Live album is musical 'remedy'

Live albums are dangerous. So much money is invested into production before it can even be recorded and then there are so many variables. You have to have the right combination of old songs people know, new songs people don't know and old songs only some people know. You have to have a good audience. And you have to actually be able to sing -- which isn't the case with every recording artist these days.\nFortunately for Jason Mraz, Tonight, Not Again: Live at the Eagles Ballroom struck the right combination of factors to make a really good record. OK, so you do have the occasional teeny-bopper screaming in the background, but that's not his fault.\nMraz reworks classics like "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" while throwing in a few lesser-knowns, like "Sleeping to Dream." But all the tracks have a common theme -- they showcase Mraz's vocal talents. Even tried and true Mraz fans will have a new-found respect for his abilities after listening to this album -- his croon sounds even sweeter in the open air of Milwaukee than it does in the confines of a recording studio. He may have let his talents go to his head in a Samuel L. Jackson moment, declaring he's "a self-proclaimed bad mother fucker."\nNot only did the right factors come together for Mraz to produce a technically-sound record, but there's an intangible element that makes it even better. There's something about it, a vibe, that's just chill. And the addition of John Popper's harmonica talents to a couple of tracks helps to give it a groove.\nAnd if you like looking at Jason Mraz as much as you do listening to him, the CD comes with a bonus (aka free) DVD of the live performance, so you can sit and watch him curl his lip while flirting with the girls in the front row. OK, it serves a good purpose even if you don't have any sexual interest in Mraz: You can throw it into the DVD player and just let it run while you and your friends throw a few back.\nBut while it is a great album, it's not for everyone. If you're already a fan, go for it. Buy it. Listen to it over and over again. Drive your roommate crazy with your shower singing. If you're not already a fan, start with "Waiting for My Rocket to Come" and work from there.