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| We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things | 
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| Artist: Jason Mraz
Label: Atlantic
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $9.13
You Save: $9.85 (52%)
New (50) Used (16) from $8.75
Avg. Customer Rating:  96 reviews
Sales Rank: 19
Format: Enhanced
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 5.4 x 4.9 x 0.3
MPN: 448508
UPC: 075678994753
EAN: 0075678994753
ASIN: B0013FNC38
Release Date: May 13, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Make it Mine | | • | I'm Yours | | • | Lucky featuring Colbie Caillat | | • | Butterfly | | • | Live High | | • | Love for a Child | | • | Details In Fabric w/James Morrison | | • | Coyotes | | • | Only Human | | • | The Dynamo of Volition | | • | If It Kills Me | | • | A Beautiful Mess |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk
Since 2002's jaunty Waiting for My Rocket to Come, Jason Mraz has developed into a more mature, well-rounded pop artist. We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things is his most multi-dimensional work yet, covering everything from groove-based material to ballads. While tracks such as "Make It Mine" and "Butterfly" refer back to the catchy style of previous albums, there are many other styles and textures on display here. His duet with Colbie Caillat, "Lucky," for example, explores his folkish, acoustic side, as does the compelling "Details in the Fabric," both of which are excellent songs. Mraz gets a little more experimental on "Coyotes," which toys with a clubby electronica and strangely seems to work, and on "The Dynamo of Volition" for which he employs a hectic, rapping-style of vocal over a typically contagious rhythm. His ballads, such as "Love For A Child", "If It Kills Me" and "Beautiful Mess" (these last two saved for the end) show a more sensitive side and even when his lyrics are occasionally clumsy, Mraz manages to make his point in an emotive way. Easy-going and sunny, but with laudable elements of depth and innovation, this is Mraz at his best so far.--Danny McKenna
Amazon.com
Jason Mraz's first set of all-new material in nearly three years, WE SING. WE DANCE. WE STEAL THINGS. sees Mraz continuing to tread his own distinctive artistic path, melding a variegated musical tapestry with passionate, personal lyricism. Among the highlights are collaborations with British tunesmith James Morrison and singer/ songwriter Colbie Caillat.
"I'm Yours," the album's first single, was chosen due to the undeniable fan response to the song. A demo version of "I'm Yours" originally appeared on a limited release bonus EP Mraz put out with his last album. Today the song is an online sensation, with hundreds of usergenerated videos from more than 25 different countries now appearing on YouTube. Jason will be hitting the road this April on the "Music, Magic & Make Peace Tour".
Album Description
Japanese pressing of his 2008 album includes two bonus audio tracks plus an enhanced video for 'I'm Yours'. Jason Mraz returns with his 2008 album We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things through Atlantic Records. This is the San Diego-based troubadour's third studio release and his first set of all new material in nearly three years which was produced by Martin Terefe (KT Tunstall, Ron Sexsmith, James Morrison). The album see Mraz continuing to tread his own distinctive artistic parth, welding a variegated musical tapestry with passionate, personal lyricism. Among the highlights are collaborations with British tunesmith James Morrison, singer/songwriter Colbie Caillat. "I'm Yours,' the album's first single, ws chosen due to the undeniable fan response to the song. Warner. 2008.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 91 more reviews...
 Jason Mraz (n.): The Singer/Songwriter of Today's Generation May 13, 2008
50 out of 58 found this review helpful
From the first track to last Jason Mraz dazzles, perplexes and scintillates on his high-octane 3rd full-length studio album "We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things." His witty, highly individual lyrical style and organic, powerful backing band transform these songs into four minute detours into the mind of the most underrated singer/songwriter of the 2000s.
Lead single "I'm Yours" finally lands on its feet after many years in Mraz's setlists with its mellow, Hawaiian grooves, complete with visions of obligatory surfers and pineapple drinks in the background. It's just a slice of what "We Sing..." has to offer, however. "Lucky" is a sparse, melodic duet with Colbie Callait that transitions aptly out of "I'm Yours," while "Make It Mine" and "Live High" are classic Mraz with feel-good, enrapturing melodies designed to sweep listeners clean off their feet. "Make It Mine" is particularly upbeat, full of hand-claps and lush, horn-laden instrumentation. It should be a single, and if it becomes one it should give Mraz his first major hit since 2003's "The Remedy" if radio programmers have even a neuron left in their heads.
The subject matter is diverse on "We Sing..." but Mraz never suffers from mood swings. "Love For a Child," by far one of the most touching compositions of his career, touches on the effect of divorce on a young child ("When the house was left in shambles/Well, who was there to handle all the broken bits of glass?") while "Only Human" promotes environmental awareness without playing the blame game. "Details In the Fabric" featuring James Morrison is a moody, meditative look at life, love and relationships, while "Coyotes" takes Mraz's sonic pallete in new directions with layered vocals, percolating snyths and an awesome background chorus. His operatic vocals from "Mr. Curiosity" from his last LP make an appearance here.
Other tracks continue the unparalleled quality. "Butterfly" is an awesomely-produced ode to sexual chemistry ("You make my slacks a little tight/You may unfasten them if you like/That's if you crash and spend the night") with effervescent instrumentation and a mercurial, vigorous melody. "If It Kills Me" finds Mraz pining through cheeky, self-deprecating lyrics about the lady who's got everything except the insight to see he's her best match ("We get along much better than you and your boyfriend") while "A Beautiful Mess" bookends the sentiments of "Details In the Fabric" with a more optimistic outlook.
The album's arguable highlight, however, is the curiously-titled "The Dynamo of Volition." Replete from wall-to-wall with Mraz's entrancing singing/rapping style, the song is like "O. Lover" or "Forecast" from 2005's "Mr. A-Z" is that it perfectly captures Mraz's unrivaled melodic weightiness. The lyrics spew left and right in haphazard fashion, but whether or not they are all understood makes no difference. "...Volition" is an exemplary Mraz tune, with a melody powerful enough to hang over the listener, the kind of melody that paints a picture like a scene from an indie movie, that haunts in such a way that it is instantly classic and unforgettable. It says more than any words ever could.
Mraz has that rare kind of talent that puts him in the category of legendary musicians, those musicians with such blazing, inherent talent that it is simply cannot be learned or created. Elton John, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder come to mind as those types of dynamic musicians that were born with such astounding abilities, and Mraz has what it takes to join their ranks if only more listeners would wizen up and find out what some of us have been lucky to know for over five years.
Sing, dance and BUY (don't steal) this album May 17, 2008
17 out of 41 found this review helpful
I really liked Waiting for My Rocket to Come (2002) and Mr. A-Z (2005), and after waiting three years, it's finally time for more Mraz
This is a great album filled with a mix of rhythms for any musical taste, and he had me hooked from first single "I'm Yours", a fun, reggae-based summer-ready track, with lyrics like:
"Well you done done me and you bet I felt it
I tried to be chill but you're so hot that I melted
I fell right through the cracks
and now I'm trying to get back
Before the cool done run out"
After that, try "Lucky" featuring Colbie Caillat, a breezy mid-tempo number that's extremely addictive. I have it on "repeat" as I type this. These two songs alone make the album worthwhile.
Also recommended are "Make it Mine" (jazzy with horns); "Butterfly" (funky, more horns); "Love for a Child" (soaring chorus, nice melody); "If it Kills me" and "A Beautiful Mess".
To quote from the ballad "Details in the Fabric" (with James Morrison):
"Hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way"
Let's hope Jason Mraz keeps on holding his own, and that we don't have to wait another three years for another album. Recommended to buy (not steal).
Rated: 4.5 stars
Amanda Richards, May 16, 2008
 Umm.... Has it been too long? May 17, 2008
13 out of 17 found this review helpful
Well, let me begin by saying that I - like most Mraz fans - think that this guy is absolutely amazing. To see him live will truly change your life and musical outlook, having seen him 3 times and pining for the next time that he comes back out to Australia.
Having seen the songs of "We Sing..." played live approx 2 months ago, I was more than looking forward to this release - I was DESPERATE for it!
Now that it is out... I feel that it suffers from production. There is too much horn, too much everything. I struggle to hear the quality in the produced versions that I heard in the acoustic originals from the individual ep's. "I'm Yours" & "Live High" are perfect examples of this.
There is no doubt that the amazing talent that is Mr A-Z deserves to be heard by a wider audience and will be given that quality of this disc. My problem is that it just doesn't capture the same quality that he manages to bring to his acoustic performances.
If you are new to his world, do yourself a favour and check out his back-catologue, especially the acoustic sets.... You will not be dissapointed!
Happy Listening!
******** EDIT (August 11) *********
Although I still maintain that this album doesn't have the same emotional pull due to it's over-production, this has grown on me considerably.
Songs such as A Beautiful Mess and Details in the Fabric raise the hairs on the back of my neck due to their haunting feel, If It Kills Me & Make It Mine just make me smile....
After seeing them performed live, you really begin to appreciate the 'bigger' sound that he has gone for.
Saying that....
If this is the direction that Jason is heading in, while it is by no means terrible, I am truly thankful that I have been able to see him live and acoustic, playing original versions of songs like You and I Both, 0% Interest, Rand McNally, etc....
In 3 years time, this guy is going to be massive! Get on board people!
Pretty Pop!! May 29, 2008
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
I first heard of Jason Mraz some five years ago when I heard his catchy Pop ditty "The remedy" which to borrow from the title of another hit of his featured very clever "Wordplay".
"We sing, we dance, we steal things" is his third studio album and his first I've owned. It reminds me of the catchy, well written Pop music of the Seventies, with a spare clean sound.
Lead-off single "I'm yours" is a nice folky guitar driven song with Ska influences and some skat singing. Opening cut "Make it mine" is a sunny upbeat song with a great horn section which just makes me feel good.
"Lucky" is another outstanding Beatles-esque guitar ballad and it is a duet with Colbie Caillat. Their voices harmonize so well together. The albums other duet features UK soulful crooner James Morrison; the spare acoustic "Details in the fabric" with lovely strings. Beautiful!
Other standouts are the upbeat and groovy "Butterfly", the lovely and groovy "Coyote" (with a nice children's backing choir and some operatic flourishes adding to the drama - my favourite), the soulful/jazzy ballad "Only human", the disco/funk-tinged "The dynamo of volition" (with a spitfire vocal delivery, it wouldn't sound out of place on a Jamiroquai CD), the Beatles/Elton John sounding piano ballad "If it kills me", and the tender soulful closing ballad "A beautiful mess".
This is such a catchy and classy CD. I would heartily recommend it to anyone who appreciates good music.
 "We Sing" better than "We Dance" and yeah, "We Steal Things" too May 21, 2008
9 out of 14 found this review helpful
Jason returns with a new voice after a soul enlightening tour including Hawaii and Australia where he dove into spiritual readings and the Hawaiian lifestyle. The lyrics of this new CD largely reflect those experiences in this introspective and personal album. Of the title, Jason says it best on his website: "What I love about mankind is that yes, we sing and we celebrate when we dance and we're foolish and we steal things. It's hard to have a new idea in music, in fashion, the land we walk on. It's all recycled. I think to say we stole it is a lot more fun."
Starting out the CD is "Make it Mine" with a retro 70's sound, lots of horn and lyrics that reflect his new perspective on life. In the same vein lyrically, he bolts out "Dynamo of Volition" with a lot of energy in classic Mraz style that early Mraz fans will definitely enjoy. In "Only Human" he is accompanied by his new funk retro sound as he reveals our human vulnerabilities.
"Lucky", with the talented Colbie Caillat making for a very nice match, has a subtle jazzy sound, and a beautiful blend of their voices. If you haven't checked out Colbie yet, you should. Ideal love transforms into something more carnal in the horn-fluttering retro funk song "Butterfly". The Jason sound we've come to know on previous CDs, this song delivers plays on words and tongue-twisting double-entendres that only Jason can turn.
He confesses tenderly his own past in "Love for a Child", a song about growing up too fast. "Details in the Fabric" is an emotionally gripping call to hang in there through the tough times. The lyrics of "Coyotes" belie the story of predatory search for love in NYC. Given the subject, it makes me scratch my head that he has a childrens chorus singing backup but is rescued by its very dynamic sound with his rapping style, operatic touches and at times Sting-like sound.
The four songs which I consider to be the creme de la creme of the CD are also on the EP "We Sing" as versions from different sessions. Those include the upbeat reggae sound of "I'm Yours", a tune already an online hit; his anthem "Live High"; the light-hearted pop ballad, "If it Kills Me" in which is he almost sounds a bit like Paul McCartney; and the melodic and nostalgic story of "A Beautiful Mess".
He is back rapping for "Mudhouse/Gypsy MC" live on the EP CD "We Steal Things", along with alternate cuts for "Love for a Child", "Coyotes", and "Man Gave Names to All the Animals".
The third EP CD "We Steal Things" contains excellent alternate cuts for "Make It Mine", "Butterfly", "Only Human", and "Dynamo of Volition".
More like Mr. A-Z than his first CD, "We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things" largely has a melancholy introspective vibe. I think this CD will actually appeal to an older audience with its mostly mellow retro funk sound and revealing personal lyrics. Kenny Loggins fans will find some common ground there. Mraz is definitely stepping away from his safe pop platform and stepping out in a new direction musically. Here's to clear waters! Regardless of the stylistic changes he incorporates in the new CD, I think all fans will be happy with the "We Sing" EP CD and highly recommend it by itself with 5 stars. We all need a little Mraz in our ear.
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