Practicing gratitude. Today, I am grateful.
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It’s a killamaggeneggans kind of night. (Taken with instagram)
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@bocon5000 (Taken with instagram)
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Mojito and guac. Tis the season @bocon5000 (Taken with instagram)
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Never walk alone @bocon5000 (Taken with instagram)
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Lunch time. (Taken with instagram)
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Bad decisions. (Taken with instagram)
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Sloppy (Taken with instagram)
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Review - Love is a Four Letter Word - Jason Mraz
Let me preface this by saying, although for those who know me it won’t seem necessary, but I am a big Jason Mraz fan. He’s my all-time favorite artist, and nobody really comes close. So take this review however you want it to be, but it’s my honest assessment of his work after over a decade of following this guy religiously.
Cynics need not listen… or maybe you should. After over four years since his last album, We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things, Jason Mraz returns with his fourth studio album called Love is a Four-Letter Word. Simple enough, and quite descriptive of what is to come in the next 12 tracks.
I guess the best way to describe the record is that it is an audit of love. Mraz tackles the word in different forms, but needless to say, all the tracks are “love songs.” Whether it’s your typical romantic love, or loving the environment, love for family, or love of self, this album has all of these and then some.
I’ve read several reviews from respected newspapers to personal blogs, and to say that feelings about this album are mixed is putting it lightly. Words are taken to an extreme with those who like it saying it’s “genius,” a “masterpiece,” and “his best work to date.” On the other end of the spectrum, scathing remarks such as “complete drivel,” “dross,” and attempts at a play on the album title saying “crap, shit, and suck” are also four-letter words. One even called it “lost.”
I’m sure I see it under a different lens, as a fan and follower of Mraz. I feel like I have a good grasp of his songwriting style and evolution as an artist. I know where he has been and what he has been exposed to in the years he spent away from the studio. I know his travels to places like the Gulf Coast during the BP oil spill, Ghana for Free the Slaves Foundation, and Antarctica to study the effects of global warming. He likes experiencing things first hand as opposed to simply putting in a donation or living vicariously behind a signed check. It’s not surprising, after seeing what he’s seen, that his outlook on life is a bit different from the norm.
The biggest criticism I’ve seen so far from this record is that it is overly happy and optimistic. Many accuse him of being out of touch and having a skewed view of reality. I find those fairly ironic considering that, as I’ve mentioned, he’s not the average celebrity and he actually tries to practice what he preaches and goes to the front lines, rather than simply making public statements… but I digress… On to the music.
While the opinions on the album vary, the observations are fairly unanimous. There is an abundance of upbeat songs, and his lyrics are as positive as ever. Mraz’ strength lies in his versatility, giving a taste of different influences from his usual upbeat pop/rock (Everything Is Sound), to country/western (The Woman I Love), to folk (I Won’t Give Up), to Jazz (5/6), and everything in between. All are delivered with the same wit and cleverness that allows these different sounds to be cohesive and distinctly his.
He has already seen moderate success with the carrier single “I Won’t Give Up,” making the top 10 in various charts as well as being a staple in radio rotations worldwide. Whether it can mimic the success of his biggest hit to date, “I’m Yours” is doubtful, but remains to be seen.
Other than the carrier single, it is difficult to pick out a standout song that has number 1 potential. Though radio friendly, the rest of the album won’t seem to stick with the casual listener, but would very well please his loyal fan base. Perhaps producing multiple #1 hits isn’t the intention after all – never has been for Mraz throughout his career. He puts out music that he likes and he’s unapologetic about it – you can take it or leave it. His songwriting is an acquired taste. Many see his latest efforts as shallow and bubblegum; but those who are more familiar with his style know that you cannot take any of his songs simply at face value. He keeps things simple, but that’s because his intention is that his songs should be open to interpretation. Like I said, the title is descriptive, but also reflective of his songs. The title is a play on the fact that though love is simply a four-letter word, it is almost infinite in definition and depth, and the music he puts out is a manifestation of that. It takes more than a couple of listens before you can really get the meaning of the song, and part of that meaning is putting your own. As he says on Everything Is Sound, “It’s up to us to make it all up, so what you making up, I can make it up…”
While I can go on about the positives of this album (in every sense of the word), there are some drawbacks. The casual listener can easily judge it as simplistic and shallow. The abundance of optimism and happiness can rub some people the wrong way… think the opposite of Adele’s 21. On the surface, those are a couple of weak spots on the album. There isn’t a counter balance of overly sad songs to temper the extremely happy ones – again, perhaps keeping everything positive was the intention after all. Mraz is also lacking the soulful edge he brings to the live stage as it is drowned out by a large band and plenty of production. Mraz at his very best is him standing in front of a crowd with only his guitar and microphone. This has been his blessing and curse from the very beginning. He struggles to translate his emotion and soul from stage to studio. While nobody can argue that his musicality and voice is among the very best of his generation (live or recorded), his studio efforts have never done him justice.
Still, Love is a Four Letter Word is an album that is sure to please his fans and will have the usual universal appeal that will garner millions in sales and thousands to concerts from people of all ages. Those who are looking for an album to define a generation or to change the world will be disappointed. Those who are looking for a cerebral stimulus won’t be satisfied. This record comes straight from the heart. It is ear candy at it’s worst. It is a positive affirmation and an ode to life at its very best. Take it for what it is, and do not be afraid to put your own meaning to the songs as you do the word love. Far from being his magnum opus, but a sufficient, capable, and enjoyable effort worth the four year wait.
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Typical work day (Taken with instagram)
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May the odds be ever in your favor. (Taken with instagram)
