You know him as the youngest, curly-haired member of the Jonas Brothers who stole your heart as a kid with songs like “Burnin’ Up” and “Lovebug,” and his role as Nate in Disney Channel’s Camp Rock. But now, in an effort to show he has since matured into a serious, R&B-sounding artist, Nick Jonas released a self-titled album Nov. 10.

This was just the second solo album Jonas has produced—his first, “Nicholas Jonas,” came out in 2005, before the Jonas Brothers even existed. After the boy band hype started to die down in 2009, Jonas formed a new band for himself, Nick Jonas & the Administration. They released just one album, “Who I Am,” and this was the last official album we saw from him, until now.

“Nick Jonas” kicks off with “Chains,” the first of 11 songs, which also happens to be the first single he released in July. While the track really nails the new image of Jonas into your head, the beat changes too often to enjoy it.

The next song, also a single, is “Jealous,” and this one is definitely a highlight of the album. The track is focused on his scandalous lyrics—”you’re too sexy, beautiful / and everybody wants a taste”—matched by his strong vocals, rather than the beat, like in his previous song. “Jealous” was Jonas’ highest charting single ever, No. 8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

The third song and last single, “Teacher,” has a funky electro beat and much different sound than his first two tracks. The song, while catchy, exploits a lack of consistency in the sound Jonas is aiming for throughout the album.

Jonas restores his smooth R&B sound in his next song “Warning,” but then shifts to an alternative-pop beat in “Wilderness.” Unlike the other awkward transitions in the album, this one is actually a pleasant surprise. The album then takes another turn in the right direction with an electro/R&B combination in the song “Numb,” featuring rapper Angel Haze.

“Take Over,” “Push,” and “I Want You” continue to fluctuate in beat, but Jonas’ powerful voice never fails to remind us of his new style.

In “Avalanche,” Jonas reunites with fellow Disney star Demi Lovato to create quite the dynamic duet.

Overall, “Nick Jonas” is a great new start for Jonas, trying to break free of his childhood career and emerge into the world of serious artists. While the album frequently changes sounds, Jonas can definitely pull off each genre he takes on. This makes the album worth taking a listen—you can buy “Nick Jonas” on iTunes for just $6.99.

by RYLEA GILLIS