platinum shipping (not sales!) as the Jukebox one did with sales continuing to decline then the label may make a decision or two

 

Oh yeah I know what you're saying. There's no doubt Leona hasn't matched her initial success. And that was my point regarding the HDCP chart. 'Collide' was only pushed in the clubs, not to the general public. :P

 

A retro style is definitely the way forward for JLS. Imagine if they had released a song like 'She Said' minus the rapping in 2009 when they debuted. They would've been something edgy and created a new dimension for boybands. But instead, they decided to follow the generic boyband formula.

Oh yeah I know what you're saying. There's no doubt Leona hasn't matched her initial success. And that was my point regarding the HDCP chart. 'Collide' was only pushed in the clubs, not to the general public. :P

 

A retro style is definitely the way forward for JLS. Imagine if they had released a song like 'She Said' minus the rapping in 2009 when they debuted. They would've been something edgy and created a new dimension for boybands. But instead, they decided to follow the generic boyband formula.

 

 

Yeah that baffles me, Leona has done it before and given the right support by her label she can definately get back into the US top 10, just strange that Collide wasnt pushed. I thought that style would have appealed to the yanks. I guess the reason for the album not making the top 300 preorders is no one seems to know when it will be released. The label really need to pull their socks up!

 

Yeah exactly! that would have been alot better! But you're right they went down the generic boyband route and whilst that is ok for 2 or 3 years eventually your fanbase will grow up or spend their money on other things leaving the band in a strange place and not knowing who they are aiming their music at anymore. They are called Jack the Lad Swing and yet they bring out boring autotuned ballads or uptempo catastrophes! Time for them to go back to basics. 10 songs on the album and all of good quality instead of 14 mediocre filler tracks to get the album out for Christmas

Yeah that baffles me, Leona has done it before and given the right support by her label she can definately get back into the US top 10, just strange that Collide wasnt pushed. I thought that style would have appealed to the yanks. I guess the reason for the album not making the top 300 preorders is no one seems to know when it will be released. The label really need to pull their socks up!

 

Yeah exactly! that would have been alot better! But you're right they went down the generic boyband route and whilst that is ok for 2 or 3 years eventually your fanbase will grow up or spend their money on other things leaving the band in a strange place and not knowing who they are aiming their music at anymore. They are called Jack the Lad Swing and yet they bring out boring autotuned ballads or uptempo catastrophes! Time for them to go back to basics. 10 songs on the album and all of good quality instead of 14 mediocre filler tracks to get the album out for Christmas

 

I think 'Collide' wasn't pushed because the US label saw the UK reaction, which was mediocre, and decided to make it a "buzz single" for the clubs. It might have made the top 300 preorders briefly but it's been available to preorder since early last year and there's no hype atm so I can understand why. A single is rumoured to come in June to tie in with the Hackney event so fingers crossed. :lol:

 

You make a good point actually. Jack the Lad Swing just sounds like a hugely pretentious name now. There's no swing in their music. There's not even any R&B tbh.

.

Edited January 18, 201312 yr by starryeyed

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7z6j8ApuE1r8ijygo1_500.jpg

 

Nice picture in Hello this week of the boys together before Marvin and Rochelle's wedding...they almost look like brothers here.

 

They've got some summer dates coming up end of this month with Little Mix and Cover Drive supporting so we'll hopefully hear some stuff either soon or not long after those...BTW has anyone seen their 'Whose Time Is Now?' advert for the new series of X Factor?

 

They've Tweeted today that the album's finished which means we'll probably be hearing the first single soon enough...they did the photoshoot for the album/single covers this week as well.

 

Also interesting is that Aston's just been confirmed this morning to join the judging panel for 'Got To Dance' on Sky1 as Adam Garcia's leaving to focus on West End work. He'll be perfect for that, he's probably the best dancer out of all the lads!

Not wishing to be forecasting the worst but I'll be AMAZED if this isn't their last studio album (with a GH set for next christmas) better to go out on a relative high than to go out with a wimper. To be honest I think a GH would be better for them THIS christmas as a farewell, they've gone as far as they can I believe.

I do think they're on their way out, definitely. They've never done one exceptional song for me, although I did rather like 'Eyes Wide Shut' and 'One Shot'.

JLS started off with some good hits but a lot of their songs sound the same and stick to a certain formula and their more recent hits have been missing that magic which made their earlier hits stand out.

Well I'll say no more except I hope they prove every single one of their doubters wrong :)