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Music review: Jason Mraz – ëƵKnow.ëƵ

By Clint Rhodes for The 2 min read
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Music review: Jason Mraz - ëƵKnow.ëƵ
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Rhodes

ItëƵs been four years since Jason Mraz has released a new album. ëƵKnow.ëƵ is the singer-songwriterëƵs sixth studio effort, containing 10 feel-good tracks that slowly seduce listeners with optimistic messages of hope and a plethora of positive vibes.

The California-based artist continues his mastery of crafting catchy nuggets of folk-pop stylings that explore the virtues of love and living in the moment.

ëƵLetëƵs See What the Night Can DoëƵ is the romantic opening number that sets the perfect mood for what is to follow as Mraz sings, ëƵLetëƵs drive out to the desert at midnight/To dance in the dust of our headlights/And score some good seats for the sunrise.ëƵ

ëƵHave It AllëƵ serves as the albumëƵs lead single with its pay-it-forward declaration for us to be blessed and to generously bless others in the process.

Meghan Trainor makes an appearance with Mraz on ëƵMore Than friends.ëƵ Both artists convey that pivotal moment when friendship develops into a total commitment of the heart as Trainor and Mraz announce, ëƵIëƵm giving you my heart, donëƵt break it.ëƵ

Mraz sounds remarkably like smooth crooner Michael Bublé on the love song ëƵBetter With YouëƵ with its simplistic theme of love conquers all and makes everything better.

A smooth country tone is captured on the humorous ëƵMight as Well Dance,ëƵ with clever lines that describe a couple in love who are willing to display their lack of dance skills for all to see by throwing caution to the wind in an effort to demonstrate their feelings before the evening comes to an end.

ëƵLove Is Still the AnswerëƵ closes the set with the solution to the worldëƵs problems with Mraz softly declaring, ëƵThereëƵs only one answer that matters/Even if your heart has been shattered/Whatever you want, whatever you are after/Love is still the answer.ëƵ Most readers my age will fondly recall Todd RundgrenëƵs 1977 track ëƵLove Is the Answer,ëƵ penned for his band Utopia on ëƵOops! Wrong Planet.ëƵ The message is truly universal and needs to be heard now more than ever.

On Nov. 24, Mraz comes to Pittsburgh with a performance at Heinz Hall.

Clint Rhodes is the ëƵ-Standard music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.

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