My Amazon Reviews: Jack Johnson "In Between Dreams"

Waiting for The Wake Up Call 
3 Out Of 5 Stars

Jack Johnson is the undisputed heir to the Jimmy Buffet world of breezy, feel good laconic pop. There's plenty of decent melody, a relaxing voice that hardly intrudes into your hemispheres, and a likable personality that thinks it might be fun to share a beer and some good times with the guy. The problem with "In Between Dreams" is that Johnson never gets much more interesting than that. You keep hoping that he might eventually show more depth than a beach layabout, but for that you'd have to jump ahead to his albums "Sleep Through The Static" and "To The Sea," where grown up concerns finally started giving his music some edge.

On "In Between Dreams," however, Johnson lacks any intellectual heft. "Banana Pancakes" is like a second cousin of Michael Franks' "Popsicle Toes" (or a stoned version Buffet's "Cheeseburger In Paradise") and then Johnson essentially rights the same song later in the album. That kind of repetition is a major issue throughout the album, as Johnson's carefree attitude with everything tends to render many of these songs to similar to be distinctive. It becomes easy to see why he became an early favorite with college kids; the mellowness would certain lend bland but irony-free trendiness to many a hipster party.

That's not to say the album is all bad. Johnson peaks midway through "In Between Dreams" with "Good People," the lyrically trippy "Sitting Waiting Wishing" and the funky "Staple It Together." These songs preview how much better Johnson's following albums - even the cutsie kiddie songs he recorded for the Curious George movie, in which his friendly voice is perfect - would become.


 

My Amazon Reviews: Donavon Frankenreiter "Glow"

Glowing Review  
3 Out Of 5 Stars

Donavon Frankenreiter started life as a buddy of Hawaiian mellow king Jack Johnson, and his 2010 album "Glow" remains firmly riding that wave. Easy, breezy melodies, strummed guitars and ukuleles, and a laid back attitude that could give you a suntan just by laying too close to the speakers. Along with his raspy, but agreeable voice, Donavon creates a likable lightwieght album for picnics and luaus. There's a sunny, beachy feel to "Glow" with the artist thoroughly enjoying his role as good-guy dude.

However, much like Jack Johnson's earlier work, Donavon his pretty low on depth. The title track is a fine ode to the love of your life, and on "Shadows," a very "Pride in The Name Of Love" guitar riff provides "Glow's" only surprise. The whole of "Glow" is subtle and warm, an anti-anxiety massage full of such peppy sentiments like "Dance Like Nobody's Watching" or cheery lyrics like:

"Don't worry 'bout a thing
Heaven knows what the day will bring
There's a big old sun, lighting up your sky
Burnin' off your blues, let the good light shine
It's gonna be all right."

"Glow" is a pleasant and enjoyable Pina Colada. It will make you mellow and buzzy, but that's the most you'll get from it.

 

My Amazon Reviews: Jack Johnson "To The Sea"

Ashes on The Water
4 Out of 5 Stars

Jack Johnson lost his father and his will to write before a sudden flood of songs emerged for the creation of "To The Sea," dedicated to his father's memory. While the songs rarely stray far from Jack's usual sunny surfer sound, there are a few moments where the grown-up lost-boy lets his emotions free in the lyrics. The result is my favorite Jack Johnson CD to date.

Both "To The Sea" and "Only The Ocean" have the emotional tug to them that has sometimes been absent from Jack's easy-going music. He was exploring relationships more on 2008's "Sleep Through The Static;" this time he's hitting the notes even better. And yet, his music, guitar playing and style are as smooth as always.

I am also enjoying his maturing lyrics outside the relationships. There's a certain Kinksian quality to "No Good With Faces" and "Pictures of People Taking Pictures," which ups the ante. "Red Wine, Mistakes and Mythology" is standard Jack Johnson, with a fun feel to it, with the clever wordplay and the sing-song feel of his best work. As always, Johnson sets a mood and runs with it through "To The Sea," and ultimately it's a satisfying one.