"Sleep Through the Static" - Jack Johnson

5/10 Thumbs Up

Jack Johnson's effort "Sleep Through the Static" was exactly that. Sleepy. Johnson's attempt to write about more serious matters was not a failure. But when the listener is slowly being lullabied by Johnson's melancholic laid-back voice, it's awfully hard to pay attention. The first four tracks were classic Jack Johnson for me. The chill-out song, The title track, The pop-enthused song, and the song about a lady. From songs 5-14 though, it grew too slow and uninteresting to listen to, with only 3 and a half or so songs having really up beat tempo's. When I listen to Jack Johnson, I'm looking to hear something that will make me feel good and positive. The album as a whole just didn't offer that for me. I do value his slower more serious songs, but only in moderation. This time, it was just overkill.
Despite my opinion as you know it now, I do think that in time it will grow on me. Maybe I haven't listened to it enough, but for now It's on the "sleepytime..." playlist on my iPod. We'll see 15 listens from now.

Bright Spots

Hope- A classic JJ track. Great chorus, and the song that you'll be humming for days.
Adrift- A very sweet, romantic song. A testament to the amazing songwriter that Johnson continues to become.
Go On- Jack Johnson offering new perspectives! Amazing! Taking the role of a man telling his lady to go on and leave him. Great instrument work also, I'm happy to know that JJ continues to use the simple drum-guitar-piano combination. Other people need to drop the synth and relax.

Dark Horse

While We Wait- This pint-sized 1:26 track might be forgotten, but Johnson's voice sounds most vulnerable and tender in the song.

Forget It!

They Do, The Don't- A bit too "311-ish" for my liking.