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Sleep Through the Static by Jack Johnson

Sleep Through the Static

Release Date: 2/5/2008

Recording Date: 2/2008

Tracks: 14

Length: 00:51:21 Hrs

Label: Republic

Type: CD,DI

Genre/Styles:
Hawaii, Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals, United States of America, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter

Album Tracks (14)

Song Title
Length
1.
All at Once
03:37
2.
Sleep Through the Static
03:43
3.
Hope
03:42
4.
Angel
02:03
5.
Enemy
03:48
6.
If I Had Eyes
03:58
7.
Same Girl
02:12
8.
What You Thought You Need
05:27
9.
Adrift
03:56
10.
Go On
04:34
11.
They Do, They Don't
04:11
12.
While We Wait
01:26
13.
Monsoon
04:16
14.
Losing Keys
04:28

What the Critics Say

Much of the press surrounding the release of Sleep Through the Static recounted Jack Johnson's claim that he gave all his peppy pop tunes over to the Curious George soundtrack and how that, combined with personal losses -- including the death of his cousin Danny Riley, to whom the album is dedicated -- led the surfing singer/songwriter into darker territory for his fifth album. To a certain extent, all of that is true, as the album does open with an atypically stark, moody number in "All at Once" and there are some darker sentiments lurking within the 14 songs here, but it takes some close listening to find the sorrow flowing through some of the words. Some very close listening, really, as Johnson's sand-brushed, gentle voice doesn't command attention. His voice lulls and soothes, so it takes concentrated effort to hear beyond his tone and hear what he's actually saying. Then again, the meaning of Johnson's music doesn't matter as much as the mellow mood, a feeling that he's sustained throughout his albums and doesn't change here. Johnson may use more electric guitars than acoustics on Sleep Through the Static, but he's strumming them like acoustics and his overall aesthetic has not changed at all: he's still a laid-back guy singing songs that roll so easy they glide into the background. No matter what instrument he's playing or what he's singing about, his music still feels the same, which is enough to satisfy his fans but not to win him many new ones. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

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