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Underneath his tongue-twisting wordplay, Jason Mraz fancies himself a loverman -- and given that his greatest success came from the sticky sentiment of "I'm Yours," who can blame him for thinking this way? Nevertheless, he's never made a full-blown makeout record until Love Is a Four Letter Word, an album steeped in '70s soul. Mraz doesn't neglect his acoustic guitar nor does he abandon his showy verbal gymnastics, but apart from a cut or two -- including "I Won't Give Up," the album's first single -- they're buried underneath stacks of luxurious strings and thick, insistent grooves, touches that tie the record together with elegance. Mr. A-Z has hinted at soul before but he's never placed music over words, a shift of emphasis that delivers great dividends. He can still be a nasally, hyperactive twit, too eager to succumb to clever-clever puns and quips, but there's an acknowledgment that even if he can't change who he is -- witness the terribly titled "Fred D Fixer," an ode to a grandfather who lived by his hands, not his wits -- he can build upon this foundation. If all he adds is color and flair, not some serious depth, that winds up being enough: by making alterations and affecting his pose, Mraz pushes himself into new territory, creating music that's perilously close to sounding seductive. What holds Love Is a Four Letter Word from actually being seductive is that Mraz seems more lech than Lothario -- there's always a sense that he's around for nothing longer than a night. But, as Love Is a Four Letter Word plays, Mraz can convince you that his pleasures are a bit more than fleeting. It may be a lie, but it sure sounds good as it's told.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Tim Pierce, Guitar - Victor Indrizzo, Percussion - Richard Nowels, AssistantProducer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Jason Mraz, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals, MainArtist - Carlos Sosa, Saxophone - Toca Rivera, Background Vocals - Lars Fox, Engineer - TONY MASERATI, MixingEngineer - STEVE Churchyard, Engineer - Joe Chiccarelli, Producer, Engineer - Morgan Stratton, Engineer - Fernando Castillo, Trumpet - Graham Hope, Engineer - Matt Chamberlin, Drums - Justin Hergett, AssistantEngineer - Jeff Babko, Keyboards - Chris Tabron, AssistantEngineer - Marten Cardona, AssistantEngineer - C.C. White, Background Vocals - Roger Watkins, Trombone - Justin Meldal Johnson, Bass Guitar - Luc Reynaud, Writer
© 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Tim Pierce, Guitar - Victor Indrizzo, Percussion - Richard Nowels, Acoustic Guitar, Writer, ProductionAssistant - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Jason Mraz, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Lars Fox, Engineer - TONY MASERATI, MixingEngineer - STEVE Churchyard, Engineer - Joe Chiccarelli, Producer, Engineer - Morgan Stratton, Engineer - Graham Hope, Engineer - Matt Chamberlin, Drums - Justin Hergett, AssistantEngineer - Jeff Babko, Keyboards - Chris Tabron, AssistantEngineer - Marten Cardona, AssistantEngineer - Justin Meldal Johnson, Bass Guitar
© 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Tim Pierce, Guitar - Mike Daly, Acoustic Guitar - Richard Nowels, AssistantProducer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Jason Mraz, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Lars Fox, Engineer - TONY MASERATI, MixingEngineer - STEVE Churchyard, Engineer - Joe Chiccarelli, Producer, Engineer - David Hodges, Writer - Morgan Stratton, Engineer - Graham Hope, Engineer - Matt Chamberlin, Drums - Justin Hergett, AssistantEngineer - Jeff Babko, Keyboards - Chris Tabron, AssistantEngineer - Marten Cardona, AssistantEngineer - Justin Meldal Johnson, Bass Guitar
© 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Tim Pierce, Guitar - Valerie Pinkston, Background Vocals - Paul Bushnell, Bass Guitar - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Jason Mraz, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Toca Rivera, Background Vocals - Lars Fox, Engineer - DAVID DAVIDSON, String Arranger - TONY MASERATI, MixingEngineer - Arnold McCuller, Background Vocals - STEVE Churchyard, Engineer - Joe Chiccarelli, Producer, Engineer, Drum Programmer - Amy Lee, Background Vocals - Morgan Stratton, Engineer - Graham Hope, Engineer - Matt Chamberlin, Drums - Justin Hergett, AssistantEngineer - Jeff Babko, Keyboards - Chris Tabron, AssistantEngineer - Michael Natter, Writer - Marten Cardona, AssistantEngineer
© 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Tim Pierce, Acoustic Guitar - Zac Rae, Keyboards - David Campbell, String Arranger - Bob Ludwig, Masterer - Jason Mraz, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Lars Fox, Engineer - TONY MASERATI, Mixer - STEVE Churchyard, Engineer - Joe Chiccarelli, Producer, Engineer - Morgan Stratton, Engineer - Matt Chamberlin, Drums - Justin Hergett, AssistantEngineer - Jeff Babko, Keyboards - Chris Tabron, AssistantEngineer - Michael Natter, Writer - Marten Cardona, AssistantEngineer - Fraham Hope, Engineer - Justin Meldal Johnson, Bass
© 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Tim Pierce, Guitar - Zac Rae, Keyboards - Mike Daly, Acoustic Guitar, Writer - Matt Hales, Writer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Jason Mraz, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Carlos Sosa, Saxophone - Martin Terefe, Writer - Lars Fox, Engineer - TONY MASERATI, MixingEngineer - Arnold McCuller, Background Vocals - STEVE Churchyard, Engineer - Joe Chiccarelli, Producer, Engineer - Amy Lee, Background Vocals - Morgan Stratton, Engineer - Reggie Watkins, Trombone - Fernando Castillo, Trumpet - Graham Hope, Engineer - Matt Chamberlin, Drums - Justin Hergett, AssistantEngineer - Jeff Babko, Keyboards - Chris Tabron, AssistantEngineer - Marten Cardona, AssistantEngineer - Justin Meldal Johnson, Bass Guitar
© 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Tim Pierce, Guitar - Mike Daly, Acoustic Guitar - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Jason Mraz, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Lars Fox, Engineer - TONY MASERATI, MixingEngineer - STEVE Churchyard, Engineer - Joe Chiccarelli, Producer, Engineer - Morgan Stratton, Engineer - Graham Hope, Engineer - Matt Chamberlin, Drums, Percussion - Justin Hergett, AssistantEngineer - Jeff Babko, Keyboards - Chris Tabron, AssistantEngineer - Michael Natter, Writer - Marten Cardona, AssistantEngineer - Justin Meldal Johnson, Bass Guitar - Michael Daly, Writer
© 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Tim Pierce, Guitar - Zac Rae, Keyboards - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Jason Mraz, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Martin Terefe, Writer - Lars Fox, Engineer - TONY MASERATI, MixingEngineer - SACHA SKARBEK, Writer - STEVE Churchyard, Engineer - Joe Chiccarelli, Engineer - Morgan Stratton, Engineer - Fernando Castillo, Trumpet - Graham Hope, Engineer - Matt Chamberlin, Drums - Justin Hergett, AssistantEngineer - Jeff Babko, Keyboards - Chris Tabron, AssistantEngineer - Marten Cardona, AssistantEngineer - Justin Meldal Johnson, Bass Guitar - G Love, Harmonica
© 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Tim Pierce, Guitar - David Campbell, String Arranger - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Jason Mraz, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Lars Fox, Engineer - TONY MASERATI, MixingEngineer - STEVE Churchyard, Engineer - Joe Chiccarelli, Producer, Engineer - Morgan Stratton, Engineer - Graham Hope, Engineer - Eric Hinojosa, Writer - Matt Chamberlin, Drums - Justin Hergett, AssistantEngineer - Jeff Babko, Keyboards - Chris Tabron, AssistantEngineer - Marten Cardona, AssistantEngineer - Justin Meldal Johnson, Bass Guitar
© 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Tim Pierce, Guitar - Mike Daly, Acoustic Guitar - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Jason Mraz, Vocals, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Lars Fox, Engineer - TONY MASERATI, MixingEngineer - SACHA SKARBEK, Writer - STEVE Churchyard, Engineer - Joe Chiccarelli, Producer, Engineer - Morgan Stratton, Engineer - Graham Hope, Engineer - Matt Chamberlin, Drums - Justin Hergett, AssistantEngineer - Jeff Babko, Keyboards - Chris Tabron, AssistantEngineer - Marten Cardona, AssistantEngineer - Justin Meldal Johnson, Bass Guitar
© 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Tim Pierce, Guitar - Mike Daly, Acoustic Guitar - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Jason Mraz, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Lars Fox, Engineer - TONY MASERATI, MixingEngineer - STEVE Churchyard, Engineer - Joe Chiccarelli, Producer, Engineer - Morgan Stratton, Engineer - Graham Hope, Engineer - Matt Chamberlin, Drums - Steve Aho, Vibraphone - Justin Hergett, AssistantEngineer - Gregg Field, Drums - Jeff Babko, Keyboards - Inara George, Featured Vocals - Chris Tabron, AssistantEngineer - Michael Natter, Writer - Marten Cardona, AssistantEngineer - Justin Meldal Johnson, Bass Guitar
© 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Tim Pierce, Guitar - David Campbell, String Arranger - Richard Nowels, Additional Production, Writer - Bob Ludwig, Masterer - Jason Mraz, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Lars Fox, Engineer - TONY MASERATI, Mixer - STEVE Churchyard, Engineer - Joe Chiccarelli, Producer, Engineer, Drum Programmer - Morgan Stratton, Engineer - Matt Chamberlin, Drums - Justin Hergett, AssistantEngineer - Jeff Babko, Keyboards - Chris Tabron, AssistantEngineer - Marten Cardona, AssistantEngineer - Fraham Hope, Engineer - Justin Meldal Johnson, Bass
© 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Tim Pierce, Guitar - Mike Daly, Writer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Jason Mraz, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Lars Fox, Engineer - TONY MASERATI, MixingEngineer - STEVE Churchyard, Engineer - Joe Chiccarelli, Producer, Engineer - Morgan Stratton, Engineer - Graham Hope, Engineer - Matt Chamberlin, Drums - Justin Hergett, AssistantEngineer - Jeff Babko, Keyboards - Chris Tabron, AssistantEngineer - Marten Cardona, AssistantEngineer - Justin Meldal Johnson, Bass Guitar
© 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Album review
Underneath his tongue-twisting wordplay, Jason Mraz fancies himself a loverman -- and given that his greatest success came from the sticky sentiment of "I'm Yours," who can blame him for thinking this way? Nevertheless, he's never made a full-blown makeout record until Love Is a Four Letter Word, an album steeped in '70s soul. Mraz doesn't neglect his acoustic guitar nor does he abandon his showy verbal gymnastics, but apart from a cut or two -- including "I Won't Give Up," the album's first single -- they're buried underneath stacks of luxurious strings and thick, insistent grooves, touches that tie the record together with elegance. Mr. A-Z has hinted at soul before but he's never placed music over words, a shift of emphasis that delivers great dividends. He can still be a nasally, hyperactive twit, too eager to succumb to clever-clever puns and quips, but there's an acknowledgment that even if he can't change who he is -- witness the terribly titled "Fred D Fixer," an ode to a grandfather who lived by his hands, not his wits -- he can build upon this foundation. If all he adds is color and flair, not some serious depth, that winds up being enough: by making alterations and affecting his pose, Mraz pushes himself into new territory, creating music that's perilously close to sounding seductive. What holds Love Is a Four Letter Word from actually being seductive is that Mraz seems more lech than Lothario -- there's always a sense that he's around for nothing longer than a night. But, as Love Is a Four Letter Word plays, Mraz can convince you that his pleasures are a bit more than fleeting. It may be a lie, but it sure sounds good as it's told.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:55:38
- Main artists: Jason Mraz
- Label: Atlantic Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 2012 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
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