Jack Johnson

Even when Jack Johnson is feeling a touch frustrated (“Sitting, Waiting, Wishing”), the surfer-turned-filmmaker-turned-singer-songwriter’s acoustically based sound is the epitome of laid-back. Sun-soaked and organically rhythmic, the multitalented musician’s soft and breezy pop makes it easy to believe the man has the world on string, a quality that transforms tunes like the lazy-day love call “Banana Pancakes” into a kind of ticket to contentment for listeners as well. And if Johnson is far from one-dimensional, with grave political statements like “Sleep Through the Static” standing alongside bluesy songs of seduction like “Wasting Time,” the native Hawaiian’s smooth sonic edges make for sure-thing, mellow mood enhancement.

Flow with Jack Johnson into Next Steps.

Jack Johnson may be a man who knows what he likes when it comes to his easygoing, Hawaiian-island-flavored, soft rock sound, but the surfer, filmmaker, musician and ardent environmentalist sure enough has his facets — they all gleam like polished beach glass, whether Johnson is facing down the decades in “Pirate Looks At 40,” from his own surf-culture documentary; singing a sweet ode to companionship that’s meant for young and old alike, on “Broken”; working a slap tempo and waxing philosophical on “Times Like These”; or getting together with band mate and ALO front man Zach Gill for a soulful, good-time get together “Family.”

If the carefree sounds of Jack Johnson’s gentle pop point to a man at peace with the world and his platinum-selling place in it, well, that’s not hard to believe — a native Hawaiian, champion surfer, respected filmmaker, and celebrated “tree hugger,” Johnson makes music that shimmers with peaceful, easy feelings, even when the subject matter is serious (dig the world view of “If I Had Eyes”). This is music to chill to, so don’t stress about collecting the best of the man’s output — we’ve done that for you with an Essential Jack Johnson playlist that gathers together the crucial album cuts (the childlike wonder of “Upside Down,” the romantic stroll “Better Together”) with far-flung guest spots (“Girl, I Wanna Lay You Down,” with ALO), special-session live numbers (“No Other Way”), and heartfelt tribute tracks (the Sublime mash-up “Badfish / Boss DJ”).