It's nearly impossible to not to like Jack Johnson. I honestly can't think of anyone I know who hates the guy. Even my mom likes him, and her musical tastes start and end with Destiny's Child.
Only Johnson could pull off such poetic lyrics like "she's a tough enchilada/filled up with nada/givin' what she got to get dollar bills" ("Taylor" from On and On) and "when you move like a jellyfish/rhythm don't mean nothing/you go with flow/ you don't stop" ("Bubble Toes" from Brushfire Fairytales). If only we all could spit rhymes with such eloquence.
No one can argue that Johnson is a lyrical genius, yet there's a certain sincerity to his songs that make this transition to the "Curious George" soundtrack, Sing-A-Longs & Lullabies for the Film Curious George, so seamless. The movie looks about as appealing as changing a diaper, but still this soundtrack stands on its own as a Jack Johnson CD. It has already debuted at No. 1 on the charts, a testament to the dedication of his large and ever-growing fan base.
To be fair, the album is obviously directed at kids. The song about how fun recycling can be (called "The 3 R's" for reduce, reuse and recycle) was kind of a dead giveaway. "The Sharing Song," sounds like its straight out of the latest Kidz Bop disc, complete with kids screaming their little hearts out as backup singers. I can't imagine fans over the age of 10 requesting either song at his next concert.
However, the rest of the songs transcend the recess sing-a-long vibe. The first single, the radio-friendly "Upside Down," would have fit on any of Johnson's previous CDs. The undeniably likable remake of the White Stripes song "We're Going to Be Friends" brings back serious "Napoleon Dynamite" flashbacks (the song was played during the opening credits). Ben Harper joins the fun on "With My Own Two Hands," a superior remake of Harper's own song. The soothing "Lullaby" and the catchy "Broken" are the two standouts on an album devoid of filler.
Songwriting is the biggest improvement here. Johnson's earlier songs seemed to be more interested in what rhymed and flowed better together rather than coherent lyrics (seriously, some lyrics to songs on Brushfire Fairytales sound like they were written by an 8-year-old on an acid trip). Johnson benefits from focusing on matching the tunes with the innocence of the movie.
If you are against songs about eating ice cream, making friends and playing on jungle gyms, then save your money and plan on never having kids. Everyone else, satisfy your curiosity and check it out.
Grade: AB
