Jack Johnson - On and On.

Posted by: J.N. on 20 April 2004

Just got his latest album (2003) and can heartily recommend it.

Well recorded, sparse acoustic/electric rock/pop with some reggae influences (and I hate full-on reggae!)

Three piece band including Hawaiian born jack, so the sound is delightfully clean and unfussy.

The previous album 'Bushfire Fairytales' isn't as accessible and didn't grab me like this one, but worth checking out.

Jack's web-site

Any other devotees?
Posted on: 21 April 2004 by Thomas K
John, I got his first album when it came out and think it's a bit better than On and On. But both are quite accessible, really -- it is fairly simple music, but the playing is tight and I like the recordings too.

Apparently, JJ used to be a pro surfer. There's another surfer cum musician called Donovan Frankenreiter (not sure about the spelling of his first name) who sold CDs via his website which I can no longer find, but I read somewhere that a "proper" album is meant to come out. The music's even simpler than JJ's.

If you like this kind of stuff you will also appreciate the early Ben Harper.

Thomas
Posted on: 21 April 2004 by Mike Hanson
When we were on vacation in Jasper, Alberta laster year, we had dinner in a cabin that was converted into a wonderful little gourmet restaurant, nestled in a small resort along the highway east of the park. They were playing Jack Johnson, and I liked it enough to ask who it was.

I added his stuff to my "buy when you feel like it" list, but I haven't felt like it yet. Smile

-=> Mike Hanson <=-
Posted on: 21 April 2004 by J.N.
Hi Thomas

Yes; I have some Ben Harper albums. I had one of those defining Hi-Fi moments when I heard 'Excuse Me Mister' in the Naim room at a Hi-Fi show with three 500's into DBL's.

Incredible!
Posted on: 21 April 2004 by Thomas K
John, yes -- that second album is particularly good. I find it's his most consistent, never loses the thread from the first song to the last. I would love to hear it on a big pair of speakers!

Do you know G. Love and Special Sauce? They're another band in that vein.

Thomas