Paper Triangle

The laidback, summer vibes of Jack Johnson came at a perfect time… right in the dead of winter! (Please note the sarcasm)  When I picked up this album last week upon its release, I was eager as ever, dying to hear some music I was definitely craving.  In Between Dreams was a beautiful escape I’d never witnessed before on a music cd and I was hoping Sleep Through the Static might find a way to trump the masterpiece, especially since Zach Gill’s presence has now been officialized (he’s the amazing singer/pianist that was featured on In Between Dreams and played big parts at his concerts ever since). 

When I first popped in the cd, I was skeptical.  Things started off really slow… almost in a bad way.  But then halfway through the song you realized that it was actually a near-perfect tune that brought you in so wonderfully.  So once I accepted Jack’s slowed down nature, I unwinded in my bed and made my ears attentive.  What would ensue would no doubt be a pleasurable experience, but one that falls short of greatness.

The first song, All At Once reels you in, and Sleep Through the Static follows which continues things in one nice, fluid segway.  The immediate thing about JJ is that he never compromises his style for no one.  When you want mellowed out tunes to relax to, Jack will always be available.  But I suppose that’s where his downfall is…  While listening to this album, I always wanted to go and lie out in my hammock.  Sadly, it’s a frozen paradise outside and I can’t do any such thing.  So the full amazinginess of this album may never be realized until it can be warm out and the aesthetics of nature can enhance the listening experienced. 

That’s not to say Sleep Through the Static isn’t awesome though.

While maybe Sleep Through the Static came out at the wrong time of year (at least for those of us who have to deal with, uhm, cold weather), it still has a lot to offer and is totally worth the $10 it might cost you.

There are two songs that kinda go together, Angel and Enemy that knocked me off my feet.  Angel contains some of the most romantic lyrics I’ve ever heard in a song and Enemy is a very, very cool stand-out song.  Then another song, What You Thought You Need was another tune I heard and had to listen to again because I thought, “Wait, did I really just hear something that awesome?”

After listening to the album in full, there were a couple of tracks that bored me… and I was kind of upset at this.  But when I thought about it, Jack has never made a flawless album in my opinion.  There are always a handful of tunes I don’t like- In Between Dreams was the first and only cd of his where the whole package interested me.  And on this album, there’s only like, 2 or 3 songs that I could have done without.  So after analyzing it, Sleep Through the Static is my second favorite Jack album, but is totally necessary for any Jack Johnson fan.  There are some songs on here too good to pass up.

The verdict? 8/10.
It’s not perfect.  But it’s still better than anything you’re listening to right now (except Dallas Green’s new album: expect a review very soon).  and let’s face it, we all need more laidback grooves in our life.