The Gen X answer to Jimmy Buffett

The year was 2001 and coming across the alternative and Triple A radio airwaves was an acoustic track with heavy bass and a melody that pervaded the listener's mind so much that you couldn't get the song out of your head. Jack Johnson was the artist and "Flake" was the song. After that Jack proceeded to have a couple other hits (from his debut album "Brushfire Fairytales") that had a similar tone and vibe. Much to everyone's surprise, the Hawaiian professional surfer became a hot commodity musically and a third career was born (he's also a noted surfing filmmaker). 2003 saw the release of Jack's second album "On And On" and, much like the first album, it contained a couple of hits (like "The Horizon Has Been Defeated") and went platinum just like "Fairytales" did. Also in this time Jack released the soundtracks to his two films "The September Sessions" and "Thicker Than Water" and started his own label called "Brushfire Records" that became the recording home of fellow surfer Donovan Frankenreiter (Thanks DrFaustus) and G Love. Love (DrFaustus again). So with the back history explained could the cottage industry that's become Jack Johnson and his laid back island sound score again?

Yep.

"In Between Dreams" is Jack Johnson's third full-length album (5th overall, counting the soundtracks). Once again coming in a Digi-pak case, a long pet peeve of mine, I understand now why every recording he's ever released is found in these cardboard packages, because he wants his albums to be more environmentally friendly (via his commitment to give 1% of royalties from every album sold to charity). That's a reason I can respect, as is the way the CD was packaged this time, it looks and feels like a mini vinyl record.

As for the music, it's what we've come to expect from Jack, quality tunes with laid back vibes and themes that revolve around love and life. An unexpected bonus is that a majority of the songs are more up-tempo than "On And On" and the record feels as a better partner to "Brushfire Fairytales." As I write this review (Mar 1, 2005), most everyone who listens to some kind of radio station has heard the first single "Sitting, Waiting, Wanting. " for it's been the #1 hit at Triple A (adult album alternative) radio formats for about a month. The song, a humorous look at love, is far from the only gem on this 14 track album. Kicking off the record is "Better Together" a sweet love song that finds Jack wondering how he can try to remember the things he experiences in between his dreams. Obviously "Better Together is the song where the album's title comes from. "Banana Pancakes" is a romantic track about wanting to spend the day with the one you love. "Good People" is the first of a few (mild) social commentary types of tracks and it's a good one. It discusses the malicious talking heads that permeate TV these days (those on Fox News, CNN, etc.). The song does this while being incorporated into a catchy radio ready track. "Staple It Together" is a slice of funky, sing-a-long melodic pie that will instantly find you wanting more by hitting the repeat button on the CD/mp3 player. "Breakdown" first appeared as a track on Handsome Boy Modeling School's "White People" album and is lovingly stripped down to be an acoustically melodic mid-tempo ballad.

While Jack Johnson isn't one to rock the boat or venture far from his signature sound, He certainly has created a very good album. It's full of sunny, laid back melodies and interesting lyrics. Sure there are a couple of songs that are really poems put to music (Situations" and Belle") but that's a minor complaint. In an era of music and cultural excess, Johnson is a beacon of brevity for his music never drags on longer than it should. Perhaps he's Gen X's own Jimmy Buffett, someone who's music timeless and appears effortless.

Because You Want To Know:
Songs
Better Together
Never Know
Banana Pancakes
Good People
No Other Way
Sitting, Waiting, Wishing
Staple It Together
Situations
Crying Shame
If I Could
Breakdown
Belle
Do You Remember
Constellations

Produced by Mario Caldato, Jr. and Jack Johnson.
Released on 03.01.05 by Brushfire Records.
Distributed By Unversal Records.