2008 Woodie Awards
Johnson's 'Sleep Through The Static' sets a mellow mood
Kristin Thomas
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Entertainment
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"Sleep Through The Static" is an environmentally conscious album. Released on February 5, it was recorded using solar energy, and the CD booklet was printed on post-consumer waste recycled paper. The album bears the "1 Percent for the Planet" logo, an organization that inspires its members to donate one percent of its sales to environmental groups and agencies around the world.
Musically, Johnson uses very simple chord structures and melodies in his songs, but they are still surprisingly catchy and leave you feeling like laying in a hammock, feeling the ocean breeze in your hair and listening to the waves crash on the shore. Yes, it's that relaxing.
The first track, "All At Once" is a perfect opening song. Johnson discusses the world today, and how things are getting worse, singing, "Sometimes it feels like a heart is no place to be singing from at all." This song sets a darker mood, making it obvious that this is not the "Curious George" soundtrack.
The darkness doesn't end in the opening track, and continues on to the title track, "Sleep Through the Static," on which Johnson asks, "Who needs keys when we've got clubs? Who needs please when we've got guns?" However, with the darker and more socially conscious lyrics, there is still a mellow, tropical feel to the rhythm. After all, the guy is from Hawaii.
The rhythm of this song, along with the lyrics almost leave you feeling confused. Are you supposed to be depressed and angry, relaxed and mellow? Maybe he is confused too, his life good, but there is a lot going on in the world to angry about.
"If I Had Eyes," seems to be the first song on the album to have some diversity in rhythm. It is a song about hindsight being 20/20 especially after a relationship ends. We all have these feelings after a big break-up, so listeners can really identify with this one. The electric guitar sounds like the "wah-wah" guitar sound used in the film "Shaft." Later a piano comes in with a very basic and straightforward chord melody. It has a more upbeat feeling to it, which works great after three or four slow ballads.
The second half of the album reverts to the initial basic sound, but we hear the drums finally pop out their shell in the song "What You Thought You Need." There are drums present on the rest of the album, but primarily play a metronome role.
In "What You Thought You Need," the drums have a small solo at the beginning with a more complex beat that is different than the typical jazzy beats on the rest of the album. The listener can't help but bob his or her head to the catchy drumbeat.
This album is a bit of a lyrical departure for Johnson, but it's still full of ballads and "surfer" rhythms that leave you almost feeling warm as you picture relaxing on the beach. If you do not like slow, mellow music, this album is not for you. However, if you like to kick back and relax to some tropical beats with slightly more socially conscious lyrics, you might want to go pick this one up.
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