Jason Mraz - We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. (2008)

Mraz can't write a lyric, but he sure can write a pop hook. This is an expertly crafted collection of pop songs, but the main draw for someone like me is the retro-production that attempts to capture the '70s and '80s. Some examples: the song Butterfly tries hard to be Quincy Jones-era Michael Jackson while Love For A Child wouldn't have been out of place on a mid-'70s Elton John album. Overall, though, the sound/feel of the album reminds me more of Hall & Oates than anyone else. Metacritic has this album rated at 60 and I'm okay with that - a few great songs, some good ones, and some filler. Mraz has a enjoyable tenor voice and doesn't need to use AutoTune - just don't listen to the ignorant nonsense he's singing about.

The album garnered two Grammy awards for Mraz: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Make It Mine and Best Pop Collaboration (with Colbie Caillat) for Lucky.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #3

Tracks:  The album is front-loaded with the aforementioned Make It Mine and Lucky as well as the ubiquitous I'm Yours. But the album starts to unravel about track 7 (with the exception of Only Human which is the best Remy Shand song he never wrote).

The disc is an "Enhanced CD" with promises of online extras. Not surprisingly, that content is no longer available (I got a "404 error" whatever that is).

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  None.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Waiting For My Rocket To Come (2002)

Jason Mraz - Waiting For My Rocket To Come (2002)

If you know that I listen to DMB and John Mayer, then it shouldn't come as a surprise that I have a CD by Jason Mraz. Mraz leans a little more to reggae/folk rhythms than the others and is a much better singer and a more consistent pop songwriter. His lyrics, unfortunately, are sometimes needlessly crass as if he is trying to shock his audience. Still, I'm a sucker for a good pop song and there are plenty of hook-laden melodies on this release.

Billboard, October 26, 2002, p. 18

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #55 (Aug 30, 2003)

Tracks: The first seven tracks are all good: You And I Both, I'll Do Anything, The Remedy (I Won't Worry), Who Needs Shelter, Curbside Prophet, Sleep All Day, and Too Much Food. After 2 average tracks, the CD ends with 3 more good ones. I like No Stopping Us because it sounds like a Chicago song. 10 good cuts out of 12. Not bad at all.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I bought this cheap at Wal-Mart in BC while I was in grad school at UH. After a few listenings, I lent it to a classmate who let his wife listen to it. She took it to her office and I didn't see it again for a while. I think she liked it.