by Jack Johnson List Price:$13.00 Our Price:$9.00 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Product Details
Media: Audio CD
Release Date: Tuesday, January 29, 2002
Label: Universal
Average Customer Review: 4.5 Based on 452 reviews.
Sales Rank: 76
Tracks
1.
Mudfootball
2.
F-Stop Blues
3.
Losing Hope
4.
It's All Understood
5.
Drink the Water
6.
The News
7.
Fortunate Fool
8.
Bubble Toes
9.
Flake
10.
Sexy Plexi
11.
Posters
12.
Middle Man
13.
Inaudible Melodies
14.
It's All Understood
Editorial Review
Fans of Willy Porter, Ben Harper, and G. Love will all want to check out Jack Johnson's engaging folk- and blues-inflected pop. Born in Oahu, Hawaii, Johnson, a former surfer and film-school graduate, has a knack for acoustic ballads whose calm surfaces hide a subtle but strong lyrical undertow. "It seems to me that 'maybe' pretty much always means 'no,'" sings Johnson on "Flake," which features crony Harper on slide guitar. Production by J.P. Plunier (who also handles Harper's recordings) is simple and uncluttered: acoustic guitar and drum tracks share the foreground with Johnson's easygoing vocals, which evoke everyone from G. Love (who recorded Johnson's "Rodeo Clowns" on his Philadelphonic album) to Nick Drake to Willy Porter. And while Johnson may not have Porter's guitar chops, these songs have a relaxed beauty and understated depth that reward repeated listening. --Bill Forman
Top Customer Reviews
Rating:
4 All I ever wanted was....some
I got turned on to this album about 2 years ago when my friend Vance put it in the CD player on a soon to be released radio track and knowing I was a Ben Harper fan he asked, guess who is playing the guitar on this song? Well I was surprised to learn that it was BOTH Ben Harper and Jack Johnson (as opposed to my first guess) which was Jimi Hendrix.No, no, Jack Johnson is not anything close to Jimi Hendrix, but Hendrix fans will hear me when I say that if Jimi could sing Jack Johnson would be his voice. And truth be told, there are some licks on this album (though too few) that make me think that Mr. Johnson is a Hendrix fan. See also, Yellow Ledbetter, by Pearl Jam.Enough about what it sounds like, this is a good album a little repetitive at times but has a nice feel and more upbeat than Ben Harper's music though the two share more than friendship as their musicianship is very similar. Johnson is not a blues guitarist but more of a funk/folk guitar player with great rhythm. I love the album and would suggest that you buy it if you like Ben Harper (but are tired of his meloncholy moods), and like Jimi Hendrix style licks with a bit of a down home kind of good time feel.
Rating:
5 if I was banished to a desert island with only one artist...
According to the bio on Jack Johnson's web site, he's "sort of low key and saves time by keeping his hair short and not bothering much with outfits or the mirror." Apparently this local artist has used that extra time to create music that has converted fans everywhere in just a short amount of time. He was born on Oahu and is a surfer and film-school graduate. His slow reggae-style acoustic melodies include smooth ballads and jamming rhythms with calm, soulful lyrics. His music makes me want to surf, hang out, and play my own guitar. He has worked with Ben Harper, who is featured on slide guitar in "Flake," the fifth track on the album. The two have toured together. Johnson also appears in surf movies "September Sessions" and "Thicker Than Water" - he is amazingly talented! The first time I heard his music I knew I had to have it for myself!!!!
Rating:
5 Speachless
I first heard this few days ago, my roomate in the army played this CD on our stereo and we kept it on repeat for 6~ hours, you just can't get enough of it. The minute I heard it I fell inlove with it.It's groovy acoustic funk music. My two favorite tracks are Inaudible Melodies (#1) and Bubble Toes (#6) which is a pretty famous track. All of the tracks are great and I recommand this album to anyone who wants a great chill, groove, acoustic kind of music.
Rating:
5 Simply Excellent...
A friend of mine kept going on and on about this cd. So I eneded up buying it on a recommendation you could say. I was taking a chance since I had heard not a single song on Brushfire Fairytales. Anyways, it ends up being one of the best cd's I have bought in a few years. The raw ralent and singing skill this guy has is unreal. The tracks "flake" and "bubbletoes" have great guitar and that soothing voice that Jack makes it so fun to sing along with. My favorite is Mudfootball, which I feel really showcases Jacks singing talent and ability to groove. The track "Middle Man" is a great slow paced song with some sweet drums at the end. Another is "Posters" which didnt catch me at first, but has become a great song after repeated listings. Well, those are my absolute favorites which I feel make this cd a masterpiece. The rest of the songs are very good as well, this really is a must have in a music collection!
Rating:
5 WoW An Icredible CD
After watching a recently released surfing video I came across this one song. It happend to be the track Mud Football on the cd Brushfire Fairytales. Although never hearing of this man before, I decided to pick it up. Expecting to hear Mud Football style songs, I was blown away by the rest of the tracks. The surfer Jack Johnson and his Layed Back Califorina Style will keep u listening for hours. This CD is a mix of Ben Harper / G. Love style, probably due to the fact all three are friends. In the song Flake, Ben Harper accompanies Jack with his famous steel guitar. His music can be ranged from an up beat track like Mud Football to a slow relaxing sound like It's All Understood. He Just had two big apperarences on the Soundtrack of "Out Cold", on Jay Leno, and On VH1's Late Night with Zack. A CD has never spent so much time in my reciever as this one. I highly suggest picking this title
Rating:
5 Best artist and CD ever
This CD is really great for anyone who likes calm relaxing melodies. Dont misinterpert that, it is very catchy and it's just a great Cd. He's a sufer so he has nice melodies about the ocean and they are catchy. He has a great voice which is why most people like him, and he is a good gutair player. I highly recommed this CD and i think you will really enjoy this CD if you get. I usually find these reviews helpful so i hope mine was.
Rating:
5 By far the best debut in a long time!
I absolutely love this CD. It is a great CD to put on and just groove to. The melodies are intoxicating and the music is just plain awesome. I had never ehard anything by him when I decided I'd get the CD. I'm glad I didn't wait. For a long time I listened to this CD nonstop. The songs are great and the lyrics are awesome. People have compared him to John Mayer, but that's all timing. John Mayer can't reach the depth of music that Jack Johnson has reached on this CD. The lyrical depth is fascinating. Songs like "Sexy Plexi" are fantastic fun to listen to, and "The News" is short but sweet, but sad. The way he expresses himself is through his music, and he does it in an Anthony Keidis/DMB kind of way. His voice flows smoothly, and the music is clever. It's rythmic and fun, and when I just want to sit back, relax and groove to music, this is the CD. It is absolutely amazing. I would reccomend it to anyone!
Rating:
5 Excellent
I bought this CD a couple of months ago after reading some strong reviews supporting it. This is great album, and a must have if you like John Mayer, Dave Matthews, Ben Harper, or any other artist that falls into that category. He has a uniqueness about his music, both mellow and upbeat. His songwriting is amazing, especially on 'The News', my favorite track on the album. The song has such a beautiful and tone and lyrics to it that it almost makes want to shed a tear. The album talks about posing as someone else('Posters'), love('Bubble Toes'), childhood memories(Mudfootball{For Moe Lerner}) and more unique topics. Will Jack Johnson ever be the biggest artist in the world, probably not(and that'a a shame), but most of the time in music, the artists that becomes a superstar usually does not last and has no backbone to support their music. But let me tell you, Jack Johnson is going to be around awhile, and if the other things he does is like what he did on 'Brushfire Fairytales', we'll be listening.
Rating:
5 AWESOME ALBUM
I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY OTHER THAN THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS I HAVE EVER HEARD. NO MATTER IF YOU LIKE ROCK, HIP HOP, POP, WHATEVER. IT IS JUST INSANELY GOOD.
Rating:
5 Like The Beach Boys, So Much More Than Just Mellow SurfMusic
Length - 46:17I first heard about Jack Johnson per another group I really enjoy, G. Love & Special Sauce. On one of their albums, Philadelphonic, Jack Johnson is featured playing his lush, sweet-sounding chords on the best song of the album, Rodeo Clowns (If you have never heard that song before and you like this album, I highly recommend picking up Philadelphonic for that track). I'm so glad I finally got around to picking up this album, because it's even better than the aforementioned Philadelphonic. Actually, it's much better. From the opening notes of Inaudible Melodies, I was hooked, realed in, and beached with listening pleasure. What a great opener! It starts off slowly, beautifully, starts to rock, then slows to a sway, sweeping and simmering to a graceful finishing chord. Middle Man is a little less inviting than its predecessor, but a good song nonetheless. Posters blows me away. With sensational chord progressions and a blissful, ebullient hook, it's one of those tracks that reminds you why music is such a great thing. Sexy Plexi follows with a different vibe, a darker, sexier one. I don't really like this number too much, but it's only two minutes long and doesn't take away from the overall quality of the disc. Flake is a beauty. With a warm, emotive harmony and a fantastic refrain, it refreshes my heart time after time. Bubble Toes, which from what I read seems to be the fan-favorite, is another excellent song. Probably the most hummable tune, it starts off softly, then flows into a super smooth rhythm sing-a-long chant, something like "La duh da duh da duh, La duh da da." Fortunate Fool follows with the most laidback feel of all the tracks. It's a very chill, very nice number. The News is a rueful, somewhat biting song about cold news reporters and all the badness in the world. Even though it's a politically oriented track that doesn't really fit in well with the rest of the album, it's well-written and provides yet another nice melody worthy of repeated listenings. Drink the Water sounds similar to Track 2, Middle Man, but I think it's a little better. The lyrics are very interesting and the music, as always, is silky smooth. Mud Football is the other crowd pleaser of the album. With a title like Mud Football and an awesome sunny-side up melody, who wouldn't like this song? F-Stop Blues is a really nice number. The guitar reminds me of some old Tom Waits, and the track is as sorrowful and descriptive as much of Waits' material. It's doleful and depressing but at the same time beautiful and comforting, the way I like my sad songs played. Losing Hope is another neat song. It's a dark, lyrical number offset by some interesting drumming and tearful, lilting chords. The closer, It's All Understood, is again surprisingly downbeat, but there's something very special about it. I don't know if it's Jack's poetic musings, the melancholy piano, or the strangely pleasing distortions toward the end of the song that make it so great, but whatever it is, it provides a powerful ending to a stellar album.
Rating:
5 Awesome.
This guy has an incredible amount of talent, both of his cd's have struck me well. You can listen to all of his songs, and be content. Their all good in their own way. Highly recommended.
Rating:
5 Magnificent! Buy this CD now, before all your friends do!
I had never heard of Jack Johnson until one of my friends, who'd seen him open for Ben Harper, told me that I'd like his music. I dubiously bought this CD, convinced that since he was so obscure, I wouldn't like him. I was very wrong! This is one of the best albums I've ever heard and Jack Johnson is my new obsession. He has a great, mellow voice that's totally unique, and his songs blend typical guitar type-music with some hints of blues. His lyrics are also amazing, especially in the song Flake where he croons "It seems to me that maybe... pretty much always means no.." Some of the songs are quiet and slow, but he speeds up on others, so it's a perfect mix of upbeat and relaxing. This album will put a smile on your face while you fall asleep, and it's also perfect driving music. I really recommend this CD to just about anyone.
Rating:
5 Mellow
What a wonderful album. When people make statements such as "There is no breakaway artist in music today", they ignore people like Pete Yorn and especially Jack Johnson. Johnson is an artist that I find to be a rich man's John Mayer. We're all familiar with the singles like "Flake" and "Bubble Toes" but on songs like "Inaudible Melodies, "Mudfootball", "Losing Hope", and "Fortunate Fool" Johnson proves that he can do what so many hitmakers fail to accomplish, he made an album. It is a cd that flows from track one until its done. While some artists, even great ones, make cd's that seem more like a greatest hits album, Johnson reminds us what it is like to hear a great record. I am greatly anticipating his second album with the wonderful "Horizon..." single. Jack Johnson has a lot to live up to on his next album due to the great effort here, but he seems capable of making multple great records. Buy this Cd even for $... and it'd be worht it in the long run
Rating:
5 Soulful surfing for this excellent freshman debut
This impressive freshman debut by Hawaiian-born Johnson is simple, understated, and folksy all at the same time. The production work is clean as a microchip lab. No editing trickery here. Johnson's strength is in his lyrical depth and picture-painting words combined with the soulful folk-rock blues-injected feel. The acoustic guitar work is effortless. Johnson has the ability to deliver his tongue-tying lyrics with a grace and ease that is uncanny. "Well I'm a superficial, systematic, music television addict/ Check out my outsides there ain't nothing in/ Here comes another one, just like the other one/ Looking at himself but wishing he was someone else/ Because the posters on the wall they don't look like him."Afraid of artists you've never heard of? Get over it. Johnson is the real deal. Jack Johnson: surfer, film maker, song writer, musician. Not necessarily in that order all the time. The multi-talented Johnson is a former pro-surfer and his most recent film credits include surf movies "Thicker Than Water" and "September Sessions" where he collaborated with ex-World Champion Kelly Slater. Don't expect the pop-like feel of Dave Matthews; soulful folk rock is the main theme with Johnson's songs. Fans of G-Love, Ben Harper, and Nick Drake should explore.
Rating:
5 I can't stop listening to this CD...
I first heard Flake on the radio about a month ago and was very intrigued by the song and the musician behind it. I did a little research at allmusic.com and found out just how talented Jack Johnson really is (I mean a pro surfer who can make award winning films and write music..unreal!). Anyway, I took a chance a couple weeks ago and bought the CD. Since then, I have not been able to listen to anything else. His lyrics, melodies, and guitar playing are simply addictive and keep you coming back for more. I feel that I can relate to every song on this CD and I think that's what makes this CD so enjoyable: Johnson has a talent in relating feelings though his music in such an intriguing way. I can't imagine anybody not enjoying this CD. I look forward to his next release but until then, I'll enjoy Brushfire Fairytales and I hope many other people do as well.
Rating:
5 Fantastic
Jack Johnson is a perfect blend of musical styles with catchy hooks, thoughtful and sometimes funny lyrics, and an unbelieveable groove. His music combines the bluesy rock of Ben Harper, songwriting of dave matthews, and the feel good surfer vibe of Sublime. With the first listen, you'll find yourself moving to the music and wrapped up in the songs. It's the type of album you'll want to share with friends. Recently, I saw him at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, and his live show does not disappoint. Please give this CD a listen, you'll be absorbed by his mellow sound.
Rating:
5 Absolutely incredible
There really aren't words to describe Jack Johnson's debut album, Brushfire Fairytales. As a fan of all music, from Pink Floyd to Nas, I can honestly say that this album is truly incredible and accessible to almost any audience. I didn't discover this album until the song Flake hit the radio, and I found it for a low price so I decided to check it out. It is now one of my 5 favorite CDs out of about 400 that I own. Not only is there not one bad song on the entire album, there isn't even an average song. The lyrical maturity that Johnson displays througout this album is one that artists rarely reach in a full career. Throughout the course of this album you will be schooled on Jack's views on love, the news and how it's brought to us, Plato's Allegory of the Cave, and even subliminal references to the Bible (you didn't really think that last verse on It's All Understood was about any random book did you?). You will be finding little hidden gems that Johnson places in his lyrics and music months after you buy the album. It is, by far, the deepest album that I have ever owned.Johnson's guitar skills are not mindblowing, but they are still very good. He is no Eric Clapton, but his style fits the overall feel of the album perfectly. No matter what kind of mood you're in, this album will supplement it perfect. Highlights of the album include Flake, It's All Understood, Inaudible Melodies, and Fortunate Fool. However, every song is amazing in it's own way.
Rating:
5 You got to give it to him...
Jack Johnson is a great artist, probably the most talented of his category. The only thing John Mayer has on him are looks, and that's hard for me to admit. If you are wondering if you will be impressed with Jack's music before you commit to a purchase, I'll fill you in on the tracks. First of all, he's a brilliant lyricist, all the songs are his originals. The album has a mellow, contagious tone to it. FLAKE- the most popular song of the Album thus far, has a playful sound to it. You'll be singing and moving along with it.BUBBLE TOES- another fun track with a catchy beat. If you liked "Flake", you'll find this song a favorite.MIDDLE MAN- it is a quicker pace for the Brushfires. It will make you want to say "confused" in the lively tone Jack does in the chorus. FORTUNATE FOOL- its my favorite song to listen to on the Album. Telling the story of a girl who "knows it all." ITS ALL UNDERSTOOD- Probably the best track on this Album. It has an eerie, but beautiful tone to it. These songs should help you decide that you need Jack's latest attempt.
Rating:
5 Great debut
I first heard Jack Johnson on a bootlegged live recording. The quality was horrible, but something about it compelled me to go out and buy his cd. For me, this is very unusual. But there was just something about Johnson's mellow sound that made me feel good. And Brushfire Fairytales is no exception. From start to finish, the cd makes me want to drive down to the beach and just enjoy the little things in life. The best part about it is that Jack's lyrics will also make you think. Songs like "The News", "Posters", and "It's All Understood" will leave you saying, "Yeah, I've felt that way before!" but maybe never vocalized it. Jack tends to pick up on those little things that some of us have trouble putting into words. That's one of my favorite things about him. That and his complex phrasing. The rhythmic vocals fit perfectly with the guitar, bass, and drums. It's almost like he uses his voice as another percussion instrument at times.I must say that this is one of the best debut albums I've heard in a long time. (The last one that comes to mind is Pearl Jam's Ten) Jack is truly inspirational and I hope he continues to make music even though he's a surfer at heart.
Rating:
5 Incredible album from a mellow fellow
I have owned this cd for quite some time now but only recently has America decided to jump on the Jackwagon. You will be seeing and hearing "Flake" on tv and radio but the real essence of Jack Johnson can be found throughout the album. The thing that sets this artist apart from everyone else is the mere fact that Johnson could care less about being a rock star or selling music, but in writing and delivering his personal songs, he has become just that. But I promise you there is no one better to choose as a role model. Just listen to "The News", a tune about how we broadcast violence in society, or put on a smile and groove to Johnson's "Bubbletoes", a catchy jam inspired by his wife, Kim. (Many thanks to Kim, for rumor has it she is an inspiration for many of Jack's songs.) Those were only two examples but the list could go on and on. Every song is AWESOME. I never could get sick of this album, NEVER. If I could recommend this album to everyone, I would. And I guarantee if more people lived by the principals of Jack Johnson, we would not have to worry about world peace.
Rating:
5 Slow down, everyone, you're moving too fast.
This CD is terrific. Where did this Jack Johnson guy come from?I bought this on the recommendation of a friend, for I work in a music store and had seen people, mostly teens in Gothwear, buying it. I thought it would be your usual, angry-rock, run-of-the-mill crap. Boy, was I wrong.Jack Johnson's self-titled CD is one of the most fun, studied pieces of pure, instrument-and-rhythm-driven music that I've heard in ages. When it begins, "Inaudible Melodies" is soft, folky, but then the drums come in, the rhythm kicks it up a notch, and Johnson, with his earnest, skilled delivery of the most complicated, tongue-twisting vocals, just wins over your ears. And every song on the CD is that good.It wasn't until I listened to the whole album that I realized that this is the guy who sings that "Bubble Toes" song. I loved that song whenever it came on the radio, yet I bought the album featured on it without even realizing I'd done so.That, in its own way, speaks to Johnson's talent over his hype. I bought this on a lark, and I'm very glad I did.
Rating:
5 Luckiest Mistake I Ever Made
I was in a rush and grabbed the wrong cd out of my friend's car one night. When I got home, I realized my mistake, but threw "Brushfire Fairytales" on anyway, just to check it out. I wound up listening to it three times in a row and became an instant fan.Jack Johnson's voice will invoke many feelings in the listener, from wanting to fall in love, to wanting to spend the day on the beach, to missing a lover, to packing up and taking a roadtrip. Whichever feeling it arouses, one thing is constant: Johnson's voice will get into your bones and stay there.Stylistically, you can hear shades of many different artists in his music. For instance, you can't help but think of the Chili Peppers in songs like "Poster", or Sublime in the song "Sexy Plexi", or G. Love (who Johnson frequently performs with) in the nostalgic "Mudfootball", but you never feel like Johnson is copying them; rather paying tribute.Lyrically, I haven't been this excited about a contemporary artist since I discovered David Gray. Johnson hides some pretty introspective lyrics under deceptively simple, often upbeat melodies. For instance, upon first listen, "Bubble Toes" could pass as just another catchy pop tune, but the lyrics (She's got a whole lot of reasons/She cant think of a single one/That can justify leaving/and he got none but he thinks he got so many problems/ Man he got, too much time to waste) prove otherwise. Another example is the addictive "Flake," (It seems to me that maybe/It pretty much always means no).Other tracks that deserve specific mention are the mellow opening track, "Inaudible Melodies", the glorious "F-Stop Blues", and the haunting closer, "It's all Understood" (But there you go once again/You missed the point and then you point/ Your fingers at me).Grabbing the wrong cd that night was the luckiest mistake I ever made, even though I still owe my friend a new Jack Johnson cd.
Rating:
5 For your listening pleasure...
Jack Johnson has one of the most soothing voices these days. I purchased his "In Between Dreams" CD. It really made me happy that I had found a CD for my collection of over 1000 CDs that I could listen to and enjoy every song. Those kind of CDs are hard to come by. So I went and purchased this one.. "Brushfire Fairytales." Well, the first time I listened to it I could tell that it wasn't as loved as the first one I bought. I listened to it again.. and it sounded better the second time. Then I read alot of the reviews here and someone mentioned that the drums on this CD were kind of disturbing. Needless to say.. I knew what they were talking about. I had to laugh out loud when I read it! The only thing was.. I really didn't notice the drums until after I read it. Jack's voice transends all of the songs.. it sounds like he tuned his guitar to his voice which makes for great harmony and a pleasure to listen to. The reason I gave this CD 5 stars is because Jack's voice and style merrits at least that.. and his lyrics are an amazing tapestry of life. I can hardly wait to get his other CDs. This is not my favorite CD of his.. yet I'm off to find more of his work. I think all his work is great listening for the summer.. and in the winter you can play it just to warm up your day and keep the great memories of summer fresh in your mind. I do believe Jack made this CD for our listening pleasure. Try it you'll like it!
Rating:
5 How can you not like Jack Johnson?
For those of you who have negatively reviewed the music and style of Jack Johnson, there exist but a few simple matters to discuss with you. First of all, I generally do not review anything online because I am not afforded the time, but with the general problem with those who have touted Mr. Johnson as unoriginal and thoroughly boring (missing the point) compelled me to make an exception. On occasion in our world, there is the rare individual who can see the simplicity and beauty of any situation, and can also offer wise and yet unscathing criticisms of societal issues. Mr. Johnson is such an individual; those who criticize him fail to see that he is not trying to outperform his predecessors or to shake the world with any outlandish originality. He simply presents a pure, laid-back view of the world from a better vantage point than any modern punk-rock corporate sellout or moral-less rap artist could. The simplicity of his music, and the ease with which it plays, is to be admired in an increasingly complex and decaying society. Anyone who wishes to ease back and reflect on life in a healthy way, purchase any of Jack Johnson's albums.
Rating:
5 Real laid-back music
Love this album. After a long day at work, I come home lie on my hammock in my backyard and listen to this album. The songs aren't too deep, they are catchy and Jack Johnson's voice fits well with the guitar melodies. I had never heard of Jack Johnson, I came across this cd by accident, I am really glad that I discovered it. Overall, a fun and fast cd its worth owning.In My Humble Opinion
