Monkey with a Typewriter

This is one of those CDs that just makes you smile. As with Johnson's previous efforts, everything's happy, light, and fun. And with guests like G. Love, you can certainly read the laid-back stoner references between the lines on songs like The Sharing Song (If you've got one/ Here is something you can learn/ You can still share/ Just by taking turns).

Particular favorites include "Upside Down" which seems to be a happy variation on a theme based on "Sympathy for the Devil". Or maybe I'm reading too much into that opening drum riff. Johnson also covers Jack White's "We're Going to Be Friends", a song which has been covered quite a bit lately (check out Bree Sharp's cover online). Maybe it's the Beatle-esque simplicity of the song, but no matter who sings it, it always seems to strike the right chord. I'm waiting for the Henry Rollins cover myself...

Songs like "With My Own Two Hands" and "Lullaby" will keep you mellow, while upbeat numbers like "Jungle Gym" and "People Watching" will have you humming the rest of the day. For me, the standout track is "Broken", a great song about the moment you realize how much difference one special person can make in your life. Or, monkey, in the case of the movie.

See the movie! Buy this CD!