Winter isn't necessarily the best time to dive into a double DVD package of singer/songwriter Jack Johnson – this Hawaiian musician is every inch the epitome of near-somnolent summertime; his trio of full-length albums are spare, melodic and engaging like a comfortable pair of shorts and a cold beverage on a warm June evening. Having fashioned a niche for himself amid the hippie/jam-band/frat party groups, Johnson has built up a respectable audience, touring relentlessly and teaming up with like-minded artists to churn out predictably enjoyable folk-pop.

This double dose of Johnson is split across two discs: the first, Jack Johnson and Friends: Live at the Greek, is essentially a loose, candid 90-minute concert film, shot over two nights (August 19-20, 2005, although the cover mistakenly says it was in September) at Berkeley, California's famed Greek Theatre during the "In Between Dreams" tour. Interweaving interview footage amid clips of Johnson songs such as "Taylor" and "Inaudible Melodies." Directed by Emmett and Brendan Malloy, Jack Johnson & Friends: Live at the Greek also features appearances from G. Love, the Animal Liberation Orchestra, Money Mark and Matt Costa, as well as Johnson's bassist Merlo Podlewski, drummer Adam Topol and recent addition Zach Gill. It's a low-key documentary that never feels forced, which is quite fitting for the laid-back Johnson.

The second doc, the 43 minute Jack Johnson: Live In Japan, doesn't have quite the cast of Live at the Greek – having originally toured with a trio, Live In Japan features Topol and Podlewski as well as appearances from Money Mark and Donovan Frankenreiter. Touring in August 2004 supporting his sophomore record "On and On," Live In Japan – directed by Emmett Malloy – is a little more claustrophobic than the airy, open Live at the Greek, which actually works nicely in counterpoint. Taken together, these documentaries provide a mostly revealing peek at one of pop music's more laconic guitar strummers.

The Video:

Offered in 1.85:1 non-anamorphic widescreen transfers, both Johnson films feature a lot of hand-held cinematography and low lighting conditions; as such, they still look pretty solid – Jack Johnson & Friends: Live at the Greek and Jack Johnson: Live In Japan both sport a little grain but otherwise, have no noticeable defects.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack included for both films is fantastic – immersive, robust and clear, it's a great aural representation of the concert footage that puts you in the audience with no distortion, drop-out or unintelligibility. Live at the Greek packs quite a punch, as does Live In Japan. Dolby 2.0 stereo is also on hand.

Each disc has its own bonus material – Live at the Greek features eight deleted scenes, ranging from additional interview footage to more live performances and playable separately or all together, for an aggregate of 33 minutes. Live In Japan includes the 11 minute, 38 second featurette "The Making of 'In Between Dreams'."

A double shot of summertime tunes tailor made for lazy afternoons, this two-disc set is catnip for Jack Johnson fanatics – while the bonus material is a little skimpy, diehard fans likely won't care. Those unfamiliar with Johnson's sun-spiked catalog would do well to pick up any one of his studio albums before diving into this double-wide set. Recommended.