Jack Johnson
Acoustic alchemy
By Gary Graff
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On his third studio album, In Between Dreams, the surfing singer-songwriter doesn't stray too far from the gentle, acoustic guitar-dominated sounds of his previous outings -- not surprising given the multi-platinum success he's enjoyed in that vein.
But Johnson still catches a few fresh waves this time out, including the heavier funk of "Staple it Together," the Eastern-flavored guitar signature that opens "Better Together," and the lush meldocism of "Constellations." Johnson once again abets his love songs with politics ("Good People," "Crying Shame"), while "If I Could" explores the melancholy juxtaposition of birth and death. There may not be another "Bubble Toes" or "Flake" here, but In Between Dreams keeps Johnson's virtues intact while working to expand on them just a bit more.
