Big Sur (album)

Big Sur (album). *Big Sur* is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Jack Johnson, released on June 18, 2013, through Brushfire Records. The album was recorded live over five days at the Henry Miller Memorial Library in Big Sur, California, capturing an intimate, acoustic performance. It serves as the soundtrack to the documentary film *Jack Johnson and Friends: A Weekend at the Mango Tree*, which chronicles the same gathering of musicians. The project reflects Johnson's deep connection to coastal environments and his laid-back, melodic style.

Background and recording

The album originated from a unique collaborative event organized by Jack Johnson and his management team at Brushfire Records. In September 2012, Johnson invited a group of musician friends to a retreat at the scenic Henry Miller Memorial Library in the Santa Lucia Mountains. Participants included artists like Mason Jennings, Dan Lebowitz of ALO, and G. Love, who had previously collaborated on projects like the Brushfire Fairytales tour. The recording session was engineered by longtime collaborator Robert Carranza, known for his work with Los Lobos and Ozomatli, and was intentionally kept informal to capture a spontaneous live atmosphere. This approach contrasted with Johnson's previous studio albums, such as *In Between Dreams* and *To the Sea*, which were developed over longer periods in more conventional settings like The Mango Tree studio in Hawaii. The entire project was filmed by director Emmett Malloy, creating a parallel documentary for the Surfrider Foundation.

Composition and musical style

Musically, *Big Sur* is characterized by its stripped-down, acoustic arrangements and emphasis on vocal harmonies, aligning with the folk rock and acoustic rock genres Johnson is known for. The album features a mix of original compositions and covers, including a rendition of Jimmy Buffett's "A Pirate Looks at Forty" and the Creedence Clearwater Revival classic "Bad Moon Rising". Tracks like "Radiate" and "As I Was Saying" showcase Johnson's signature fingerpicked guitar patterns and mellow vocal delivery, while collaborations with Mason Jennings on "Better Together" introduce subtle country music influences. The lyrical content often reflects themes of nature, simplicity, and community, evident in songs such as "Home" and "The Horizon Has Been Defeated", which reference the Pacific Ocean and environmental conservation. The overall sound draws comparisons to the works of Paul Simon and James Taylor, particularly in its melodic structures and relaxed cadence.

Release and reception

Upon its release in June 2013, *Big Sur* was made available through Brushfire Records and distributed by Universal Music Group. It debuted at number 21 on the Billboard 200 chart and reached the top five on the Top Rock Albums and Top Folk Albums charts in the United States. Critical reception was generally positive; Rolling Stone praised its "unplugged sincerity" and "cohesive live energy", while AllMusic highlighted the album's "intimate campfire vibe". However, some reviewers from Pitchfork noted that the material felt more like a collection of loose jams than a fully realized studio effort. The album's release was accompanied by a series of benefit concerts for the Surfrider Foundation, reinforcing Johnson's advocacy for ocean conservation. Despite its modest commercial performance compared to predecessors like *Sleep Through the Static*, it solidified Johnson's reputation as a leading figure in the acoustic music scene.

Track listing

All tracks are live recordings from the Big Sur sessions. The album consists of ten tracks blending original songs and covers. # "Radiate" (Jack Johnson) – 3:36 # "As I Was Saying" (Jack Johnson) – 2:48 # "Better Together" (Jack Johnson) – 3:33 # "Washing Dishes" (Jack Johnson) – 2:26 # "Home" (Jack Johnson) – 3:02 # "A Pirate Looks at Forty" (Jimmy Buffett) – 3:54 # "The Horizon Has Been Defeated" (Jack Johnson) – 2:32 # "Bad Moon Rising" (John Fogerty) – 2:10 # "Constellations" (Jack Johnson) – 3:20 # "Only the Ocean" (Jack Johnson) – 3:39

Personnel

* Jack Johnson – lead vocals, acoustic guitar * Mason Jennings – vocals, acoustic guitar * Dan Lebowitz – acoustic guitar, vocals * G. Love – harmonica, vocals on "Bad Moon Rising" * Zach Gill – piano, accordion * Merlo Podlewski – bass guitar * Adam Topol – drums, percussion * Robert Carranza – recording engineer, mixing * Brian Gardner – mastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering * Emmett Malloy – film director, photography * Andy Factor – project coordination for Brushfire Records

Category:2013 albums Category:Jack Johnson albums Category:Brushfire Records albums