Johnson’s latest effort shines light on loved ones, life on North Shore

Home, family and memories of younger days are recurring themes in "From Here to Now to You," the sixth studio album by Hawaii recording artist Jack Johnson.

It's Johnson as the world knows and loves him: acoustic guitar, some keyboards, a minimal amount of bass and various amounts of percussion, everything played as laid-back and mellow as a lazy summer afternoon in the North Shore neighborhood he grew up in and still calls home.

The Hawaiian word "nahenahe" (sweet, melodious) applies to several selections; on other songs the rhythm section, Adam Topol (drums/percussion) and Merlo Podlewski (bass), take things into rock territory. Ben Harper, a longtime friend, adds the nostalgic sound of acoustic steel guitar as a guest artist on a single song.

Johnson is the primary songwriter. Much of his work is frankly autobiographical. "Tape Deck" recalls the experiences of four teenage would-be rock stars. According to the lyrics, the worst guitarist of the bunch was forced to become the drummer. They lost their living room rehearsal space when a parent heard them doing songs by the post-hardcore rock group Fugazi. And, Johnson sings wryly, they "chickened out" of an opportunity to play in a school talent show when they realized "we can't sing, we can only shout."