Mr. A-Z
by Jason Mraz
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Jul 26, 2005
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 69 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 53 out of 69
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 69
  3. Negative: 11 out of 69

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  1. CANDICEC
    Oct 26, 2005
    6
    I must say, i am a huge jason fan, all though this cd was kinda bubbly pop, he is very talented , i agree java joes and the old school ones are most def. the best, so check those out before listening to the bad reviews, and well sadly the new cd, some songs are good tho, but its not W.F.M.R.T.C. :)
  2. jw
    Apr 12, 2006
    5
    What IS it about sophomore albums, anyway? This is the SECOND hip neo-songwriter bandwagon I've been unceremoniously thrown off of in as many years. I get that narcissism is the new black and all, but this disc, like "Heavier Things," is completely ridiculous. Both Mraz and John Mayer arrived on the scene so brilliantly it's almost impossible to believe how far they fell with What IS it about sophomore albums, anyway? This is the SECOND hip neo-songwriter bandwagon I've been unceremoniously thrown off of in as many years. I get that narcissism is the new black and all, but this disc, like "Heavier Things," is completely ridiculous. Both Mraz and John Mayer arrived on the scene so brilliantly it's almost impossible to believe how far they fell with these two albums. Both seem to have listened too closely to their own hype. In Mayer's case, he seems to have swallowed whatever was left of that "Wonderland" pill and gone off the deep end. Apparently buoyed by the swoons resulting from that single, he is tireless in the assertion of his man-ness. Radio play refuses to let us forget the mind-numbing chant of "Daughters," with the immortal lyric: "On behalf of every man looking out for every girl/You are the god and the weight of her world." Are women really okay with lines like that? Enough of them must be. But please John - never speak on my behalf again. Mraz is similarly basking in the glow of himself here - though admittedly it is not so much offensive as it is annoying. Obviously he has made an effort to feature what he had heard were the top selling points of his first effort (i.e., his clover-honey falsetto and the ever present "wordplay," which is now featured as a topic unto itself). Wordplay, wordplay, wordplay..."It's all about the wordplay," he tells us. Nevermind that the wordplay of the first album was based on what were generally useful and exciting lyrics. These songs are scarcely more than a topic sentence followed by prolonged Brat Scat. And there are so many of them! All attesting to the brilliance of the first album without ever duplicating it. The opening track, "Life Is Wonderful" is a fake-out, much like the better "Clarity" was from Mayer. Both songs seem remnants left over from the debut albums, and both belie the silliness to come.… Expand
  3. Matt
    Aug 15, 2005
    4
    Should take lessons from girlfriend Tristan Prettyman on how to make heartfelt music.
  4. PresidentBush
    Jul 5, 2006
    6
    3 good songs on the record so dont buy this album unless u want to be dissapointed by how odd the songs are as they are as an example of hip-hop when last album they were adult alternative adult-related songs which were pretty good but the song style changed and it sucks the way he did on the first albums song but i forget the same... so all im trying to say is dont buy this album because 3 good songs on the record so dont buy this album unless u want to be dissapointed by how odd the songs are as they are as an example of hip-hop when last album they were adult alternative adult-related songs which were pretty good but the song style changed and it sucks the way he did on the first albums song but i forget the same... so all im trying to say is dont buy this album because it is not very good and is not adult alternative unless for the two songs "clockwatching" and "wordplay" and those songs arent satisfied. i suggest if u like mraz though, check out 50 cents new album the massecre. its great heavy metal with great lyrics so rock on dudes in the 50 cent band so another cd i would reccomend is the dead kennadys b/c its great rap and the music and moments in this album is unforgettable with Robert Plants lyrics. And i love eminem and their singer Eddie Van Halen rocks on the jazz"""""""""""""""" Oh yeah i forgot M… Expand

Awards & Rankings

74
#74 Most Discussed Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 15
  3. Negative: 2 out of 15
  1. AllMusic
    50
    For those who enjoyed the wise-ass undercurrent of his debut, this will be a delight. For those who enjoyed "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)," there will be too much narcissistic tomfoolery here to make this enjoyable. For those who never understood the appeal of Jason Mraz in the first place, Mr. A-Z will make them realize that they've really been taking John Mayer for granted.
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  2. Amazon.com
    60
    Fortunately, producer Steve Lillywhite is on hand to clean things up, giving even the most bumbling lyrical experiments, such as "Wordplay" and "Geek in the Pink," at least the illusion of a newfound maturity.
    Read full review
  3. Billboard
    60
    There's an overriding sense of preciousness that permeates "Mr. A-Z," and a few instances ("O. Lover," "The Forecast") where his homages to '70s AM radio sneak over into copies.
    Read full review
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