Heady pleasures from DNCE’s irresistible musicality
IF YOU enjoyed Joe Jonas’ critically acclaimed but underperforming debut solo album, 2011’s “Fastlife,” you will like “Swaay” even more. The four-track EP, Joe’s latest attempt at musically reinventing himself, was recently released in the Philippines.
This time, however, the Jonas Brothers’ former frontman doesn’t go at it alone. As part of the pop quartet DNCE, Joe collaborates with drummer Jack Lawless, bassist Cole Whittle and guitarist JinJoo Lee—with impressive results.
The pop foursome concocts and delivers a hook-heavy musical con- fection that cleverly reimagines the irrepressible and irresistible riffs of the disco years.
Music lovers can sing along and groove to its easy-on-the-ear tracks, most notable of which is the dance floor pounder, “Cake by the Ocean.”
“Cake” is a funky, more-popthan-rock number that is propelled by its finger-snapping ’70s swagger and frisky vibe. It reflects the reassuring message that it’s all right to take risks and live dangerously from time to time.
Joe and his team move farther away from the Jonas Brothers’ poprock sound with the scorching R&B smolder of “Jinx,” the sweltering sass of falsetto-garnished “Tooth- brush,” and the Jamiroquai-channeling “Pay My Rent,” about a guy who seeks commitment from someone who’s content with something less “permanent.”