Album A Day: Jason Mraz: We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.

Couldn’t think of a better album to play on a lazy Sunday like today.

Every singer-songwriter in America should be taking notes from Jason Mraz and his most recent album. We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things has variety, style, and a blend between girl-pining balladry and bombastic, fun pop rock that reminds people that folks like Mraz aren’t always tortured, heartbroken beings.

More importantly, Jason Mraz introduces several different sounds into the album. The gospel choir behind “Live High”, and the funky brass band that accompanies him on “Make It Mine” bring something new to the table, something you don’t usually encounter when it comes to solo artists with an acoustic guitar and a story to tell. Even when Mraz does walk that road, there’s a different mood to it. “I’m Yours” has a rhythm and pace to it that makes it a fun song, rather than the moody pining that has made singer-songwriters so stale of late.

When Jason Mraz scored his first hit in “The Remedy” back in 2003, I didn’t think he’d last very long. He sounded too much like a blander Gavin DeGraw. But six years later, Mraz has a Grammy nominated album on his hands, while DeGraw’s last album fizzled out pretty quickly. Shows what happens when an artist chooses to try something new, rather than stick with what worked last time.

Jason Mraz – I’m Yours [iTunes]
(YSI)

Jason Mraz – Make It Mine [iTunes]

Back at some point tonight/tomorrow morning with Grammy thoughts/commentary.

==TJ==