Jason Mraz looks to make a leap up the pop charts with his uniquely titled album, “We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.” In this album, Mraz experiments with ways to channel his eclectic style into a more mainstream circuit without completely compromising his music to conventional pop. For fans of the old Mraz, this means less lyricism and more catchy choruses, less coffeehouse style tracks and more radio tunes. However, Mraz will undoubtedly win over many new fans because this album is a breath of fresh air in the world of pop music. Track number two on the album, “I’m Yours,” is a pop-worthy modern era love song of sorts. In fact, this Jack Johnson-esque track is one of the best songs on this album. The laid back acoustic guitar, scatting and lyrical simplicity make for a feel-good track that is ready to breathe new life into the pop charts. While he does not take many risks musically or lyrically, the honesty and straightforwardness of the track make it hard not to enjoy. I highly recommend “I’m Yours” as an easy listening track that showcases the best of the “new” Mraz. Another noteworthy track is “Love For A Child,” number six on the album. This song, while musically more relevant to Mraz’s newer approach, is lyrically reminiscent of his original clever, thoughtful and at times perplexing style. The song deals with the struggles of divorce for a child. Mraz sings from the perspective of a grown adult reflecting on childhood experiences, presumably Mraz’s own. The recurring falsetto in the chorus of the song gives the song a Broadway-style twist and the unexpectedness of the violin, keyboards and cello make the song particularly interesting. Ultimately, Mraz’s lyricism in the song is what makes it so memorable. His simplicity allows the lyrics to be the predominant element of the piece. In this song, Mraz transforms from a songwriter to a storyteller. “Love For A Child” is a must-listen track. “Coyotes” extends the furthest from the soulful sincerity usually present in Mraz’s music with a much more artificial sound. Mraz flirts with a sound similar to electronic pop with the repetitive keyboard and bass section. While still a long shot away from the pop music of Britney Spears or the likes, this track will surprise and possibly dishearten some fans of the original Jason Mraz. Another particularly disappointing track is “Details in the Fabric.” This song features James Morrison, whose raspy and deeper voice should be a seemingly good counterpart to Mraz’s higher pitched tone, but unfortunately Morrison only has a small role in the song. Morrison’s particular portion of the song is worthwhile, but the track as a whole is less than satisfying. The repetitious guitar and lyrics get boring and the song never really reaches a climax throughout its almost six minutes. While a good partnership, Mraz and Morrison leave something to be desired with this particular collaborative effort. The other duet off of the album features Colbie Caillat. The pair manage to balance each other well in the song “Lucky.” The voices of both Mraz and Caillat are distinct in this simple love song, and they share the vocals equally throughout the track. The harmonies and endearing lyrics fit a traditional male-female duet with the piano accompaniment adding a nostalgic effect. The violins are also a focal point, particularly in the chorus. Unlike the collaboration between Mraz and Morrison, this duet remains interesting with the contrast of vocals, contagious chorus and universal message. Overall, Mraz’s newest album presents a new side of him as both a singer and songwriter. While certain songs, such as “Details in the Fabric” and “Coyotes” are somewhat disappointing, tracks such as “I’m Yours,” “Love For A Child,” and “Lucky,” are both enjoyable and good representations of what the new Jason Mraz is all about. Mraz’s “We Sing. We dance. We Steal Things” pushes pop to its limit, breathing new life into mainstream music as we know it.
