The Hawaiian–born singer-songwriter and surf aficionado made a huge impact over here with his last (and still very much current) album In Between Dreams. The infectiously hummable single ‘Sitting Waiting Wishing’ – rarely off the radio these days – was just one of a slew of great songs on that album, and few were surprised that his Vicar Street gig was moved to The Point.
While not strictly a fully-fledged follow-up, Sing-a-Longs… is to all intents and purposes a Jack Johnson solo album. Nine of the 13 songs are newly written and recorded by Johnson, in just a month, for the soundtrack of the animated movie.
His style is instantly recognisable and familiar; his trademark acoustic strum and bright ‘n’ breezy melodies on the irresistibly-toe-tapping ‘Upside Down’ and the lazy rhythms of ‘People Watching’ are on a par with anything he’s done to date.
Some might have a problem with the Sesame Street approach on some numbers – especially on the cloying, ‘Sharing Song’: “If you’ve got one drumstick, give one to your friend/Make one one beautiful rhythm share a beat that never ends,” and the old classroom chestnut ‘The Three R’s’ which has been updated as a call to “Reduce, Re-use and Recycle.”
On the other hand, who wouldn’t want to hear his neat take on The White Stripes ‘We Are Going To Be Friends’ or his duet with Ben Harper on ‘With My Own Two Hands’. Things wrap on a strong note with two of the strongest songs – the meditative ‘Questions’ and the full-band, electric piano fired ‘Supposed To Be’.