Artist: Jason Mraz
Album: Mr. A-Z
Label: Atlantic Records
Rating:
Reviewer: Amy Farnsworth

Jason Mraz has a voice fit for broadway, but he’s traded those classically trained pipes to be “the geek in the pink” instead. Mraz’s most recent album, Mr. A-Z, proves to be even better than his 2002 debut CD, Waiting for my Rocket to Come. Producer Steve Lilywhite, who has worked with a number of artists from Dave Matthews Band to U2, produced Mraz’s latest CD and it clearly shows throughout the entire album. Lilywhite often pays attention to close details and adds little surprises by layering various tracks throughout the entire album. For example, during a song break in “Clock Watching”, Lilywhite adds a bunch of background noise over music to have the listener invision time passing. This unique effect is only one of the many interesting production elements found on Mr. A-Z.

Mr. A-Z also shows that Mraz has grown as an artist and songwriter, and these new songs, many upbeat and catchy along with compelling ballads, will only enhance the caliber of his live perfomances.

The thing that struck me the most about Mraz’s new album was his vocal performance. While Mraz originally sought to be a broadway star, he traded in his classically trained voice for an even bigger dream. Playing local clubs and restaurants in San Diego, including the regular Java Joe’s, Mraz began to create a big enough following to attract record companies. But the buzz surrounding Mraz’s debut album, “Waiting for my Rocket to Come” helped Mraz develop an even larger fan base when he was finally noticed by Dave Matthews. In 2002, Mraz decided to unofficially open up for his favorite band by playing three small unpaid gigs in the parking lot outside the Gorge Ampitheater in George, Washington before a Dave Matthews Band show. Matthews was so impressed by Mraz’s talent that he insisted that he play on a side stage the next year when the band would return to the Gorge. With Matthews’ help, Mraz’s fanbase increased and so did his live acoustic performances, accompanied by percussionist, Toca.

While Mraz is still new to the music scene, his latest album promises that he will be around for a long time. The opening song on the album, begins as Mraz gently croons the lyrics of the soothing and melodic song “Life is Wonderful”. Upbeat and catchy songs, “Geek in the Pink” and “Did you Get My Message” will have fans singing along instantaneously. “Geek in the Pink” is a revisit to Mraz’s single “Curbside Prophet”, and provides loyal fans with plenty of rapping and scatting about the benefits of choosing a geek instead of just some other guy.

Mraz also shines on the ballad “Plane”, an intense song that shows off his pure vocals and the classic training he once left behind. Mraz’s serious side reveals itself to listeners on this album, and he lures listeners with his soothing voice on the slow, sultry song “Bella Luna” singing, “ I’m just a singer you’re the world/ All I can bring ya’ is a language of a lover/Bella Luna my beautiful beautiful moon/ How you swoon me like no other."

One of my favorites off of this album is the song “O, Lover”, which combines tricky rhythms and powerful vocals (complete with scatting of course) to create an irresistible dance track.

Mraz’s voice not only captivates and intrigues, but his other talents lie within his ability to tell a story in each individual song. Mr. A-Z took exactly an entire year to complete, and each song gives the listener a better understanding to Mraz’s inner thoughts and feelings as a songwriter. I cannot wait to finally catch one of his live performances, and I’m very excited to see how this new album will translate to a live setting.