Artist Info:Discography Album length: 12 tracks: 40 minutes, 20 seconds Street Date: March 15, 2005
Ok, let me be honest with you - I asked for this review. When I found out that
The Very Best of Jump5 was up for grabs, I jumped (pun thoughtfully inserted) at the chance
to review it. Why? Because when it comes to danceable, kid-targeted pop, nobody does it like
this spunky (now-) foursome. In a relatively short five years, Jump5 have put
out four studio albums, one Christmas album, a series of karaoke compilations, as well as other
singles and Disney soundtrack contributions. Despite losing one member in the process, this
prolific pop group has put together a greatest hits package that compiles some of their catchiest
songs (as well as three brand-new ones) onto one fan-friendly disc.
As far as greatest hits collections go, The Very Best of Jump5 is fairly short. With
twelve tracks condensed into a tidy forty minutes, Jump5 keep things short and sweet. Although it
would be nice to see a couple more songs on there ("Why Do I Do" would have been a nice addition) the
disc's brevity actually works to its favor, since eighty minutes of Jump5 would have stretched the
hits too thinly. As it stands, the hits that did make the CD showcase Jump5 at their very best.
These teens specialize in catchy, upbeat music that you can move to and, more importantly, these
songs are filled with simple, uplifting messages that anybody, young and old, can latch onto.
The disc appropriately opens with "Spinnin' Around," Jump5's first hit from 2001. Still as
catchy as it was four years ago, this song has also aged remarkably well, considering that the
group has matured musically since their debut. Thankfully, Jump5 haven't yet abandoned their
dance-pop roots and the group extends the head-bopping party vibe with songs like "Throw Your Hands
Up," "Do Ya," and "Dance With Me." The new songs (the pop-rock sounding "Don't Run Away" and the
chorus-driven "Beautiful To Me") fit right in with the established hits. These new offerings are
the undeniable highlights of the album, featuring a more mature, guitar-driven sound that doesn't
sacrifice the catchiness of their earlier hits.
The only drawback to The Very Best of Jump5 is the perplexing amount of cover material
on the album. Including five covers on a greatest hits package is not a very good move, since it
deprives the listener of more deserving Jump5 originals. Though the new recording of the Michael W.
Smith classic "Friends" sounds pretty good (and is thankfully restrained), the rest of the covers
just don't have that Jump5 flavor that makes the originals so exciting. "Beauty and the Beast" is a
disappointingly light take on the Disney classic, while "God Bless America" and "We Are Family" are
pretty tame and pale in comparison to the other tracks.
Despite this, The Very Best of Jump5 is still a worthwhile collection for any
Jump5 fan. It's a great introduction to the group and the three brand-new songs make it a
must-have even for long-time fans. This teenage hit machine just keeps on rolling and I for one
am excited to see where they go next.
- Review date: 5/26/05, written by Sherwin Frias
Record Label: Sparrow Records
Album length: 12 tracks, 40 minutes and 20 seconds
Street Date: March 15, 2005
Buy It:Amazon.com
Record Label: Sparrow Records
