On and On ~ Jack Johnson ~ Rock ~ CD ~ Good

Yes, Jack Johnson takes the term laid-back to levels the La-Z-Boy folks couldn't even dream of reaching. But rather than fall victim to torpor, the surfer-turned-rocker manages to recreate the pleasantly wasted vibe one gets after spending a long summer day basking in the sun. Like his major-label bow, Brushfire Fairytales, his follow-up mixes acoustic jangle with a placid reggae vibe -- the latter is most evident on the lilting "The Horizon Has Been Defeated." This time around, Johnson pulls the song structures together a little more tightly, evoking classic early-'70s pop on the chugging "Traffic in the Sky" and bringing a loose, jug-band feel to "By the Way." At times, as on the fluffy "Taylor," he gets so ethereal that he threatens to fly off terra firma altogether. But there's enough earthy grounding in songs like "Holes to Heaven," thanks to both Johnson's own aesthetic and to the subtly funky bass playing of Merlo Podlewski (late of Spain), to keep the proceedings rooted but right. Refreshing and restorative, On and On is exactly the kind of tonic to freshen your spirit and keep your limbs moving well into the wee hours -- or provide a sunrise eye-opener, as the case may be.