Blissful Bites with a Message (On And On - Jack Johnson)

Member Name: lemontiger

Product:	On And On - Jack Johnson
Date:	06/05/09 (80 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Chilled out, relaxed but with hard hitting messages

Disadvantages: A bit samey- too many messages sometimes

Jack Johnson has released five main albums of which 'On and On' was the second in 2003. I would place Jack as a mellow, chilled musician. His lyrics often have a blatant message and this is regularly about simplifying life, spending time with family and the way modern society can corrupt. These are strong messages, but sung in such a relaxed way and not really in your face like other artists.

I first heard Jack Johnson on a TV advert for his album In Between Dreams. I know lots of people who like Jack's music although he has had no real chart single successes here in the UK, although both In Between Dreams and Slep Through the Static albums reached number 1. However, I feel that the artists making chart number ones are all RnB songs, which I'm not a fan of. As Jack's music is completely different, I'm not suprised he has never had a top 20 single in the UK.

Tracks- I will try to sum up the songs and say whether I like them:

1. Times Like These
A song remindng us that while we might sometimes think our experiences now are exclusive to us such a birth, laughing, dying, war that these have all happened before. However, he's quick to point out that all these experiences change the world and our collective experierence means that things will never be the same again. This is vocals accompanied by a guitar and remind me of a campfire song. 3/5

2. The Horizon Has Been Defeated
The idea that something natural like a horizon that everyone experiences every day is being defeated by mechanisation and the way we live today. Quite an interesting concept in this jazzy number. 3/5

3. Traffic in the Sky
This song is a reaction to the 9/11 crashes as there's references to people being scared, always looking up instead of living their lives and 'scrapers'. It's like a response to those who can stop these things happening again to do something and makes such acts seem pointless. The messages are quite hard hitting but the tune is mellow and provocative. 4/5

4. Taylor
My favourite song on the alubm about a girl called Taylor who works as a streetwalker unbeknown to her family. She wishes she could get out of it, but she's in a trap and 'she pretends that she's somewhere else...about 2,000 miles from here.' The notion again that runs through many of Jack Johnson's songs that people are individuals and there are people doing things they don't want to do because they feel there is no alternative. If you can catch the music video for this with Ben Stiller it's hilarious. 5/5

5. Gone
Another one I like- it's all about the 'things' people have and that they value these more than people, brains, time, music- everything that Jack values. The style is similar to others hence I like it so much. 4/5

6. Cupid
A finger clicking kind of short song about love potentially breaking up 3/5

7. Wasting Time
Another jazzy upbeat song with a bit of electric guitar action that gets your foot tapping. I get mixed messages from this one but I guess it's mainly about us always being confused about our own feelings and ourselves but always thinking we know others really well- whether that's true or not. 4/5

8. Holes to Heaven
A song about arriving in another place where officials can be bribed, diesel fumes are spit out and 'children stare'. I'm not as keen on this one as the tune is a bit more mainstream and the words a little less meaningful. 2/5

9. Dreams Be Dreams
A pretty sounding song with soulful lyrics and chilled guitar about acting on your dreams and making them come true. Nice! 4/5

10. Tomorrow Morning
A song about being away and the person you're away from being a bit annoyed about it- I've been there a few times. Still in the chilled out style but a bit less interesting 2/5

11. Fall Line
A faster paced song about what we see on TV- reminds me of the news, always so depressing. There a bit of crooning call to stop all this negativity with a good line 'aint there nothing sacred anymore' which reminds me of some of the news stories I watch and can't believe people can be so harmful. 3/5

12. Cookie Jar
A jazzier version of above really, trying to lay the blame of where we are. Who to blame for a boy murderer's intentions- the boy, media, parents, films? They all have an excuse why it wasn't them and the song comes round to everyone has their part of blame- 'it's embarrassing' 'we only receive what we demand'. Meaningful but not dictatorial. 4/5

13. Rodeo Clowns
This one is upbeat, sultry and lively about going for a night out. Not so meaningful messagy it's one to dance to. 4/5

14. Cocoon
Really don't like this one. The tune and breaking up lyrics are so depressing. 1/5

15. Mediocre Bad Guys
Downbeat but still chilled, about society's mediocre bad guys- not too bad, just not good. 2/5

16. Symbol in My Driveway
A day at the beach, talking, laughing and the sea rolling in, rolling out. Suggesting we're pretty unproductive when we've got so much potential- let's put it to good use! 3/5

Imagine Jack Johnson playing and singing these songs sat on a log, facing out to sea and you've got the right kind of image of the songs as a whole.

It's a good album, lots of messages that are pretty akin to things I believe in. I think if you didn't, you wouldn't like it as much. I find songs really irritating if I don't agree with the lyrics, so if this is you but you like chilled out music, the songs on In Between Dreams by Jack Johnson are less 'messagy' and more relaxed, so you might prefer to try these first. However, if you already like In Between Dreams you'll probably like this. I really want to give it 3.5 stars, but a choice of 3 or 4, it just hits a 4.

Summary: GIve it a try if you like Jack!