CD review: Jack Johnson strikes gold with laid-back beach attitude

By Casandra Woodcox

• Jack Johnson, In Between Dreams (Universal; release date March 1.)

March 2, 2005 | Surfer-turned-musician Jack Johnson delivers yet another beach-inspired acoustic rock album, In Between Dreams.

The breezy, catchy rhythm in all of Johnson's songs can deliver the beach to the most land-locked among us.

The casual delivery and execution of the lyrics display Johnson's ever-sharpening songwriting skills. The song Sitting, Waiting, Wishing... displays this skill in excellent form:

"I sang your songs / I danced your dance / I gave your friends all a chance / Putting up with them wasn't worth ever having you. / Maybe you've been through this before / But it's my first time / So please ignore the next few lines / Cause they're directed at you."

In Between Dreams' 14 tracks range from melodic serenades to toe-tapping acoustic jams. The album contains:

Better Together
Never Know
Banana Pancakes
Good People
No Other Way
Sitting, Waiting, Wishing
Staple it Together
Situations
Crying Shame
If I Could
Breakdown
Belle
Do You Remember
Constellations

Track 3, Banana Pancakes, is the perfect lazy-day anthem. The lyrics plead for the listener to just stay in bed, lounge around the house and let the phone ring:

"This song is meant to keep you from doing what you're 'sposed to ... / ... We could close the curtains / Pretend that there's no world outside ... / ... Do I really need to pay attention to the alarm / Wake up slow."

Johnson, guitarist/vocalist/songwriter, along with drummer Adam Topol and bassist Merlo Podlewski, strike gold. This album is the perfect follow-up to the trio's other two, Brushfire Fairytales and, most recently, On and On.

Johnson is also the creator and star, with the help of The Moonshine Conspiracy, of two surfing films: Thicker than Water and September Sessions.

More information, music clips and tour dates are available at http://www.jackjohnsonmusic.com.

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