the Informer

Set to release his fifth studio album “To The Sea” on June 1, music pioneer Jack Johnson’s newest contribution continues his tradition of mellow lazy acoustic melodies with an added mix of upbeat electric ones.

Staying consistent with a new release every two years since his debut, Johnson’s new album explores his forte of love songs and catchy sing-a-longs. Finding inspiration from novels and other artists, the album’s concept was adapted to follow Johnson’s idea of self-development and maturity.

Johnson spoke to MTV News on the album’s concept commenting “I guess it’s a reference to a father leading his son to the sea, with the water representing the subconscious. So it’s about trying to go beneath the surface and understand yourself.”

Releasing the single “You and Your Heart” on April 6, Johnson’s first track peaked at number 20 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 within the first week, his highest single to date. A more up-tempo song straying away from the Johnson norm of smooth melodic tunes, the single bounces off of its intro and floods into a chorus that, simply put, hits the heart with a jolt of life.

Although Johnson released his “En Concert” CD/DVD combo late last year, the release did not contain any new material, however documented his European tour for his 2008 album “Sleep Through the Static.” While visually trying to show Johnson’s fans how he prepared and adapted to playing to his largest audiences yet, the album captures the essence of an artist going with the flow and making it work.

“En Concert” was the product of one man’s translation of what he wrote in the presence of a paradise climate of his home state of Hawaii into what he would play to thousands of people screaming his music.

Johnson’s trouble-free manner and calm composure is what makes his music so easy to listen to with the capability of satiating the desire for a sincere feel good song.

A major supporter of environmental activism, Johnson tours with the relatively new Reverb, a company dedicated to creating and sustaining a zero environmental impact tour for artists. Boasting an impressive 81 tours already successfully completed without off setting the impact made by the results of a tour, Johnson teamed up with Reverb to promote awareness of the ever growing climate crisis.

Already on tour to promote his latest material in Europe, Johnson begins his U.S. string of shows landing at the Comcast Theater in Hartford on July 9, 2010. Armed with a trusty group of friends to back up and enhance his lovable sounds, Jack Johnson’s “To The Sea” is without a doubt the album I’ve been anticipating ever since its rumors surfaced in late January.

A critical part of maintaining a real sense of balance in pop culture, I think people underestimate the quality of creativity that is not only Johnson’s style, but also, his ability to write about relevant topics that you just can’t help but dig.