When Stars Were Still Just The Holes To Heaven

Okay, all last week Jane's Addiction Strays ruled the roost in my CD player. I didn't think anything would be able to displace it. However, then someone lent me a copy of Jack Johnson's new On and On, and I can't stop listening to it.

I had heard a little from his first CD, and it seemed pretty good. I thought it might be too "radio-friendly" for my tastes though and didn't really pay it much more attention. But after one listen to this second CD I am totally hooked. It's so catchy. The bass and percussion grooves really get me, and a lot of his lyrics really ring true to my head.

He's got sort of a Dave Matthews/Paul Simon simplicity, with a sweet groove underneath, sometimes reggae, or even Polynesian (exposing his Hawaiian upbringing). I don't think he's been influenced by Jimmy Buffett at all, and I doubt that many Parrot-heads would dig him, but I gotta tell you -- I get a Jimmy vibe from him sometimes. It's sort of a "beach party at dusk" music. Or, actually, it makes me imagine being on a deck bar party on the beach while a warm summer storm blows in at night. (Wow... I know.)