Mr. A-Z

Overview

It's always tricky for an artist to follow up a multi-platinum debut. On the one hand, there's a desire to give the fan base the same kind of kick; on the other, there's the risk of being dubbed a wimp for refusing to draw outside the lines. Jason Mraz navigates his way through that tight spot rather nicely on Mr. A-Z, a sophomore set that retains the playful, self-effacing vibe of Waiting for My Rocket to Come without replicating that disc's ambiance note-for-note. "Wordplay" is probably the closest in tone to Mraz's smash "Remedy," with its acoustic strum and funky shuffle -- not to mention a lyric that shrugs off the potential of one-hit-wonderdom with affable charm. He takes a similar approach on "Geek in the Pink," a silly bit of autobiography that ratchets up the hip-hop side of his persona without the slightest pretense of seeking street cred. Mraz courts cred of an altogether different kind by stretching out a bit on a few of Mr. A-Z's more intriguing numbers, notably "Bella Luna," a heart-on-sleeve love ballad with a hint of bossa nova in its DNA. "Song for a Friend," on the other hand, finds him getting in touch with his inner Carole King, combining, as it does, Brill Building sensibility and a melody that could pass muster in a Broadway musical. At times, Mraz's lyrics teeter on the precipice of disposability, but thanks to a winning delivery and an aw-shucks attitude, he usually manages to snatch them back and plant them firmly in the listener's gray matter.