MUSIC REVIEW-JACK JOHNSON “IN BETWEEN DREAMS”

I bought the Jack Johnson CD the other day. I thought I might give my impression of it. Here’s a song by song opinion/decription:

Better Together:
Well, the flow of this song follows what all first songs should do, it excites you. It’s a step faster than most on the CD, and has a hook at the beginning. This is a simple groovy love song to introduce the album.

Never Know:
This song is one of many in which Jack proves his artistic integrity. With the drums pumping out a strong backbeat, he pumps out slightly delayed 8th notes to create a nice vibe. However, the secret of ‘Never Know’ is in the lyrics. ‘Never Know’ is a scathing slam on artists who ‘keep killing for their metaphors, but don’t leave much to the imagination.’ Jack is clearly slamming the music industry/pop writers who ‘kill’ the crowds with their ‘shocking’, ‘clever but clueless’ music. Johnson considers these songs ‘the same with a different name.’

Banana Pancakes:
Stupid and pointless-a knock off of ‘Bubble Toes,’ but without the original feeling. Dave Matthews has to have his ‘I Did It.’ Jack counters with ‘Bubble Toes.” Why?!? Well, nothing is wrong with the acoustic guitar, but a nice guitar riff can not justify stupid lyrics. Can it?

Good People:
As if he knows some of his fans will object to ‘Banana Pancakes,’ Jack places ‘Good People’ next. The song begins with a bluesy funky little jam. ‘Good People’ is the ‘Cookie Jar’ of ‘In Between Dreams.’ In ‘Cookie Jar’ Jack says he’ll ‘turn off the tv, because it’s so embarrassing.’ He alludes to the lack of people’s accountability for their actions, and their passing of the buck. ‘Good People’ is simply Jack showing his disdain for the News Medias lack of positive reporting. ‘Station to station desensitizing the nation going, going, gone.’ ‘Where’d all the good people go?’

No Other Way
Here is a poetic song about a waning relationship. The song equates sleeping to breaking up and is a lullaby type of melody. ‘Woman, please get some sleep.’ This song contains more than I am capable of deciphering.

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing
Jack transitions from a poetic metaphor of ‘No Other Way’ to a direct address in ‘Sitting, Waiting, Wishing.’ This is song has the feel and rhythm of ‘Flake,’ Johnson’s first radio song. It is definitely Jack’s money maker for this album. With the format of Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Change, Verse Chorus, it is standard writing. It is a simple clever unrequited love song. I wonder when he wrote ‘Never Know.’

Staple it Together
This song has a nice Motown Funk appeal. With an electric guitar playing minor and 7th chords, Johnson repeats his theme of “better staple it together and call it bad weather.”
This song is about living in the present and not looking back at the past with regret over things you did not do because it jeopardizes future happiness. This song follows a set of metaphors and clever twists on old clichés to a funky conclusion.

Situations
A short poem recorded in a less produced format for a more personal sound. Cool little number. Give your own take on its meaning.

Crying Shame
Cyring Shame is questioning the war. Jack does not Bush Bash, but he does question if war in general resolves anything. In a reggae song with soul Jack states,‘By now we should know how to communicate instead of coming to blows.’ I wish we could.

If I Could
The two most popular topics of literature are love and death. This song mourns the loss of a friend. It starts as a simple acoustic guitar, voice, and some bongos. A quiet accordion is added and everything is said.

Breakdown
Jack’s speaks of peoples

Belle
This song is partially in a completely different language, French. It has a nice jazzy guitar and an accordion.

Do You Remember
This song has an undertone of a bluegrass rhythm. It contrasts well with the Jazz of ‘Belle.’ ‘Do You Remember’ is a nostalgic love song telling his first gal somewhere in time she’s still his.

Constellations
Acoustic folk rock. Johnson sings about a memory with a loved one. He brings some of his Hawaiian culture for the last song of his album. It’s a nice touch. It worked with ‘Symbol in My Driveway,’ too.

I originally subscribed to “Rolling Stone” magazine to read articles like this one. Unfortunately, RS has become an industry of cool. The current cool thing to do is rebel against authority, as usual. So, punk rockers, ‘Green Day’ have been praised for their pop-punk Bush Bashing music. Their CD is much to be desired musically.

Jack Johnson has earned his popular appeal the same way Dave Matthews did, he maintains his artistic credibility. Now, of course day has gone the way of “Everyday,” and I have alluded to many similarities in Jack new album and his old which lends this one to a formula. However, “In Between Dreams” maintains its credibility. Jack toys with other styles of music while keeping his own, and only adds a couple money makers. As Edwin McCain once told me, “You have to put a least one or two hits on there for the record company, then you get to express yourself on the rest of the album.” (paraphrased, of course, I was drunk when we spoke.) I guess one dirty little pop song doesn’t completely taint a work.