Product Description

Something of a slacker renaissance man, prototypical mellowsurfer-dude Jack Johnson is not only a BILLBOARD-charting recording artist, but also a world-champion athlete and award-winning documentary filmmaker. On his second full-length album, ON AND ON, the sandy-toed singer/songwriter delivers a bare bones set of acoustic folk rock as soft and soothing asthe Hawaiian breezes that serve as his inspiration.
As on his debut disc, BRUSHFIRE FAIRYTALES, Johnson serves up a groovy, yet slightly melancholy stew in his trademark breathy voice, which at its best recalls everyone from Steve Miller to Chet Baker to Evan Dando of The Lemonheads. This time around, however, the vocalist/guitarist isn't afraid to gently stir pinches of reggae, hip-hop, and Harry Belafonte stylepop-calypso into his usual hippie jam-band roux. Mario Caldato Jr.'s ultra-sparse, live-sounding production carefully reveals the subtle sadness that lurks behind even Johnson's poppiest tunes, making ON AND ON the perfect album for a midnight beach party on the last night of summer vacation.

Track Listing

1. Times Like These
2. The Horizon Has Been Defeated
3. Traffic In The Sky
4. Taylor
5. Gone
6. Cupid
7. Wasting Time
8. Holes To Heaven
9. Dreams Be Dreams
10. Tomorrow Morning
11. Fall Line
12. Cookie Jar
13. Rodeo Clowns
14. Cocoon
15. Mediocre Bad Guys
16. Symbol In My Driveway
17. The Horizon Has Been Defeated

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #686 in Music
• Released on: 2003-06-30
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 47 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Jack Johnson has found himself a groove with On and On. Indeed, the Hawaiian surfing champion turned alternative pop-folk star really hasn't changed things one iota for his second release. Fans of Brushfire Fairytales should be delighted with the results. The groove is a mellow one--most of the 16 tracks here are semi-acoustic--and that easy-going spirit filters into Johnson's lyrical philosophies. "What will be will be / And so it goes" he sings on "Times Like These", the opening track. Thankfully, Johnson is never too mellow, and there's a "Don't worry, be happy" vibe to most of his music--"The Horizon Has Been Defeated" even has a pseudo-reggae feel to it. Although classified as an alternative musician, the singer-songwriter's compositions owe much to past hits. "Traffic in the Sky" is reminiscent of Jim Croce's "Operator" and Looking Glass's one-hit-wonder, "Brandy". On the splendid "Taylor", Johnson sounds an awful lot like Donovan, and "By the Way" recalls the Lovin' Spoonful. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews

jack
a beautifully put together album.
it really romances you.
sweet voice. amazing guitar.
simple pleasure.
highly recommended!

Jack Johnson - on and on
And on and on. I've listened to this album twice through and can't remember anything I've heard. It is instantly forgettable. It's the musical equivalent of Gap khakis; comfortable, familiar, inoffensive, but terribly bland.

But then what do you expect from someone who's spent the best part of his life sitting on a beach, surfing, and doing whatever else they do in Hawaii?

Considering there is so much great music being made in America right now, it's a shame (but not a surprise) that this is the sort of lifestyle muzak that so many people are picking up on.
If you believe that music is there to move you or take you on a journey, go elsewhere. But then, I'm sure if you believe that, like me, you already have.

stunning imagery
I was in hospital during a very long stint when a friend gave me this CD . What a profound effect ! At the time I'd not heard of Jack Johnson but listening to his lyrics took me out of my hospital surrounds . Tracks like 'holes to heaven' give a fabulous image that most of us lose from our innocent childhoods . Elsewhere 'Gone' is a wonderful ode against materialism . This album is incredibly thought provoking and I was a Jack Johnson convert after listening to this for a month or so . If it could rescue me from the drudgery of a hospital bed then it can certainly invigourate you from your daily stupor. This album restores that valuable naievety and wonderment that we lose as we grow older and become more cynical .