Jack Johnson = Overrated!!

[Mr. Cleanface]

First let me say that I love JJ. I was front row during his set at the first Bonnaroo, and I had Brushfire Fairytales before 99% of people out there, but I just don't see what is so great, or even original about what he does. I mean there must be 15 million singer/songwriters doing the same thing everyday. Hell I would even put some songs I write and play up against some of his in a Pepsi challenge, and I think people would pick mine.


I know that JJ rolls with G. Love and Ben Harper, but to put JJ in the same class as G. or BH is a joke. They are so far beyond JJas songwriters and musicians. JJ has 2 CD's out, and they are good, but to call him an equal to either G. or BH is crazy. Just like this tour that they are doing. It is great that JJ is helping G.get more exposure, and it is great that they are touring together, but JJ is not a headliner! He is fecking BORING!


Anyway, I like JJ, but IMO he is overrated, and he is starting to get played out!


out

[PERRY]

I'll second that one Mr Cleanface, but not all the way. The way I view JJ is this. I can only listen to him when I'm in a very mellow mood. very mellow. I can listen to G. anytime of the day, wheather how I feel. Your right , there are a dozen or so people doing the same thing he is doing and ther not getting squat. I would not consider him headlining material either. I'm sure though that when they do start there tour up ,that by the end of the night ,all three of those guys will be on stage together when the curtain drops.We would all like to see glass close the show. Ill give jack credit for getting g. on his lable though, that was pretty cool. Garrett is a superb songwriter, better than jack, i'll agreeon that one as well.

[Jaykob]

I'm going to have to say Jack Johnson in concert is rather boring. It's comparableto putting his 2 CDs on random play and letting them play out, with a few exceptions. When he opend for Ben Harper I give him credit for a great sound, there just wasn't any energy though.Like PERRY said, I can only listen while I'm in a mellow mood. I still like to listen, GLaSS is just a far better performer and has a lot better stage presense.

[justinreid]

I've never seen Jack live but from what I've heard, his concerts are exactly like playing his cd's on random. A friend of mine told me that after he saw Jack live, it was like he didn't even see him. I do like him personally, but I agree, I have to be in a certain mood to put on one of his cd's. I also think that he is a really good songwriter and musician, but he's nowhere near the level that G. or Ben are at even on his best days. Of course I'm biased because I don't think that anyone is as good as G. I've only seen GLaSS live twice. But the energy and emotion from the shows had me riding a high for days that no drug could achieve. That's whats important to me when I listen to music.
Peace. smileys/smiley16.gif

[greengirlie]

Okay... My theory on JJ is that If you have seen him once live, then you've seen him enough. His shows are always the same to me. I mean he may play his songs in a different order, but there are no suprises once so ever. Everytime I see him, I feel as though I've been at that exact show before. Something along the lines of Deja Vue. I mean I personally love JJ's music and think he is awesome and creative.... but dude, the live show has to have something added to it. I have seen him about six times... but it feels like a whole LOT more than that. (I'm not dissing his musical talent in any shape or forum, but just wish his live show was more upbeat or something.)


His crowd/following kinda rubs me the wrong way... along with dmb and O.A.R's. <---- WORST CROWD BY FAR!!!!!

[undercoverlover]

well i think what the big "fuss" w/ jj is . he is multi talented the surffing,filming and singing/ song writter,. i think that might have alot to do w/ the "appeal" he has, i agree that his concerts are not as entertaining as they should be and that he is not in the scale of musical talent as garrett and the boys, but that could have alot to do w/ his confort level , i think he is not as close to his band mems. as jim jeff and garrett, also i don't think he is tottally comfortable w/ himself as a singer, he him self has said that he dosen't think he is that great of a singer, (i do agree w/ ya'll) i think that it is him.. that makes him "jack johnson" on the real, i think he is a verry ambtious person and ambiton can get you a long way

[B-Love]

I am a jack fan, but I def think he is overhyped...there is plenty of good musicians out there...that just dont get a chance...I think jack is cool, in fact i have met him and he was very gracious...but when people start telling me he is better than G or dmb, I have to laugh...2 albums does not equal greatnes...but who knows what the future holds...he does have the makings I just hope he does do it..

[Fox1]

He does lack stage presents. Maybe that will come with time. I do like his albums and enjoyed the concerts that I have seen. I think it is great that they are touring together though.


Fox

[PERRY]

Maybe this just a hobby to him? just a guess. Cant believe jacks fans havnt been here to talk crap yet. Although thats not what were trying to do. peace PERRY

[karakoren]

Yeah last year at ACL fest G love played early and everyone was up on their feet singin and having a blast. Jack played about 2 hours later. At his stage everyone was chillin...sitting down listening to the music...partaking in some greens...

It was all good times, but the GLASS show was much better. But Jack did pull Garret up to play stepping stones with him and that was cool.

smileys/smiley12.gif

[snickers]

i absolutely love jack johnson and i would never have found out about g.love unless i got into jack. from the interviews and stuff i've read about jack, he kinda got thrown into the spotlight so i dont think he's extremely comfortable with himself as a performer yet.i tend to get the feeling that he enjoys doing more the behind the scenes stuff (like producing that other guys album or filming or whatever- and just to show you i'm not THAT biased, i didnt enjoy thicker than water that much, i felt like i was watching an extremely long music video) his music is very refreshing and honest to me, and i know he's not anything new or whatever, but his lyrics just happen to speak to me in a way that no one else's have so far. if you really listen to on and on, its extremely political, probably something that g.love himself was attracted to. i guess its all just about time and place, and i think that with jack releasing the hustle on his label will bring great things for our guys. so how can you hate that? Edited by: snickers

[undercoverlover]

right on

[Bimdog]

For the record I've been a G fan from the beginning, and believe that they are one of the best all-around bands(if not the best). I got into Jack because of G. Snickers hit it dead on. There are a million people getting up on stage nowadays with an acoustic guitar, and they all tend to blend together. What separates Jack from the pack is his lyrics and delivery. He hates the spotlight, but like everything else he seems to do, he is goin' with the flow to see where it takes him. I've yet to see Jack, but from listening to boots I can tell he lacks stage presence. However, compared to GLaSS, everybody does. Plus G has been touring relentlessly for over 10 years, and Jack is still kind of a newbie to the scene. Maybe it's not that he's overrated but overhyped, but that's how the music industry has always seemed to work.....the really really good stuff isn't played on the radio, you have to dig and discover it. Once you get past the hype(and most of his "fans"), you realize that Jack has his own thing, and he's good at it. When I got bored with Jack, I threw him on a mix with that whole mesh of music (GLaSS, Marley, Sublime, Slightly Stoopid, LB Dub Allstars, Tosh, The Meters, etc.), and that seemed to help.


Bim

[brijahn]

I enjoy Jack's music. True it can get boring after a while, but the lyrics speak to me too. I've never seen Jack as a headliner, only an opener or short sets at Festivals. I'm looking forward to seeing him Headline and hoping he adds something to his show because of it. I agree that Jack is still a young performer and I think he will grow in time.

[kisses]

Love JJ....but I agree...comes nowhere close to G and BH.....its all good music to me...just some better than others....

[greengirlie]

hmm Never seen him as a headliner either...so should be interesting.

[luke]

I totally agree about jack i spent most of the last couple of summers listening to his stuff but it eventually just gets boring. The only really reason i listen to it now is out of nostalgia for the summer. and I dunno if anyones heard his new album or if we're allowed to talk about it but damn, talk about a let down. G is in a league of his own if you ask me, i've been into him for a few years and i'mback round to the "it's all i listen to" stage again, I can't get enough.

[luke]

haha damn, i should have looked at the date this was posted.

[kelli420]

ditto...but jack is good...i think donavon is just as good

[Mr. Cleanface]

Blast from the past.


smileys/smiley1.gif

[Laeyto]

I was at a one of the donovan/G./jack concerts here in Toronto in the summer; I couldnt friggin believe it! For G.Love (who came on second ?????) I was one of maybe 30 people not down at the front dancing. Then when Jack came on I wanted to sit down cause its not really dance music, and EVERYONE else stood up! I was like, wtf? WHY were you people not dancing to rockin hot G.Love, and now your gonna dance to this slow acoustic meandering?


I find his music dull, uninspiring melodically and rhythmically. I do respect his lyrics; have read a few and agree he has a message. But Im sorry to say that I find him hard to listen to because its very dull sonically. I always skip rodeo clowns and have to tune out his part in Give It To You. Sometimes I break down and have to fast forward through it, cause to me he is not even in the groove of the song.......


And I dont like saying this about people who I am sure are cool and good people and all that; I hope he doesn't read this post. smileys/smiley5.gif

[fountainqueen]

i gotta say- didn't garrett give jack his first break? the way i hear it- g and crew were recording at philadelphonic and jack and garrett had a mutual surfer friend who made introductions. jack played 'rodeo clowns' (which i love, by the way) and garrett wanted to record it- jack suggests 'let's do it together.' and voila! jack's a star.


kind of interesting to see that g isopening for him now. i mean, really, public opinion has spoken, right? as greengirlie called it, jack's music is like 'de ja vu.' perhaps that's why it's taken off in a way that garret's hasn't? most of my friends don't really know g. love, but they would know jack johnson. wonder why.


regardless of what we think (obviously, we're all here, so we're in love with the g. love... not really representative), jack's made more of a niche in the limelight. is this musical talent? the public's poor taste? g. love's decision not to sell out? g. love's lack of opportunity to sell out? i have no idea.

[ragmop]

M2C: First, no need to crack on jack. What he does he does very, very well. The fact that we all dig him to some extent proves that. The manhas gobs of talent, and not just musically.


Second, different does not necessarily mean over-rated. Ashley Simpson is over-rated. Jack is not. Here's the deal: IMO his music is not, relatively speaking, either diverse or complex--rap/blues/folk/funk fusion? I think not. (And I'm describing, not crackin' on his style) I think b/c of that,jj obviously appeals to a larger rather non-discriminating and compliant listening market. His market is the "bell" in the bell-shaped curve of listeners. Yeah, it's dat easy.


In contrast, G.L.a.S.S.'s music (for it is notG's alone--Jimi,Houseman, and many othershave had something to do with it as well, thank you)ismuch more unique, complex and diverse than jj's, and therefore appeals to a smaller, yet more discriminating and dare I say, a more open-mindedaudience. We are the outer edges of the bell-shaped curve of listeners. That doesn't make G.L.a.S.S.'s music any better, or jj's any worse. Just different styles, and therefore different markets, although there is obviously some crossover.


Jack, if you love doin' what you do, keep it up. If you want to fully win over theG.L.a.S.S listeners, you gotta get deeper with your music.


damn, I talk too much. . . Edited by: ragmop

[sauce.baby]

ah you said it perfectly ragmop!



all the while i'm reading this thread, i'm thinking, jj and glass are
two different styles.. how can people compare them? you can't go
to a jj concert expecting a glass-esque feel. just like you
wouldn't go to a symphony expecting slightly stoopid-esque stuff.

i went to the brushfire tour where jack headlined. i loved the
concert.. ALL of it. i loved glass for their fun, funkiness [the
first time i had ever seen or heard them], and i loved jj for his cool,
grooviness. i danced thru the whole thing, tho just a little more
upbeat to glass' stuff. the whole place was packed for everyone
that was on the stage.





it's all just different strokes for different folks.. and that's what makes the world go 'round smileys/smiley2.gif

[ben04]

I really do like Jack's music. Now I don't listen to it everyday but I think he has two solid cds and I can't wait for Tuesday to hear the next one! And I totally agree we can't compare G.L.a.S.S and Jack.. they are way too different!

[PERRY]

Â*I'll second that one Mr Cleanface, but not all the way. The way I view JJ is this. I can only listen to him when I'm in a very mellow mood. very mellow. I can listen to G. anytime of the day, wheather how I feel. Your right , there are a dozen or so people doing the same thing he is doing and ther not getting squat. I would not consider him headlining material either. I'm sure though that when they do start there tour up ,that by the end of the night ,all three of those guys will be on stage together when the curtain drops.We would all like to see glass close the show. Ill give jack credit for getting g. on his lable though, that was pretty cool. Garrett is a superb songwriter, better than jack, i'll agreeon that one as well.


Im quoting myself and sticking to my previous words. smileys/smiley14.gif

[BoPicasso]

Whos Jack Johnson?

[PERRY]

Old boxer

[kelli420]

i thought he was that guy who was in mr ed....lol

[Bimdog]

Old boxer


"If you want to throw down fisticuffs, then fine, I've got Jack Johnson and Tom O'Leary waiting for you." - R. Burgundy

[Abilities]

never really liked jack johnson, not very muchstyle to his music... surf rock makes me flinch anyway.im always in late on the huge topics dammit.

[kelli420]

uuugggh...jacks cd comes out today and where is he?? IN philly on south street signing cds. but we got 8 inches of snow last night on top of the 5 on friday we got...so im not drivin to philly on those tight roads. but i wish i could.

[ben04]

yeah I can't wait until after work when I can go get the cd! Sorry about the snow Kelli!

[ragmop]

uuugggh...jacks cd comes out today and where is he?? IN philly on south street signing cds.


Yeah, I saw that on his website. It got me wondering "why philly?" for the kick off? No offense, but it just isn't an obvious choice for thehawaiiansurfer/musician/filmmaker.

[cursed]

i wil actually go so far as to say he sucks, ive never really liked him but admittedly didnt give it a chance mainly because of shear un-originality.





i implore you all to check this band out http://www.jerryjoseph.com/Edited by: cursed

[ragmop]

i wil actually go so far as to say he sucks, ive never really liked him but admittedly didnt give it a chance mainly because of shear un-originality.


i implore you all to check this band out http://www.jerryjoseph.com/





M2C: First, thanks much for the link! Ppls check it out. What i heard I liked, but there is only one 27 sec. audio clip. Any more audio of their stuff available?


Second, to eachhis own. In my book, originality is but one of many factors which determine if I am going to dig or reject an artist. Limiting that decision to originalty alone would have excludeda lot of worthy artists whohijacked and capitalized on decades of work fromafrican american blues artists.


For me, I dig his sound--original or not. It speaks to me andcreates a mood (which is also one of my criteria). Just my opinion . . .

[ben04]

Well I just got the cd about an hour ago. After about 1 and a half listens I really really like it. But again I am bias because I like jack. I think the songs are different from his last two. There has been some growth. So check it out at least. I am now also very excited with the summer tour announced today! Sommerset 8.27.... I am looking forward to the end of the summer already and that is pathetic!

[ragmop]

ben04, second that. listening now to it. can't remember the last time i ran out and picked up a cd on the day of its release. feel 12 years old again. So far sounds similar to the last, maybe a little barer than before--which is good.but damn, good to hear him singing somethin' new!


Gives thanks to Garrett and Donavon, but no collaboration. WTF!smileys/smiley2.gif He has Zach Gill contributing on 3 tracks.Again, WTF! smileys/smiley2.gifNo crackin on zach, but is hejj's new project, or what?


Peace, and check it out ppls . . .

[ben04]

No crackin on zach, but is hejj's new project, or what?


I think so since Jack has the ALO going out on tour with him this summer. I was keeping my fingers crossed for another Brushfire tour like last year... but what can ya do.

[Mr. Cleanface]

I know I started this thread BUT, I still love JJ and the new CD is GREAT!


smileys/smiley1.gif

[kelli420]

hes comin here on 9/10.......but tickets go sale this friday. hhhmmmm dont know if i'll go. nin goes on sale this friday and ive wanted to see trent since like 5th grade

[ben04]

Tough call Kelli.... save up and go to both. Jack's show isn't until September. Put away a few dollars every week and you will have it saved up!

[kelli420]

tix go on sale on the 19th oops...can i wait or will they sell out??

[ben04]

Well last year at Sommerset they didn't sell out, but I have no idea what kind of fan base he has in Philly. I would guess you would have a few months until you would need to get the tickets.. but don't hold me to that.

[PERRY]

Def. go to both. Save your cash sista. Easy no prob. smileys/smiley17.gif

[B-Love]

Go to the shows, both of them. My first concert was NIN back in 92, it was a good time...

[kelli420]

oh im goin to both...im gonna max out my credit card...and pay that off slowly!!

[ben04]

Good for you Kelli! I am sure you won't regret it!

[Laeyto]

I don't think I would spend even extra cash on Jack at this point.


Sorry Jack! Would pay to see one of your films, though......