Jack Johnson - In Between Dreams

ALBUM REVIEW

I love music. It's only fitting that I add some music reviews to my blog here, and try to give you my opinion on some of the albums that I snag. We're going to start with something fairly recent, but don't be surprised to see entries in the future that run the gamut in both time and space.

Jack Johnson is a Hawaiian. The laid back current of that fact is present in everything he does. From his mellow vocal delivery to the overall vibe of relaxation across this disc, it's hard not to slip into the groove and hum along.

You can easily picture these songs being played on an acoustic guitar around a bonfire on the beach. Sometimes, there's enough blues flavor that you could see a song coming from a street performer huddled over his guitar case on Bourbon Street. There's also a lot of lines about love, and a gentle reminiscence to the delivery on a lot of the songs that make this album something you could fall asleep to (and I mean that in a good way).

The album starts off with the very catchy and sentimental "Better Together". A good sampling of what's to come for the remainder of the ride.

Next, we stroll into "Never Know", which rolls along on the rhythm of strumming guitar, and builds into one of the more contagious choruses around. The delivery on said chorus is almost self-parody, by drawing out each refrain into long, lingering notes, but you'll be hard pressed not to sing right along with them.

"Banana Pancakes" is a quirky love anthem of wasting a day in bed. It has some of the best lyrics of the album, and a wonderful playful side to it.

I'm not sure if there have been more than one single released from this album, but it seems to me that "Good People" is earmarked for that task. It has enough of the blues flavor going on, another top notch and singable chorus, and a viable question asking where all the good people have gone.

We next travel down an almost country road, with the lolling gait of "No Other Way". Once again, the simple arrangement of acoustic guitar to the fore, and a simple feel to the arrangement of the song creates a nice ride. I enjoy the lyrics on this one, because it almost sounds more like a poem being read, than a song being built.

The very accessible, and instantly enjoyable single, "Sitting, Waiting, Wishing" isn't the best track on the album, but it's a lot better than most singles. Here's Jack Johnson with his blues turned on high, and the plaintive croon paying dividends on the chorus.

"Staple It Together" puts a spin on things, and actually has a better bassline than guitars for a change. Sort of an almost funky tune, but never taking it past radio-friendly.

Now, we have a vignette that seems a bit self-indulgent to me. "Situations" comes across as either an attempt to deliver a song by concentrate, or the germ of a song that was never fully developed. It feels sort of lost on the album, and could as easily leave you feeling the same way.

I've done my very best to point out the good, even on tracks that aren't really the stallions of the stable, but "Crying Shame" is really my least favorite track. Not only do the lyrics seem haphazard, but it's an attempt at a political/protest song almost by proxy. You can tell that it's put in there just to enhance the credibility of the "sensitive singer-songwriter". It seems phoned in, and I'd just as soon use caller ID, and wait for a better song.

In contrast to the last track, "If I Could" is one of my favorites. The guitar starts you off on a rhythm that you can't get away from, and the lyrics are poignant and interesting throughout.

There's a charming ache to the song "Breakdown" that I can't help but like. It speaks of losing time and touch, and it's playfully bittersweet through and through.

Now, next on the program we have another "snippet" of a song that actually does work. While I would prefer it to last longer, "Belle" starts off with some dexterous fret work, and then starts popping French. By the time you have your bearings again, it's already gone. It actually leaves you wanting more, and I think that's a good thing.

"Do You Remember" takes us on a journey. The arc of a relationship is caught in this time capsule, and you can almost feel the highs and lows of the whole thing. A very enjoyable song that almost sounds like something that should be played on someone's back porch.

We round out the disc with "Constellations" which is the closest thing to a lullaby I've ever enjoyed being awake for. There's a hushed tone to his voice here that just guides everything else, and makes for a very nice closer.

Overall, the best thing that I can say about this album is that I can almost listen to the whole thing through without skipping anything. The worst criticism that I think most people would level at it is that a lot of the tracks sound the same, and there aren't really any standout songs. Jack Johnson has always made music to chill by, and if you go into it ready to enjoy that, I'm sure that you'll be satisfied. You may end up being impressed by his chops, both vocal and guitar, but I think it's hard not to appreciate his effort for making a purely musical album from start to finish.

Rating = * * * * out of 5 stars