Jack Johnson is highly regarded for the work he did on the 2006 movie Curious George. His hit song “Upside Down” ruled every kid our age’s childhood and is thought of as one of the most nostalgic songs of all time. A lot of people, however, end their interest in Jack Johnson at that song. Unless you were raised on him as I was, a lot of people have missed the rest of his fantastic music.
In Between Dreams by Jack Johnson is a perfect album. From front to back, there are tons of heartfelt songs about love and life. The songs all have different tempos to them, which makes the album eclectic and that much more enjoyable to listen to.
My three favorite songs on In Between Dreams are “Better Together,” “Banana Pancakes,” and “Do You Remember” because they all have a similar feel to them. All three of them have slower, relaxing tones. “Better Together” talks about love and friendship and how you’re always better with friends and loved ones because they bring the best out of you. “Banana Pancakes” has a similar message about love. “Do You Remember” has a more nostalgic message about remembering the old times. It is one of my favorites because when I think about its message, it makes me look back to my childhood and a lot of those good memories.
One of the main reasons I connect so well with Jack Johnson’s music is because it is what I was raised with. All the time in the car in the summer, my dad would be playing some Jack Johnson song, and when I went back and listened to some of his playlists 10 years later, it flooded me with all of those memories.
Jack Johnson, while he has a unique style, makes music in a really popular genre. If you are a fan of Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer or Donovan Frankenreiter, you would love Jack Johnson. Not only does he collaborate with them and artists like them a lot, but if you are a fan of that slow, fun music you can listen to on the beach, Jack Johnson is for you. And if you, like me, grew up watching Curious George and loved “Upside Down”, I highly encourage you to go back and listen to In Between Dreams. I give this album five stars.
