The month of December brought an early Christmas present this year in the form of JLS’s comeback album ‘JLS 2.0’. But after a seven-year hiatus, what does a JLS album mean today?
To those who were not children with too much free time and television access in the years of 2008–2013 the name JLS may seem like a hazy memory at best and a foreign concept at worst. For this reason, I will preface this article with a brief summary: in 2008 aspiring boy band JLS (consisting of Aston Merrygold, Oritsé Williams, Marvin Humes, and JB Gill) auditioned, and were met with great success, on the X Factor UK, ending up in second place in the season finale. This was subsequently followed by the release of four albums that could only be described as full of absolute bangers. From debut album ‘JLS’ featuring Beat Again and Everybody in Love, followed by ‘Outta This World’’s The Club Is Alive and Eyes Wide Shut; ‘Jukebox’’s She Makes Me Wanna and ‘Evolution’’s Hottest Girl in The World the band have a track record of releasing album content that without fail becomes an inescapable feel-good earworm. It was safe to say that when they announced a 2020 reunion tour with potential new music after seven years disbanded fans were beyond elated.
This promise of new music was briefly a point of controversy in February 2021, when it was thought that the band were planning to deviate heavily from their previous style — in reality there had been an error at Spotify causing drill track Loop by Switch and J9 to be released under the wrong account. Despite this new (genuine) music was indeed in the work, cumulating in the album “JLS 2.0”. The decision to release 2.0 during December 2021 was, in my eyes, perfect timing as audiences are currently primed for some feel good nostalgia. We are currently in what can only be described as a 2000’s-based renaissance, the start of this decade being marked so far by a need for escapism and a trend cycle heading towards the early 2000s.
Confession. JLS were my first ever concert, probably my first CD and most definitely one of the first bands that I can remember being invested in. For this reason, when news of their new album appeared on my Tiktok for you page I didn’t hesitate to check it out (thank you algorithmic gods). It was for the same reason that I then had no qualms with purchasing an album I had barely heard yet in the outdated format of cassette, so this article is more certainly unapologetically biased. And while I would personally state that the tape packaging needed some work, I felt the same childish excitement putting the cassette into my archaic radio today as I did pressing play on the Outta this World CD eleven years ago. Despite this bias I hope you find this article to the same journalistic integrity as any other, or at least somewhat entertaining.
JLS may be in their alleged second form (as noted by the use of 2.0,) but it is clear to see that their style was not lost in their seven year hiatus, with this album picking up right where Evolution left off.
The track Audition is without a doubt my favourite on the album. Mixing the Latin-American influence of Samba with an excellent drop at the chorus the song is vibrant and undeniably feel-good in nature that is repeated later on in the track Tango. Each solo verse and bridge compliments the other with ease, blending seamlessly in a way that fully immerses the listener in the song’s infectiously upbeat atmosphere. While Eternal Love is by far the most popular song from the album, welcomed by the fans for its classic JLS sound and smooth lyrics. Its retro music video further channels this slightly cheesy but wholesome energy, cycling through different eras while paying homage to the stars of each decade as the band sport cheerful throwback outfits.
The playful energy of both Audition and Eternal Love is further seen in tracks such as Postcard, wherein JLS profess they will “run faster than a bullet do” away from their “fake love” to avoid hearing more of their lies and suggest they don’t even bother to send a Postcard. Wise words to anyone aiming to break off a toxic relationship for their New Years Resolution. Changed likewise reminisces on a relationship, though this time from a similar perspective to the ex from Postcard as it seeks reconciliation and conversation with a former partner.
In contrast Priceless, Feel Your Love, Day One (featuring an alternative acoustic cover well worth checking out.) and Love Immortal capture the bubbly energy of a positive relationship. This is most prominently depicted during Priceless in the catchy line of “I ain’t tired, I wanna remind ya / That you’re priceless /Me without you is a minus”. Looking at me is yet another addition that can be described as playful, with each bandmate competing over the attention of a woman they are convinced is staring at him and not the others. Finally the album finished with DNA and Glow — both motivational songs about picking yourself up and staying optimistic while appreciating those you love. Notably Glow includes the use of a gospel choir, a first in the band’s discography.
Overall, I think this album is definitely solid JLS material and a much-deserved comeback, ‘JLS 2.0’ does what it set out to do. Though, if you are looking to get into JLS for the first time then maybe their older discography is a better place to begin. This is no fault of the album, but the result of a now nostalgia-tinted legacy featuring hits such as Beat Again, The Club is alive and Everybody in Love that cast an intimidatingly tall shadow over the band’s current work. Yet despite this nostalgia-based juxtaposition, the album definitely meets the same standard and quality as those before it, making it undeniably JLS through and through. It’s undoubtedly impressive how despite a seven-year hiatus between albums, JLS have managed to maintain the same quality and standard as though they hadn’t missed a day.
All in all, if you like JLS then JLS 2.0 will undeniably have something for you. If I were to rank this among the greater JLS discography, this would be a decent seven out of ten.
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