Jason Mraz Album: “We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. [Digipak]”

From the first track to last Jason Mraz dazzles, perplexes and scintillates on his high-octane 3rd full-length studio album "We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things." His witty, highly individual lyrical style and organic, powerful backing band transform these songs into four minute detours into the mind of the most underrated singer/songwriter of the 2000s.

Lead single "I'm Yours" finally lands on its feet after many years in Mraz's setlists with its mellow, Hawaiian grooves, complete with visions of obligatory surfers and pineapple drinks in the background. It's just a slice of what "We Sing..." has to offer, however. "Lucky" is a sparse, melodic duet with Colbie Callait that transitions aptly out of "I'm Yours," while "Make It Mine" and "Live High" are classic Mraz with feel-good, enrapturing melodies designed to sweep listeners clean off their feet. "Make It Mine" is particularly upbeat, full of hand-claps and lush, horn-laden instrumentation. It should be a single, and if it becomes one it should give Mraz his first major hit since 2003's "The Remedy" if radio programmers have even a neuron left in their heads.

The subject matter is diverse on "We Sing..." but Mraz never suffers from mood swings. "Love For a Child," by far one of the most touching compositions of his career, touches on the effect of divorce on a young child ("When the house was left in shambles/Well, who was there to handle all the broken bits of glass?") while "Only Human" promotes environmental awareness without playing the blame game. "Details In the Fabric" featuring James Morrison is a moody, meditative look at life, love and relationships, while "Coyotes" takes Mraz's sonic pallete in new directions with layered vocals, percolating snyths and an awesome background chorus. His operatic vocals from "Mr. Curiosity" from his last LP make an appearance here.

Other tracks continue the unparalleled quality. "Butterfly" is an awesomely-produced ode to sexual chemistry ("You make my slacks a little tight/You may unfasten them if you like/That's if you crash and spend the night") with effervescent instrumentation and a mercurial, vigorous melody. "If It Kills Me" finds Mraz pining through cheeky, self-deprecating lyrics about the lady who's got everything except the insight to see he's her best match ("We get along much better than you and your boyfriend") while "A Beautiful Mess" bookends the sentiments of "Details In the Fabric" with a more optimistic outlook.

The album's arguable highlight, however, is the curiously-titled "The Dynamo of Volition." Replete from wall-to-wall with Mraz's entrancing singing/rapping style, the song is like "O. Lover" or "Forecast" from 2005's "Mr. A-Z" is that it perfectly captures Mraz's unrivaled melodic weightiness. The lyrics spew left and right in haphazard fashion, but whether or not they are all understood makes no difference. "...Volition" is an exemplary Mraz tune, with a melody powerful enough to hang over the listener, the kind of melody that paints a picture like a scene from an indie movie, that haunts in such a way that it is instantly classic and unforgettable. It says more than any words ever could.

Mraz has that rare kind of talent that puts him in the category of legendary musicians, those musicians with such blazing, inherent talent that it is simply cannot be learned or created. Elton John, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder come to mind as those types of dynamic musicians that were born with such astounding abilities, and Mraz has what it takes to join their ranks if only more listeners would wizen up and find out what some of us have been lucky to know for over five years.

Okay if you don't already have the original album, BUY this version, the album it's self is already so good. But you also get the awesome second cd....which is utterly fantastic...even better than the actual album...PLUS you get an entire Mraz Concert which shows you how talented and funny he actually is. This is a perfect set 2CDs and a DVD with a 90 min concert WOW. Also be sure to watch the 30 Min. Documentry included on the disc it was completely interesting and made me a laugh quite a few times. Thank you Mr. Mraz.

I bought this CD for the song "I'm Yours", I loved the relaxing melody and reggae-ish quality. I actually like all the music on the CD - it's all great, unless you really listen to the words of a few songs. 70% of the songs are really cool, lyrics and music combined, but then you're listening to others wondering, Why did he do this? Mraz feels obligated to make weird pervy comments in some of his lyrics he thinks are poetic. But instead they're eww factor. It's like some nerd sat down and wrote cool music, but then fell victim to his lifelong desire to describe his drooling insatiable geeky lust for hot women. Some lyrics describe a woman's "butterfly" to the point of you're just like ok I get it! Other lyrics compliment a dancing girl in nothing but stilettos for making his "pants tight." Blech. It's only a handful of songs on the CD that are like this, but they're so weirdly icky and laden with super cheese you just can't ignore them. It's like the lyrical version of "bad naked."

This style of music and Mraz's style of voice just do not lend themselves to that kind of lyric, at least not the way he does it. It's like jamming to "Cheeseburger in Paradise" on a Buffet CD, and the very next song is Buffet crooning weirdly about sex and he's not trying to be funny.

Mraz has a beautiful voice and great musical talent, so hopefully his next CD will be even better. FYI to parents out there, granted there is much worse around, but if I had a kid I would not buy them this CD, some parts are just too explicit and skeevy.

As for the lyrics of the other songs, I like most of them. A little philosophical here and there, which keeps it all fun and interesting while providing his happy sounds with some depth. He does better on the songs that don't seem like he's trying too hard.

Jason returns with a new voice after a soul enlightening tour including Hawaii and Australia where he dove into spiritual readings and the Hawaiian lifestyle. The lyrics of this new CD largely reflect those experiences in this introspective and personal album. Of the title, Jason says it best on his website: "What I love about mankind is that yes, we sing and we celebrate when we dance and we're foolish and we steal things. It's hard to have a new idea in music, in fashion, the land we walk on. It's all recycled. I think to say we stole it is a lot more fun."

Starting out the CD is "Make it Mine" with a retro 70's sound, lots of horn and lyrics that reflect his new perspective on life. In the same vein lyrically, he bolts out "Dynamo of Volition" with a lot of energy in classic Mraz style that early Mraz fans will definitely enjoy. In "Only Human" he is accompanied by his new funk retro sound as he reveals our human vulnerabilities.

"Lucky", with the talented Colbie Caillat making for a very nice match, has a subtle jazzy sound, and a beautiful blend of their voices. If you haven't checked out Colbie yet, you should. Ideal love transforms into something more carnal in the horn-fluttering retro funk song "Butterfly". The Jason sound we've come to know on previous CDs, this song delivers plays on words and tongue-twisting double-entendres that only Jason can turn.

He confesses tenderly his own past in "Love for a Child", a song about growing up too fast. "Details in the Fabric" is an emotionally gripping call to hang in there through the tough times. The lyrics of "Coyotes" belie the story of predatory search for love in NYC. Given the subject, it makes me scratch my head that he has a childrens chorus singing backup but is rescued by its very dynamic sound with his rapping style, operatic touches and at times Sting-like sound.

The four songs which I consider to be the crème de la crème of the CD are also on the EP "We Sing" as versions from different sessions. Those include the upbeat reggae sound of "I'm Yours", a tune already an online hit; his anthem "Live High"; the light-hearted pop ballad, "If it Kills Me" in which is he almost sounds a bit like Paul McCartney; and the melodic and nostalgic story of "A Beautiful Mess".

He is back rapping for "Mudhouse/Gypsy MC" live on the EP CD "We Steal Things", along with alternate cuts for "Love for a Child", "Coyotes", and "Man Gave Names to All the Animals".

The third EP CD "We Steal Things" contains excellent alternate cuts for "Make It Mine", "Butterfly", "Only Human", and "Dynamo of Volition".

More like Mr. A-Z than his first CD, "We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things" largely has a melancholy introspective vibe. I think this CD will actually appeal to an older audience with its mostly mellow retro funk sound and revealing personal lyrics. Kenny Loggins fans will find some common ground there. Mraz is definitely stepping away from his safe pop platform and stepping out in a new direction musically. Here's to clear waters! Regardless of the stylistic changes he incorporates in the new CD, I think all fans will be happy with the "We Sing" EP CD and highly recommend it by itself with 5 stars. We all need a little Mraz in our ear.

Well, let me begin by saying that I - like most Mraz fans - think that this guy is absolutely amazing. To see him live will truly change your life and musical outlook, having seen him 3 times and pining for the next time that he comes back out to Australia.

Having seen the songs of "We Sing..." played live approx 2 months ago, I was more than looking forward to this release - I was DESPERATE for it!

Now that it is out... I feel that it suffers from production. There is too much horn, too much everything. I struggle to hear the quality in the produced versions that I heard in the acoustic originals from the individual ep's. "I'm Yours" & "Live High" are perfect examples of this.

There is no doubt that the amazing talent that is Mr A-Z deserves to be heard by a wider audience and will be given that quality of this disc. My problem is that it just doesn't capture the same quality that he manages to bring to his acoustic performances.

If you are new to his world, do yourself a favour and check out his back-catologue, especially the acoustic sets.... You will not be dissapointed!

Happy Listening!

******** EDIT (August 11) *********

Although I still maintain that this album doesn't have the same emotional pull due to it's over-production, this has grown on me considerably.

Songs such as A Beautiful Mess and Details in the Fabric raise the hairs on the back of my neck due to their haunting feel, If It Kills Me & Make It Mine just make me smile....

After seeing them performed live, you really begin to appreciate the 'bigger' sound that he has gone for.

Saying that....

If this is the direction that Jason is heading in, while it is by no means terrible, I am truly thankful that I have been able to see him live and acoustic, playing original versions of songs like You and I Both, 0% Interest, Rand McNally, etc....

In 3 years time, this guy is going to be massive! Get on board people!