Album: Sleep Through The Static /  Artist: Jack Johnson /  14 tracks / Brushfire Records / Acoustic Pop

Jack Johnson, he of the laid-back lyrics which reflect his Hawaiian heritage is a singer/songwriter who has three platinum albums to his credit, and with the advent of his new CD Sleep Through The Static, now has what amounts to a protest song of sorts. I guarantee that you will not make the mistake of confusing him with a 1960’s Bob Dylan, Joan Baez or any number of other singer/songwriters who emerged from places such as New York City’s The Village or San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury. Johnson takes a less dynamic stand than Kayne West did with his song, “Diamonds From Sierra Leone,” which once again focused the world’s attention on the enslavement of children. Johnson instead employs his lazy vocal style and pointed lyrics such as, “Shock an awful thing to make somebody think / That they have to choose pushing for peace supporting the troops / And either you’re weak or you’ll use brut force-fee the truth,” to take a direct shot at the George Bush Iraq policy fiasco. Johnson never allows the song to become heavy, as he simply makes his points and moves on. It is also important to note, for the sake of the brave young men and women who put their lives on the line moment by moment, that this is a song that in no way speaks critically of our troops.

Johnson turns philosopher with the third track, “Hope,” a song which possesses a semi reggae influenced rhythm. The song, “Hope,” wanders leisurely almost without purpose, much like a child looking for shells on a beach.  The singer touches vaguely on several thoughts, but never rests.  One wonders if the lyrics may have their origins on some beach, where Johnson and another surfer were kicking back, after riding a big wave. Drummer Adam Topol’s backbeat is omnipresent, Zach Gill’s piano keys a bit staccato, and Johnson’s acoustic guitar melody is smooth and easygoing. While those elements may sound juxtaposed, it somehow all works well.

Prior to Johnson’s debut success with the CD Brushfire Fairytales in 2001, there was a groundswell of support for his music, in large part due to his friends reportedly distributing bootlegged copies of his music. Since those early days, the dedication of Johnson’s hardcore fans has become legendary, and the thirty-two year old father of two has filled a niche in pop culture that needed someone with a softer, lyrical approach, without becoming too folksy or roots oriented.

Sleep Through The Static is more a collection of poems than it is a selection of ballads, and the song, “If I Had Eyes,” may be Johnson’s prettiest poem on this album.  As he reflects on falling in and out of love, even the simplest of words sound polysyllabic as the flow into one another, but with amazing clarity, rather than becoming indistinguishable. As one listens to “If I Had Eyes,” one is left with the impression, that before he met his wife Kim, Johnson must have been the kind of guy who could break up with a girl, without her somehow feeling heartbroken. He has that knack of delivering concise messages without ever becoming emotionally jarring. I am not too sure, how I feel about that, given that we have been conditioned to believe that a singer should be able to pull an emotional response from the listener. On the other hand, there is so little today in our world to which we can cling, that we should be thankful for a troubadour who gives us hope and makes us feel good inside, which is exactly what Jack Johnson’s music does.

The tune, “What You Thought You Need,” is one of the few true ballads on Sleep Through The Static, and the singer weaves a gentle story of a couple trying to figure out whether they want to make a deeper commitment. If I was the woman in the story I would feel a little uneasy, because as romantic as the setting is, the one professing his love does so with vague imagery, which begs the question, “Is this guy serious about me or not?” Nevertheless, it is a pretty song and it does have its romantic moments.

 “Go On,” allows us to hear in a more prominent way—if one can make that statement about a subdued performance, the talents of drummer Topol, whose snare drum and      hi-hats get a workout, and Gill, whose elegant touches on the keys introduce and often carry the melody. There is also a subtle hint of programmed strings.

If you are into the  music of Jack Johnson (as I am), place a high priority on great lyrics, and can handle a complete album of laid back songs, with little change of pace, then you may want to give a listen to Sleeping Through The Static.

Reviewed by Joe Montague for Riveting Riffs (www.rivetingriffs.com)

Reviewed March 2008

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