It is interesting to me how powerful music is.  For many of us, music is such a powerful force because of the events it can remind us of, people we’ve known, and places we’ve gone.  I can remember going to Best Buy and buying more CDs than I could afford and getting lectured about my irresponsibility.  Many years later, the boss has mellowed a bit and now I look forward to “New Music Tuesday”.  Every now and then, one of those artists releases an album that we eagerly anticipate.  Last Tuesday, Jack Johnson did just that with the release of “From Here to Now to You”.

Quite simply, you need to buy this album.  The sound is much mellower than his last album “To the Sea”.  It calls back to his first couple of albums and the sound could not be more welcome.  I really appreciate musicians that draw on their past, their experiences, and their families for inspiration.  On the first track, “I Got You”, Jack gives a shout to his wife.  The best thing is that it is not sappy, but a song that someone who has been with his wife for years can understand.  It is subtle and it works.  “Radiate” is a song written for his son.  In my opinion though, the best tracks are “Tape Deck” and “Home”.  “Tape Deck” is an upbeat track that tells of his time as a kid starting a band.   “Four guitars and zero drums/ we wanted to sound punk/in a world post-punk”  The song makes you want to smile and brings back those times when we all thought we were going to be the next big thing in music.

“Home” is the perfect way to close out the album.  Lyrics like “get out my machete and battle with time once again/but I’m bound to lose because I’ll be damned if time won’t win” reminds all of us of how brief our time is and that “home is wherever we are/if there’s love here too”.  This album doesn’t bring back memories of any particular place in my life.  What it does remind me of is what is important in life and for that I am thankful.  I can promise that it will be on my playlist the next time I’m on the Kam Highway heading toward the North Shore or crossing that single lane bridge into Hanalei.

This is a CD that is well worth the money.  Buy it, play it, and see where it takes you or what emotions it raises in you.  That is the great thing about a great song-it can mean something different to each of us.  Mahalo Jack and I’ll see you at DPAC on October 3rd!