Thursday, December 16, 2010

Jack Johnson Music Review Final Draft

Harmonic tones, soft melodies and positive lyrics; these are the characteristics of Jack Johnson’s music.
Born on Hawaii, he became a professional surfer at the age of 17. Because of a surfing accident during the Pipeline Masters, he quit his surfing career and attended the University of California, Santa Barbara. This is when Johnson developed his passion for music. After he graduated with a degree in film, he produced surfing films and continued experimenting with music by writing sound tracks for his movies.
Fortunately he kept on playing and writing music, because that is what he has really become famous for.
His new, fifth album "To The Sea", released in May 2010, reflects the fundamentals his music is based on. The melodies and the rhythm of Johnson’s songs express his relaxed, carefree attitude. That makes him one to the best artist around, because when listening to his songs, he creates a mood in the listener, so that it seems that the world is a better place.
His childhood as a surfer definitely influenced his career as a musician and especially his latest album “To the Sea”, which includes many songs dealing with water. For example “You and Your Heart”, whose music video shows Johnson surfing. Other songs “To the sea” and “Only the ocean” express his strong connection to the water.
“When this world is too much, it will be,
Only the ocean and me”
Although the acoustic guitar is one of the major instruments, it steps into the background. On this album, Jack Johnson's band can be heard more than usual in the foreground, especially the piano which is noticeable on the songs. Zach Gill who also plays the accordion and ukulele had a huge impact on this album. He is not only very important for the melody, he also wrote songs together with Johnson.
This is a risky step, because the acoustic guitar is Jack Johnson’s signature, which he made his last albums so successful. But the final product is a felicitous work. All of his songs are just great to relax and dream about laying on a beach in Hawaii.
The Hawaiian vocalist Paul Fuga is a guest artist on Johnson's album. Johnson and Fuga recorded a remake of the song "Better Together” from Johnson’s third album. Fuga is also involved in the song, "Turn you love". The new version of “Better Together” is successful, but it is hard to say which one of them is better, because the original one is one of Johnson’s classic, played very often on the radio.
About the title of this album Johnson says that it could refer to a father leading his son to the sea, with the water representing the subconscious. He explains that it is about trying to go beneath the surface and understanding yourself.

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