EP Review: DNCE — ‘People To People’
So far, DNCE has never released a truly terrible song. The discography of the Joe Jonas-fronted funk-pop band consists of a great debut EP (‘Swaay’), a slightly forgettable but nonetheless solid album (‘DNCE’), and a stand-alone single that arguably was the should-have-been mega hit of 2017 (“Kissing Strangers”).
Now DNCE are trying to recapture that late magic with a brand new EP titled ‘People To People’ and prompting us to ask a few questions. Can they keep up their good track record? Do any of the four new songs have as much hit potential as “Cake By The Ocean”? Is DNCE still the best thing to have come out of the Jonas Brothers? Let’s find out!
1) “TV In The Morning” (10/10)
“I don’t wanna love you, I don’t want your hand. But we can watch TV in the morning, drinking coffee in my bed.”
The EP opens with a funky beat that immediately makes you tap your toes and nod your head. Not in the “Body Moves” kind of way, mind you. This isn’t a dance track aimed at night clubs. It’s one of the laid-back mid-tempo summer bops that everybody is trying their hands on at the moment. But, crucially, this one won’t get lost in the depths of samey Spotify playlists.
“TV In The Morning” is among the very best of DNCE, easily drawing level with “Cake By The Ocean”. The verses instantly project vintage beach images into your mind, before the pre-chorus raises the bar even higher, carried by Joe’s sublime vocals. Then the chorus kicks in — and just like that of “Kissing Strangers” it marries catchy melodies with above-average, relatable lyrics.
If you want to jump on the funk-inspired mid-tempo pop train, THIS is how you do it.
2) “Still Good” (9/10)
“I know I get insecure ‘cause I’ve got some shit that you see right through. We’re kinda the same, no one’s to blame.”
On to the second track, and the EP is “still good”. Very good, in fact. In contrast to the upbeat songs that dominate DNCE’s catalogue, this track is a mid-tempo ballad that marries summary soundscapes with melancholy lyrics. The topic is heartbreak (yawn, never heard that one before), but it’s undeniably well executed.
The chorus is a gift to radio and heart-broken teenage girls, and the comparatively fast-paced pre-chorus represents a welcome break in the song’s structure. The lyrics may not be revolutionary, but all in all “Still Good” is still good. (Okay, enough bad puns, let’s move on.)
3) “Lose My Cool” (7/10)
“I don’t wanna call it love. Whatever it is is unfamiliar.”
The third track on ‘People To People’ is a sonic convertible trip along the coast in bright sunlight. It’s nothing we haven’t done before, but it’s still fun every time.
Joe Jonas’s high and laid-back vocals suit “Lose My Cool” perfectly and sound particularly great on the kind of sweet but also kind of bordering-on-cheesy chorus.
Once again, however, it’s the pre-chorus that is the best part of the song, with the most interesting melody and a well-executed change of pace. DNCE truly are the masters of the pre-chorus, and flawlessly use it to distract us from subpar lyrics such as “girl, I’m addicted to you” or “I just might crown you and make you my queen”. Ugh.
4) “Man On Fire” (7/10)
“I want you, I think. You need me, I think.”
The ‘People To People’ EP ends with a few well-placed vocoder effects and interesting glam rock influences. Joe’s voice works well with the more rocky sound. Sadly, “Man On Fire” doesn’t explore new lyrical territory or alter the record’s pace, thus not quite fulfilling its hit potential. It’s another solid effort carried by a strong but not all too exciting chorus and — of course — a pretty good pre-chorus.
Overall: 8/10
‘People To People’ summarises DNCE’s entire discography in just four songs: two alright but slightly forgettable tracks (“Lose My Cool”, “Man On Fire”) are outshone by a great one (“Still Good”) and completely eclipsed by an absolute banger (“TV In The Morning”). Joe Jonas’s vocals are amazing, the melodies and beats are solid, but the lyrics could be a lot more nuanced and captivating.
That being said, let’s keep our fingers crossed for a “TV In The Morning” music video — because if the band plays this one right, it may just have another world-wide hit on its hands.
Follow DNCE on social media and buy ‘People To People’ wherever music is sold.
