For anyone who hasn’t yet checked out what’s behind the four different TONY covers on the newsstands, this week’s issue has America’s biggest pop band guest-editing the Music section. The Jonas Brothers visited our Manhattan office to take part in our weekly Music team meeting. As the meeting wound down, the three brothers got talking about some of the lesser-known acts they’ve been digging—including Brooke Fraser and Benton Paul. What does Benton Paul sound like? “It’s like being in a coffeeshop, but you’re really impressed—like, it doesn’t suck” Nick said, then laughed a lot.
So we decided we needed a JoBros mixtape—and here it is. It includes cuts from Fraser and Paul, as well as tracks by the JoBros’ approved artists in this week’s magazine. Click past the jump to hear what the fellas had to say about their picks.
The Zutons – “Bumbag”
“We were over in Europe touring with Avril Lavigne last year, and the Zutons’ album had just been released. We were jetlagged, falling asleep. We had the TV on, it was a music special and the Zutons were playing live, just in a studio—and they were just incredible. The album really inspired the sound for our next record, because of the girl who plays sax. It was one of those things where it was kind of… off? But it was great. I think the kind of late-’60s rock sound they have going on really is awesome, the vocal sound is great. For top picks, there’s a song called ‘Bumbag,’ which is great, ‘What’s Your Problem?’ and ‘Little Red Door.’ You Can Do Anything is definitely one of my favorite records, ever.”—Nick
Brad Paisley – “American Saturday Night”
“I’m a huge country music fan, always have been, and American Saturday Night is an incredible record. Most of his records have a feeling of old country, but then you get the taste of the new—and the new is definitely progressive. This record really takes leaps and bounds; there are blues songs on there, there are a couple of piano songs, there’s a four-piece stringed jug band…you know what I mean? So there’s an eclectic sound to this record, but the storytelling and the songs are incredible.”—Kevin
Green Day – “Know Your Enemy”
“I definitely thought it was going to be really hard to top the last Green Day album, ’cause it was so massive, you know? But 21st Century Breakdown is really consistent. It’s not so political; I mean, there’s small things in there but generally it’s way less so. Like, ‘Know Your Enemy’ could be the guy at the 7-Eleven who you just can’t stand. As songwriters, we don’t like to get into too much politics. But some bands do it well, and Green Day is one of those bands.”—Joe
Matisyahu – “I Will Be Light”
“Every form of music has to be believable in its own right, and Matisyahu’s lyrics are a prime example. It’s a spiritual thing with reggae music and it always has been.”—Nick
Wilco – “(The Song)”
“Everybody knows Wilco is just great live—you can tell they record all together.”—Joe
Rolling Stones – “Mixed Emotions”
“The Stones is the Stones, it’s just classic rock & roll. I think you can’t go wrong—with every song you’re just like, Oh sweet, another good one!”—Joe
I’ll bet you anything that their publicist made them add “Supergirl” by Hannah Montana to this playlist. No teenage boy in his right mind would listen to that song willingly, even if he is dating the girl who sings it.
Other than that, this is a really good playlist. I disagree about the Green Day thing, though. I don’t think this album is even comparable to the last one. American Idiot was pure genius. But I do agree that it was very political. Green Day can pull it off, though. Controversy suits them.
my guess is disney paid tony so much money to put these idiots all over their magazine that they threw in hanna montana for free.
the tony music editor should be forced to listen to this trash for a week straight as penance.
How can they like Wilco and then like someone like Paisley and Miley? You’d think after hearing one Wilco song, they would realize that that stuff is absolute crap.
i’m huge jonas fan and they’ve helped open my eyes to a type of music that i would normally not listen to. They showed everybody their love passon and knowledge of music. They did a fantastic job.
i love this playlist besides supergirl.
(: from a dediceted Jonas Brothers fan.
Brooke Fraser is absolutely amazing…so glad she got a mention, C.S. Lewis Song is life-changing.
Benton Paul is also fantastic.
I love Miley but seriously question why Super Girl is on this list…haha.