"Sleep" offers much of the same

Jack Johnson's recent release, titled "Sleep Through the Static," was supposed to be a musically radical breakthrough. The addition of an electric guitar to the album's make-up was supposed to add a fresh, edgy vibe to Johnson's typically languid resonance. But "Sleep Through the Static" isn't quite as ambitious as all the pre-release hype projected; in fact, most of the songs seem as calming and acoustic-based as those on his previous albums.

On his fourth album drop, produced by JP Plunier, Johnson takes a thematically mature stab at songwriting, but the instrumentals are much less adventurous. Though the addition of keyboard player Zach Gill to Johnson's entourage has left some room for expanding Johnson's relatively consistent sound, the talented musical endeavors of Gill, drummer Adam Topol and bassist Merlo Podlewski seem stifled.

Lyrically, however, Johnson has certainly stepped off the sandy beach and dipped his toes into something a little more controversial. Breaking away slightly from his fun, playful side, one which brought innocuous hits like "Bubbly Toes" and "Banana Pancakes" into the limelight, Johnson has turned the tables with the title track. "Sleep Through the Static," the album's second ballad, is a political, anti-war commentary equipped with a slow, glum harmonica opening to match the somber theme. Johnson sings, "Who needs please when we've got guns?/ Who needs peace when we've gone above/ But beyond where we should have gone?/ We went beyond where we should have gone" in an angry chorus accompanied by a catchy drum and acoustic guitar collaboration.

"They Do, They Don't," a later track on his album, also contains a contemporary, doubt-ridden political message with lyrics like "Why'd you trust us we are such villains/ We would tell ourselves anything/ We want to hear if we are willing." But despite the dreary message of the track, Johnson's soft voice and Podlewski's slow, electric guitar chords combine to create a likeable addition to the album.

It wouldn't be in true Johnson fashion to compose an album that wasn't also centered around the things he truly cares about: his family and native home of Hawaii. "All at Once," supported by a slow piano and guitar medley, is a beautiful, honest track about the overwhelming task of raising children. Though in this song Johnson expresses his fears and hesitations, "Go On," is focused on someday letting go of his two youngsters. Johnson softly sings, "So go on/ Just go on/ There's so many things/ I wanna say to you/ Go on."

In Johnson's short but heart-warming "Angel," he expresses deep love and compassion for his wife: "She wears a heart that can melt my own/ She wears a smile that can make me wanna sing/ She gives me presents/ With her presence alone," he croons.

And as some of the lyrics on "Sleep Through the Static" try too hard to conjure emotion from listeners, Johnson proves he may be at his best with his simple, playful tracks. In "What You Thought You Need," Johnson sticks to his guns with carefree, fun lyrics that attest to finding happiness in life's simple pleasures: "We can park the van and walk to town/ Find the cheapest bottle of wine that we could find/ And talk about the road behind/ How getting lost is not a waste of time."

"If I Had Eyes," arguably the most upbeat track on the album, opens with catchy guitar plucking which transforms into a bouncy combination of repetitive piano chords and electric guitar strums. The song is about a long-term relationship that really just isn't working out, yet neither party can gather the nerve to end it. Lyrics such as, "If I had eyes in the back of my head/ I would have told you that/ You looked good/ As I walked away" are coupled with playful "ooh oohs" which provide a unique sound that we haven't gotten from Johnson in the past.

After three platinum albums, Johnson has certainly proved himself as an unlikely pop sensation. The lazy, folksy feel of his tracks, coupled with light acoustics and predictable rhythm are what make Johnson such a pleasurable and easy listen. And while adding something new to his sound would certainly defy his laid-back demeanor, a little change might be all Johnson needs to ensure his popularity for years to come.