Since coming 2nd in the X Factor in 2008, everything else JLS has touched has turned to gold. Winning 4 MOBO Awards is no mean feat and it certainly stamps out the runners up tag. Now with album number three out in three years, Jukebox heightens and extends their reign at the top of the commercial scene. With pop charted hits already in ‘She Makes Me Wanna’ featuring Dev and ‘Take A Chance on Me’ Jukebox looks to follow in the same footsteps as its predecessors to make Aston, Marvin, Oritsé and JB the biggest boy band in the UK… and possibly the world.

JLS - Take A Chance On Me on MUZU.

Though this album does touch a lot on Europop and is a winning formula for audiences in Britain, but JLS has changed in small doses to make their fan base grow considerably. For instance, ‘Take A Chance On Me’ sounds as if it was made for Bruno Mars and ‘Go Harder’ expresses how the boys vocals would rival Chris Browns impressive singing ability. It’s not like America has been hiding from easy listening and simple lyrics pop tracks, they are the ones created some of the best boy bands. Backstreet Boys, Jackson 5 and Boyz II Men are all groups to which JLS aspire to and people today are seeing the resemblance. The only way however to get JLS’s name out there is they go acoustic.

This is represented by the stand out track ‘Shy Of The Cool’. The last song of the album takes a different turn to the rest of the track list. JLS take a break from the dancefloor and come together for a slow piano and violin based ballad that will touch any soul. You think you heard everything the boys had to offer but the perseverance and drive to create possibly a timeless classic is something the JLS are together realizing is essential. Definitely something for them to look at for future releases as the diversity and flare in pop records today is what makes a long lasting act stick. To flow with the times and not to stick to what you know and love is how artists get remembered.

In conclusion, JLS have steadied the ship when it comes to world domination. Though they are on the right track, the amount of dance floor tracks does outweigh the slower, more tasteful songs that suit JLS to a tee. Though their winning formula of catchy pop is what has got them the number 1 and 2 albums in the past, another album in the same limelight seems a little repetitive. Hopefully album number four will be the iconic record that is crying out for JLS to make to help them conquer the world.

MOBO gives JLS’s 3rd album Jukebox a respectable 4 M’s out of 5.

Jukebox is out now.

Words By: Dean Woodhouse