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Entertainment Weekly

Dark sentiments are balanced by warm melodies and gently rootsy arrangements.

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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.

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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.

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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]

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.

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The New York Times

If anything, Discipline may be too subtle: a pretty, smartly produced collection that sometimes sounds like background music.

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Dot Music

At its heart there is a beautiful record in there for anyone with the time and patience to find it.

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Blender

The more you listen, the less soothing his songs become; this is drifty music about living a rootless life where satisfaction is elusive.

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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.

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Rolling Stone

Sleep Through the Static marks a tentative step forward for this improbable superstar.

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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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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]

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]

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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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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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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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.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 7.2 (out of 10) based on 42 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Simon W. gave it a10:
RM is a tosser I wonder what type of music he listens to? ABBA i mean seriously WTF.

Sarah J gave it a10:
I think it is great. How could anyone disagree? Jack writes his own lyrics based off of his life and feelings and thoughts. That is art in it's truest form, if you ask me. I love all of his songs. I think they are deep and meaningful - to him especially. He writes to his wife, his sons, his friends, and his brothers/cousin etc. Yes he has kids now so he sees the world differently. He also suffered a loss of a dear cousin during the time he wrote these songs. The CD reflects his life and his emotions. I think adding Zach Gill on piano was a nice touch too.

Toni J. gave it a10:
first off, Steve O. you shouldnt really say anything about Jack if you can't even name his last album. you obviously are clueless about jack at all. and the songs you named, wow. where'd you hear them on the radio? nice try though. as for the rest of the "haters" - any TRUE jack fan can see the difference in his music from cd to cd, and yes there is a difference once again here. but who says difference is a bad thing? each review states that his music sounds the same and that his songs are too similar but when the man steps out and throws a semi-political twist on his music he gets bashed. Jack is a chill guy and makes chill music. each cd has been chill and they all will continue to be. if you don't get down with the easy-going beach hippy vibe then you should probably tune into something else and stop writing bad reviews for an artist that you truly just don't understand. Jack will never take the "mellow" out of his music because then he'll be taking the "jack" out of his music. every song he sings has his personality written all over it and that is why fans continue to adore him. As a Jack supporter I say rock on and keep giving us that cool as a cucumber feeling.

[Anonymous] gave it a10:
Great album all in all...lyrics are great.

Diandra C. gave it a3:
I miss Jack's old laid back feel. These songs are overly dramatic and not him.

Paige gave it a10:
People need to stop being so small-minded. The lyrics in his music are genius. People who expect something and it doesn't turn out the exact way they planned then they are so quick to judge and put it down. In case you haven't really listened to the lyrics, especially of the title track, it's a protest song. Generally protest songs aren't violent and if they were straight forward about it then they would be accused of being unpatriotic. He is just expressing his thoughts on things going on in the world today. I'm sure this is the exact reaction he was expecting from this album. The title tells it all..."Sleep Through the Static"...there are things going on all around you that if you just took the time to realize and think about you would probably care about and do something to change. So I challenge any of you that say you don't like his album to listen to it again, just listen to the lyrics and interpret them. The lyrics themselves are worth buying the CD.

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!

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