Released: June 23
Jason Mraz continues his chameleon ways as he enters a new disco era on his eighth album, ‘Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride’.
Reluctant to lean on hits like I’m Yours and I Won’t Give Up for inspiration, the singer-songwriter heads into dance territory, marking a U-turn from his previous, reggae-inspired LP.
The aptly-titled Getting Started is a fine introduction, rising to a crescendo with beats and soaring strings underpinning impassioned vocals from the star, whose love songs have become modern day classics.
But in changing things up on the funk-influenced I Feel Like Dancing and shimmering Feel Good Too, a switch goes off and the usually scaled-back singer becomes a full-blown purveyor of pop, capable of commanding any crowd.
“To me, music is magic because first there’s emptiness or silence and then I’m playing an instrument or singing, and, just like that, I’m a creator,” reflects the hitmaker. “I am alive to make this sound. So music is a medium through which this alchemy can occur, and I find that my lyrics reflect that.”
On You Might Like It, he serves up a run of affirmations for an uplifting, feelgood anthem, while the steady beat of Lovesick Romeo is most in line with the rock-tinged material of his earlier years, reworked for a new direction.
It’s not all straight pop, however, and scattered among the get-up-and-dance tunes are stripped-back moments like the mid-tempo, R&B tinged Pancakes & Butter and pensieve Irony of Loneliness.
Sometimes it’s a distraction; particularly when the uptempo material is so well conceived and executed, there’s an occasional reluctance to commit to the concept 100 per cent. However, that’s not to deny those tunes’ ability in showcasing Jason’s versatility both as a writer and a vocalist capable of selling any song.
It’s a striking revelation that’s unravelled across his diverse recent output and a testament to the decades-long work of the musician, who in following his muse has grown to become one of the most accomplished singer-songwriters to hail from the US this century.
“I’m still living this dream I had as a kid. It takes a certain energy and commitment and belief to still live your dream throughout your life,” he muses on his success to date. “That’s a recurring theme on this album. It’s about my quest to continue to be fully self-expressed and to continue to live this dream.”
