Tim Brough's Black Leather Bookshelf

Love is a Three Star Rated Album
3 Out of 5 Stars
 
Jason Mraz is a simple pleasure when it comes to music. His reggae lite "I'm Yours" became the best Jimmy Buffet knock off in years, so it's only natural for him to want to go for that groove again. "Love Is a Four Letter Word" is just that kind of a record; easy listening for the vegan crowd, a happy but not sappy set of songs and at least one attempt at cloning "I'm Yours" with the single "Living In The Moment." Then there's the Jimmy Buffet comparison, the other single, "I Won't Give Up." Mraz is - in his own words - "easy breezy" ("Living for The Moment") in a way that makes Jack Johnson sound like Ronnie James Dio. He weaves in-between the happy pop of "Frank D Fixer" or the weariness of brokenhearted pop in "In Your Hands" without sounding like he's committed to very much. "Love Is A Four Letter Word" will fill the needs of those who think John Mayer has gotten too cerebral or who were too young to catch Jimmy Buffet on the first go around.



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Sweetness Follows
3 Out Of 5 Stars

Gavin DeGraw makes it to his fourth album. pretty much covering the same turf as his first three. He's still milking the same blue-eyed soul turf that has made stars out of Jason Mraz currently and Daryl Hall decades before. What differentiates "Sweeter" from his other CD's is that he decided to allow co-writers on-board for the first time. On of them, Ryan Tedder, has been all but certified as the current Midas Touch-man, ala Mick Ronson. Tedder is also the producer of those two songs, emphasizing the piano and making the title song sound tougher than it really is. Andrew Frampton also produces/cowrites a pair, "Run Every Time" and the closer, "Spell It Out."

What strikes me as most interesting is that, on his own, DeGraw comes off as a piano-man worshiping at the alter of Billy Joel and Elton John (especially on "You Know Where I'm At"). Not a bad well to draw from, and when it turns up songs like "Radiation" or "Soldier," worth the effort. On the more annoying and overworked "Candy," not so much. What I'd love to hear more of, though, is the solo DeDraw that sits behind his piano and lets loose with "Spell It Out," which does away with overproduction and just lets the man sing and play. My guess is DeGraw is too slick a salesman to want to be that exposed too often, but it's the highlight of an otherwise light pop album.