The multi-platinum and Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter from Virginia releases his fourth studio album.
Can Mr. Mraz continue the success he found on his past two albums, both of which ranked in the Top-5 of the U.S. charts? This time around Mraz takes a more subdued approach to his songs with the majority having a very slow- or medium-tempo.
The album opens with "The Freedom Song" which you might expect to be a breakup song based on the anti-love title of the album but instead it is a song about "how when I feel good/I sing!" While the song itself is melodic and a pleasant listen, there seems to be a discord right off the bat between expectations based on the title and what is given to us.
Unfortunately, that discord continues over the entire album as the songs seem more concerned with living the "easy and breezy life" like in the track "Living in the Moment" than with exploring why love is a four letter word.
The second major problem with the album is the slow tempo over the duration of the disc. In the past, Mraz's best tracks are when he is able to weave his cleverly worded lyrics with bouncy and buoyant melodies that appeal to even the most basic pop sensibilities. The high levels of fun that was present on all of his past releases are buried deep on this album. The slower tempo on the album would make more sense if the album's theme followed the album's title more closely but that's a spotty proposition, at best.
Overall, it's an extremely disappointing release from Mraz who attempts to show us his more serious side by forgoing a lot of the peppiness that made his music popular in the first place. The thing that is is consistent are his silky pop vocals and his clever lyrics rhyming style but those aspects can't bring the album up from the doldrums.
Score: 4/10
Song(s) to Sample: "The Freedom Song" [sample it below] and "Everything Is Sound"
The Grammy Award winning San Franciscan pop & rock trio release a new studio album that tries to replicate the success of their 2009 album that rose up the sales charts thanks to the ubiquitous single "Hey Soul Sister."
Unfortunately for the band there's not another "Hey Soul Sister" to be found on this disc but let us explore what can be found on the album.
It opens with the Billy Joel-wannabe "This'll Be My Year" which comes across as a poor man's "We Didn't Start The Fire" with its quick list-style lyrics that isn't as clever nor as catchy as the song its based upon.
From there the album ventures more into the roots rock music you've come to expect from the band. However the most interesting tracks shows the band is not reluctant to venture into other genres as well.
"Bruises" has country-esque guitar licks and guest vocals with Ashley Monroe to create one of the most memorable tracks off the album. While "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" sounds like it would be a Paul Simon-lite track but instead it comes across in the beginning as cross between 80's Broadway musical (think: Chess) with a Spanish flair before transitioning into a more traditional rock song
California 37 has some bright spots but there are no blinding tracks like their uber-popular "Hey Soul Sister." It's a mixed bag of an album that will probably still sell well to the masses.
Score: 5/10
Song(s) to Sample: "Bruises" [sample it below] and "50 Ways to Say Goodbye"
If you are a GenX-er or GenY-er you probably remember the group SWV (Sisters With Voices) with top hits like "Right Here/Human Nature" and "You're The One" from your high school years in the 90's before the trio broke up in 1998. Now the three ladies have gotten back together to release a new album.
What I remember about the band from their original heyday are impassioned lead vocals and luscious vocal harmonies with a tinge of sass, which are mostly still prevalent on this release.
The sass seems to be more at bay this time around, instead replaced with a mature song writing style that probably comes with age since all three members are now in their 40's.
The album itself is chock full of similar-sounding slow R&B jams with more modern mixing techniques, a good example of which is the first released single from the album "Co-Sign." Although the ladies still have velvety vocals, the music on the album starts to run together towards the end of the album and becomes more monotonous.
It's good to see the ladies back in action but they won't be able to conjure up anything close to their past successes on this release.
Score: 6/10
Song(s) to Sample: "Co-Sign" [sample it below] and "Keep You Home"
