Nicholas Jonas

Self-titled

INO Records

11 tracks @ 41:44

This is a rather amazing record, coming from a 12-year old. If you or your children enjoy Jump5 and Stacie Orrico, you'll like this record.

Nicholas' voice reminds me of an early-era Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 (That's before all of the surgery and other weird stuff. What a sad, sad story. Any way, the Jackson 5 was some of the first music I ever purchased).

“Dear God” is a great song. It takes the form of an open letter to Him to “help me out” and offers hope, “I think I see a rainbow behind the clouds and I hear you now.”

“Time for Me to Fly” features an opening verse that many of us can identify with, “I've been wasting my time, losing my mind, running races, still don't know what I've been chasing.” “Higher Love” is a carbon copy of the Steve Winwood song, but takes on a little different meaning when performed by a Christian artist.

“Joy to the World,” however, is NOT a cover of the Christmas standard but rather an appeal to God that on Christmas everyone will know that someone cares for them. You may have heard this one on Christian radio.

Unless there's some kind of hidden meaning that I'm missing, “Crazy Kind of Crush” is a clinker about a grade-school crush and asking a girl to a dance. It's certainly Radio Disney-ready. Musically, it rips off the Jackson 5 song “ABC.”

I've looked but I cannot find who performs the duet on “Look Me in the Eyes.” I should know who it is as I recognize the voice. Sorry.

I say give this record a chance. At least get it for your kids.

- Rob S.