Jason Mraz Album: “Mr. A-Z”

It's been a long time coming, but Jason Mraz doesn't disappoint in this follow up to 2002's "Waiting For My Rocket to Come". A little mellower, a little more introspective, and a lot more polished, this is a great album for easy listening and relaxing.

First single "Wordplay" from this Mechanicsville VA native picks up where "Rocket" left off, with clever lyrics, a versatile range of notes and a catchy chorus that will stick in your head.

"The wonderful thing it does because

Because I am the wizard of ooh's and ah's and fa la la's

Yeah the Mr. A-Z

They say I'm all about the Wordplay"

Another clever track is "Geek in the Pink" which is almost pop-hop lyrics-wise, and one of my favorites. The chorus of "Did You Get My Message" brings up some ELO memories, but this album is all about Mraz from alpha to omega, as he puts it, hence the title Mr. A-Z.

More great tracks are "Clockwatching", the lead off ballad "Life is Wonderful", and "Mr. Curiosity" with its standout piano work. The retro "Bella Luna" showcases Mraz's acoustic guitar work, and "O Lover" drifts to the Latin side. "Please Don't Tell Her" has one of the best opening riffs on the album, and there isn't a bad song on the album.

Grading alphabetically, this one's an A.

Amanda Richards, July 31, 2005

Master wordsmith Jason Mraz is back at the mic, lips dancing as fast as ever with his new self-titled album, Mr. A-Z. It is, well, all about the wordplay. No if's, but's or fa la la's about it, the album provides a full daily dose of introspective humor. As with "Wordplay" and "The Geek in the Pink", his lyrics are like lucid dreamers: aware of themselves. His stream-of-consciousness lyrical babble is as energizing as his soulful resonance in this album is heart-wrenching.

Although his new single has gotten a lot of radio time lately, by far the best number is "Life is Wonderful". Mraz side-steps his lyrical rap for this passionate pure-hearted piece about the ironies of life. "It takes no time to fall in love... but it takes years to know what love is...". His sound is somewhat folksy in this piece sounding almost like Sting in certain phrases. The mixing could have been a tad tighter but the background music really brings out the lyrics. This song will resonate in your soul.

"Wordplay" is Mraz at his prime self with a steam train of consciousness lyrical rap. The song is word play, teasing with the song and poking fun at his sophomore effort. His voice recalls Queen. It's highly catchy and up beat and one of my favorites. "Geek in the Pink" comes off as an amusing naughty parody of a club music sub-set. Listen, and you'll know what I mean. "Did You Get My Message" is a frantic swing/blues influenced piece with artful repetition of `did you get my message' (apparently a neurosis brought on by a previous girlfriend). Mr. Curiosity is example of another prime cut of Mraz. You'll enjoy a creative nod to opera as Jason pulls out an amazing falsetto. Buy the album so that Jason can buy some looser jeans, okay? Wow!

The next piece, "Clockwatching", wasn't my favorite but was a playfully inventive recipe with a dash of Madonna's "Don't Tell Me" with a smidgen of Dukes of Hazzard banjo. However, "Bella Luna" left me aching to dance with it's Latin rhythym and Jason's sensually wistful Michael Bublé/Sade/Sting-like croon. "Plane" was a depressing follow-up with dark poetic lyrics. His lonely howl is heart-wrenching. "O. Lover" follows suit with a melancholy feel despite Mraz's vocal smatterings on a potpourri of African rhythyms; it didn't make it on my playlist. With "Please Don't Tell Her" we are back with classic Mraz and his sensual playful mood. "The Forecast" returns with an 80's pop rock sound that reminds me of Breathe. It is rather upbeat, but my forcast for that particular track is troubled skies; it is the most musically weak song of the album.

The limited edition special packaging is no less creative than the album, with a pocket containing the CD booklet, sketches by Jason and a Mraztastic notebook full of journal entries and artsy polaroid images. Don't expect a real polaroid of the amazingly talented and soulful-eyed Jason to post on your wall (although that would have been a nice touch).

The album finishes with the sweet "Song for a Friend" with a postlude performed by a local high school chorus; it delivers an important message about being unafraid of individuality and being oneself. How appropriate coming from Jason Mraz, a singer uniquely and unabashedly himself. Jason Mraz has a sound and talent like no other and delivers Mr. A-Z with creative heart and soul.

I've read a lot of reviews about this album, and I'm finding a lot of them say that this album isn't any good. Well, I think they're all wrong.

I bought the album before reading any reviews because I had heard his new single, and I really like his singing.

At first, I found myself thinking what a lot of the reviewers said, that Wordplay is fun and The Geek in the Pink is good, but the rest is just boring and not what we're used to.

As I listened to it more, however, I found myself liking Did You Get My Message and Mr. Curiosity. He's got such an amazing voice and this album really showcases it.

He doesn't need to sing every song the same. That is what would be boring. He shows another side of his personality with this album if you take the time to listen and really enjoy it.

I find myself enjoying another song every time I listen to it.

I recommend buying this album, ignoring all those people that say it stinks, and really really listen to it, over and over. You'll see what I'm talking about.

Well,

I have read most reviews on this page and frankly have been dissapointed with most people. I know everybody has a right to his/her own opinion, but come on! Am I even listening to the same album as everyone else? Are we supposed to psycho analize this album like it's some 60 minute prog rock concept piece? This is not Mozart! This is MRAZ!!! To say he is arrogant because of the mock on the industry playfullness of the song Wordplay is absurd! It is satire people! Jeez... This ENTIRE album does nothing less than show how much Jason has grown over the years and displays his many different styles eloquently. If you wanted another "Waiting for my Rocket" then you should have bought another copy, becuase artists are supposed to grow, they are not supposed to make carbon copy cutouts of their last album. I have been listening to jason Mraz since 1999, with the earliest bootlegs of his concerts. I am happy with all his stages of development and am dissapointed with all the people who think he should stay limited to the "curbside prophet"... I aplaud Jason for taking chances on this album and hope he becomes huge because of it. Oh, and by the way...For the few ignorant people who think the opera is Steve Lillywites idea...You know NOTHING of Jason Mraz! Go see a show and shut your mouth! Thre are no one hit wonders on this album, because the entire album is a hit. Peace!

By the way...Song for a friend is AMAZING! What a way to close an album...

That Jason Mraz opens this album with the song "Life is Wonderful" is a testament to what he seems to espouse as his personal creed.

Aside from the fact that the song is hauntingly beautiful and uses different beats and rhythms to carry the simply elegant lyrics to their conclusion is both a representation of his ability to move effortlessly across musical styles and a metaphorical representation of what the lyrics attest to - life is a series of twists and turns, ups and downs, highs and lows.

The rest of the album may not be a copy of Waiting for my Rocket to Come, but if he wanted a repeat of that album, he would have re-recorded it. If you listen to Mr. A-Z from beginning to end, you're served with another reminder that he's not a typical artist producing typical fluff. Mraz is a musician at the core, and a singer second, though his voice is one of the best out there today.

I don't generally find song-by-song breakdowns helpful, so I won't do one. Each stands as its own unique story and statement, but while they may not SEEM to have a theme, they actually do - that life is complex, emotions and thoughts in most human beings are not simple nor are they best conveyed with trite lyrics.

I appreciate that this album may not resonate with everyone, but it's one of my favorites (along with all of his other work) and is best appreciated through the lens of life as it really is - far from monotonous, filled with joy and pain but, ultimately, wonderful.

Oh - and why does he 'do opera' on Mr. Curiosity? Because he can.