Album Cover
Jason Mraz
“We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things”
May 2008; Atlantic Records
By Emily J Ramey
Jason Mraz is typically known for his liquid tongue and buoyant, witty tunes; though now that his third studio album has been released, we begin to witness a pattern… or perhaps a lack thereof. Mraz’s versatile musical capabilities allow him to theme his projects with whatever genre he’s feeling at the time. Beginning with the acoustic, grassroots debut Waiting for My Rocket to Come and moving into the pop-infused Mr. A-Z, Jason exposed his vocal chops for all who chose to listen, which by that time, was a very respectable number of exceptionally loyal singer/songwriter buffs. Still, Mraz had not experienced widespread popularity until the release of the beachy, sentimental single “I’m Yours” from his newest album We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things. The tune’s lighthearted charm earned universal recognition and penchant for Jason Mraz. The rest of the album is populated with smooth, breezy melodies and jazzy, smart refrains. Overall, the album conveys feelings of contentedness and a desire to carry on a nobler life, with high-minded lines in many of the tracks, including “Make It Mine,” “Live High,” and “Details in the Fabric.” We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things has elements from each of Mraz’s previous endeavors, woven together to create a multifaceted yet fluid collection of tunes. Songs like “Butterfly” and “The Dynamo of Volition” are flashier and reminiscent of his former sound; however, the cool tones of “Lucky” and “If It Kills Me” are undoubtedly Jason’s dominant new sphere.
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