Jason Mraz

As the memories of those near-eternal summer days slowly fade into the damp drama of autumn, stop and say a silent prayer for all the young and ambitious pop singers out there. Summer jobs are always in ready supply when a catchy hook and a clever lyric are all it takes to inspire a drop-the-top, hit-the-road-and-just-drive type of adventure, but as the weather turns cooler and the morning dew changes to frost, a body needs a little more substance to stay warm. Whereas last summer belonged to John Mayer's smooth-talking "Your Body Is a Wonderland" boyishness, this summer was all about impish hipster's Jason Mraz's potent "Remedy." But take an honest look beyond the thrift-store suit jackets and mesh trucker hats and recognize that there's also a lyricist at work here, one who has a knack for grabbing a groove with both hands and squeezing every bit of energy out of it. Sure, some fans will say that Mraz has already found his niche, that he's come a long way from busking on the gray streets of Manhattan to touring the States on the back of a hit single. But it's what Mraz does from here that will determine whether he'll be invited back for next summer's fun.