Alberto Fernandez

Eng15

Brushfire Fairytales: A Review

Walk on to any college campus and you can hear his music. Log onto Facebook and nine times out of ten he’ll be listed under favorite music. His shows sell out and his following is growing exponentially. His name is Jack Johnson and he is one of today’s most popular artists. He has put out three solo albums, and has just released the soundtrack to the new major motion picture Curious George. Jack as so many of his fans refer to him, yours truly included, has a very original sound and an undeniable flow. His songs are laid back, laden with acoustic melodies and poetic lyrics. But Jack Johnson’s talents do not lie solely in singing and song writing, he is also an accomplished cinematographer and he was once a staple on the pro surfing circuit, earning himself a sponsorship from Quicksilver. However he has chosen a career in the music industry blending his folk styled music with hints of hip hop, soulful blues and modern rock creating his distinctive music. Hey He might chase waves in his other life, but his song writing ways do make for something quite charming (Wilson). His three albums have been met with phenomenal reviews and record sales, propelling him to where he is today, but it is this author’s opinion that Brushfire Fairytales, his debut album, is and always will be his best.

Jack burst on to the scene with Brushfire Fairytales, which truly defines him. Its relaxed feeling and smooth tones are what Jack Johnson is all about. It was truly a break through for Johnson, who had already released a surf movie and done a guest appearance on G. Love and Special Sauce’s album Philadelphonic. Brushfire Fairytales put Johnson on the national and international maps, establishing him as a true musician, and setting the bar for his next two albums which would both generate even higher sales, greatly because of the success of his debut. The album’s thirteen tracks are full of character, “whose calm surfaces hide a subtle but strong lyrical undertow” (Forman). It features a medley of songs like “Flake” which features Tommy Jordan on the steel drums, to “The News,” a very mellow, almost lethargic song about the world’s tragedies. It seems that Johnson invents his own style and is not afraid to change it up.

Now this is not to say that the album is perfect because it in no way is. Because Jack has such a calm, relaxed vibe, at times the album is too slow. There are certain tracks that seem to drag and never pick up when you think they will. “F-Stop Blues” is a very slow, sedated track. While at times this song can be extremely soothing, one really needs to be in the mood for such a track, I constantly find myself skipping “F-Stop Blues” in search of a more up-tempo song, with a faster beat. But then you find a track like “Mud Football,” fast paced with a positive feel, it is this transition in songs, this change up {Add a comma.} that keeps listeners hooked.

The core of the album lays in the middle, starting with “Sexy Plexi,” a poetic song, featuring a great lyrical composition, which also happens to be the shortest track on the CD by almost a minute. “Sexy Plexi” ties right into “Flake,” easily this author’s favorite track on the album. “Flake” is such a great change up on the album, the blending of the aforementioned steel drums, Ben Harper on the slide guitar, and of course Jack’s acoustic brilliance really creates a unique sound with hints of calypso and reggae. It is easily the most intricate and interesting track on the album with a sound parallel to none. The hit song “Bubble Toes,” perhaps Jack’s most recognizable song, rounds out the core. Starting off slow, with a muted background developing into one of the most intricate beats and lyrically provoking songs on the album, it blends a relaxed feel with a great beat, provoking the ever popular “head bob.” It is a song about beauty and love, Jack paints a rhythmic picture and you can almost see the little girl’s hips gyrating down “at the D.L.G.”

It is hard to believe that someone who grew up in paradise (Oahu, Hawaii) would ever sing the blues and in fact most would never expect any blues music to come from such a place. Wrong. Jack has the ability to appeal to the full spectrum of emotions, his songs like “Losing Hope” and “Middle Man” are ballads full of passion, full of bitterness, full of sadness. He nails down the feeling of hopelessness that comes with emotional uncertainty (Sprague). He has an uncanny ability to change the mood of his music, avoiding the sometimes depressing monotony of certain blues inspired music, changing the tempo, the beat, the rhythm throughout the album, keeping a new listener guessing.

Jack’s main attribute is his simplicity. His songs are very straightforward, they do not have too much going on and they are uncluttered. His ability to stay away from the complex rings clear on almost every track. With the exception of “Flake’s” steel drums and slide guitar, each song is recorded using only three instruments, and Jack’s, at times, whispering voice. His soft voice fits his style perfectly and he is so creative drawing on influences from so many different genres, creating his unique music, which will keep fans coming back for more for years to come. These songs have a relaxed beauty and understated depth that reward repeated listening (Forman). Jack Johnson is a man of many talents and Brushfire Fairytales is a wonderful display of his talent.

CITATIONS

Forman, Bill. "Editorial Reviews." Rev. of Brushfire Fairytales, by Jack

Sprague, David. Rev. of Brushfire Fairytales, by Jack Johnson. Barnes and Noble.

Wilson, Mackenzie. Rev. of Brushfire Fairytales, by Jack Johnson. MSN Music.