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Sleep Through The Static
by Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 61 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
6.7 out of 10
based on 17 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 34 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

The singer from Hawaii returns with his latest album, which was recorded on solar-powered equipment.

LABEL: Brushfire
RELEASE DATE: 05 February 2008
DISCS: 1 disc
GENRE(S): Rock

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

83
Entertainment Weekly
Dark sentiments are balanced by warm melodies and gently rootsy arrangements.
Read Full Review
80
Billboard
Saying that Jack Johnson's fourth record is languid and breezy is a little like saying the Cubs probably won't win it all this year, but Sleep Through the Static takes Johnson's über-chill, barefoot-in-a-hammock vibe to new heights--or mediums, depending on how you look at such things.
Read Full Review
80
Observer Music Monthly
Jackson is back with his old producer JP Plunier and 'Hope' even has a mellow ska refrain. Johnson's vocals--imagine a Noughties take on Paul Simon and Cat Stevens--are utterly addictive, but this time there's a grown-up vibe to the trippy prose.
Read Full Review
80
Q Magazine
This won't alienate any fans--his voice is as soothing as ever--but it's pleasing to see him stimulating more than just a goofy grin. [Mar 2008, p.102]
70
Hot Press
With an album proper to offer this time around, it seems that Johnson is back with a vengeance--fans of his effortlessly laid-back acoustic fare will immediately warm to this strong collection of songs.
Read Full Review
70
The New York Times
If anything, Discipline may be too subtle: a pretty, smartly produced collection that sometimes sounds like background music.
Read Full Review
70
Dot Music
At its heart there is a beautiful record in there for anyone with the time and patience to find it.
Read Full Review
70
Blender
The more you listen, the less soothing his songs become; this is drifty music about living a rootless life where satisfaction is elusive.
Read Full Review
60
All Music Guide
No matter what instrument he's playing or what he's singing about, his music still feels the same, which is enough to satisfy his fans but not to win him many new ones.
Read Full Review
60
Rolling Stone
Sleep Through the Static marks a tentative step forward for this improbable superstar.
Read Full Review
50
Boston Globe
On Sleep Through the Static, Johnson has returned to his five basic modes of shuffling and stargazing, all of which are plenty easy on the ears but somehow flabbier.
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40
Mojo
The new dad has ditched the gap-year spirituality to reach for a more adult world where poverty, war and uncertainty must be confronted, and it's a world beyond his expressive abilities. [Mar 2008, p.102]
40
Uncut
You'd be hard pressed to find anything to summon the blood and stiffen the sinew among the 14 songs on offer here. [Mar 2007, p.90]
40
Spin
Johnson uses his brain instead, bumming over the war, airplane turbulance, and the widespread deterioration of manners on chewy, Moog-speckled ditties that reveal an arty streak he's kept secret until now. [Feb 2008, p.94]
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40
The Guardian
Sleep Through the Static has one gear, and that's the one marked "Actually, can we do it tomorrow?"
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40
Slant Magazine
Sleep Through the Static is yet another collection of somnolent, semi-sociopolitical-themed folk-rock in the tradition of '70s AM radio.
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40
NOW Magazine
He’s crafted yet another replica batch of breezy, walk-along-the-beach jams [which] won’t matter to his fans, who keep coming back to their sandal-footed prophet regardless.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this album is 6.7 (out of 10) based on 34 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Steve O. gave it a5:
What happened? Let me start off by saying I absoutely LOVE his last album he put out w/ "Good People" and "Sitting, Waiting, Wishing"... I even enjoyed the Curious George album! But what happened to good old Jack? The songs are complete SNOOZERS!!! Something is definately missing in this record that ALL the other Jack Johnson records seem to have... This only gets a 5 because his other cds are so great... DONT BUY!

Tom H. gave it a1:
His worst album yet. A very boring album, lullaby worthy.

Beth M. gave it a10:
Jack Johnson writes beautiful music that is soothing and relaxing and makes me slow down and enjoy the world.

Rob M. gave it a7:
Okay, Okay... yes, I think we can agree this is not jack's best thing out there. It's an overall bland record that does seem to sit in the same melodic stand still. I have been a jack supporter since "on and on" and this is probably my least favorite record. When I initially heard it, I said, "this is typical jack"(a bit dissapointed), but after listening to the album more and more, it does grow on you...you do apprecitate the simplistic, easy listening, laid back(maybe too laid back) approach jack always takes to his music. I must laugh when you say jack's a horrible artist or he can't be a headliner! Ha, who are you trying to kid... look, get off your high horse, bottom line is your talking about a guy with incredible talent, voice control, and tone that many artists lack today...so, please go back to searching for that 'panic at the disco' tour date and learn the meaning of true instrumentals before slamming a guy for putting out good music. The simple fact that Jack is such a stand up guy who truly understands the simplicities of life; holstering family values, and making society more aware of their surroundings will have me waiting to buy his next release! Even if it is recorded thru molecular combustion and is genrally reviewed as 'crap'!!

Jeremy T. gave it an8:
The album is a good listen, and unlike his other albums there isn't a song that completely bothers me, unlike his other albums. on the other hand, there isn't a song that really catches me right off the bat. thus, the album as a whole is better, but the individual songs aren't as catchy or poppy.

Ilya R gave it a7:
It always amazes me how harsh critics suddenly become when an unexpected artist tackles anything resembling social issues for the first time. It's almost as if artists making a statement have to take themselves seriously before anyone else can (which I think actually makes their music worse). There's no reason that war and climate change cannot be discussed in a breezy, melodic and pleasant tunes. And there's nothing about the music on this album that lacks that same kind of knack for pleasant, simple pop that Johnson delivers better than anyone else out there.

M M. gave it a3:
Trite lyrics? Check. Average-at-best musicianship? Check. An artist who fails to grow at all and keeps trying to make the same album over and over and over again? Check. If you guessed Jack Johnson, you'd be correct. Here's another yawner from the aforementioned singer/songwriter. You lost me from track one buddy.

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