Jack Johnson’s follow-up to 2001’s critically acclaimed “Brushfire Fairytales” is a laid-back, flowing album, largely full of acoustic material.
The songs on Johnson’s “On and On” run the spectrum from radio-friendly pop a la Marcy Playground and island-themed reggae songs, to ballads and folk-tinged blues. The songs are short, with only three breaking the three-minute mark.
The abum isn’t any kind of epic, and the music becomes monotonous. Basically, the songs keep the same beat, and the main parts are repetitious, with little thrown into the mix to keep it fresh or encourage repeated listening.
“Times Like These,” the opening track, isn’t exactly a song that would make a listener want to explore the rest of the album; Johnson plods through the song, mellow to the point that he sounds as if he’s dozing off. Much of the same can be said for “The Horizon Has Been Defeated,” which drifts off into a mild, Marley-esque sound. Johnson’s voice is bland and tiring here, and he lacks the enthusiasm to effectively pull off the reggae style he’s exploring. The result is a half-hearted endeavor that sounds as if Johnson only put it on the album to make listeners think he is more versatile than he really is.
One of the stand-out tracks from “On and On” is “Fall Line,” which tosses a nod back to the acoustic-based rock of the late 60s. When Johnson cries “We fell across the fall line/there ain’t nothing sacred anymore,” modern folk blends with sounds of the past to show the listener that certain kinds of music are timeless and still have relevance in today’s society. Unfortunately, the brightest spot on the album is also the shortest one, and it really doesn’t last long enough to invoke the kind of thought that the song could be capable of.
The closing track, “Symbol in My Driveway,” is also worth noting because of its smooth, crisp surf sounds, which draw heavily from the Beach Boys. The main rhythm of the song is a simple but effective slowed blues-boogie theme that, combined with the background sounds of the surf, whisks the listener away to a relaxed, trouble-free world. But, like “Fall Line,” the song just doesn’t last long enough for a satisfying listen.
Jack Johnson is a surfing-hero-turned-musician, and his music definitely reflects the island mentality. There is a laid-back, cool vibe on most of the songs, but this may also be the album’s biggest downfall.
Johnson plays the mellow part up a little too much, and with the repetitive music, it tends to make for a tedious listening experience. Out of 16 tracks, there should be far more songs that stand out. For his next release, Johnson will have to break some new ground and try things that haven’t been explored by other artists; there just isn’t anything new on this album. After awhile all the songs start to sound the same, despite Johnson’s musical experimentation.
With summer just around the corner, this album could easily be enjoyed on late nights while hanging out with friends. Those looking for something meaningful, though, would be better off checking out new releases by singers-songwriters Pete Yorn and Ben Harper; artists who create music in a similar genre, but pull it off with much better results.
