diff --git a/accounts/abi/bind/util.go b/accounts/abi/bind/util.go
index 50b7a6f02..8348f6980 100644
--- a/accounts/abi/bind/util.go
+++ b/accounts/abi/bind/util.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func WaitMined(ctx context.Context, b DeployBackend, tx *types.Transaction) (*ty
 	queryTicker := time.NewTicker(time.Second)
 	defer queryTicker.Stop()
 
-	logger := log.New("hash", tx.Hash().Hex()[:8])
+	logger := log.New("hash", tx.Hash())
 	for {
 		receipt, err := b.TransactionReceipt(ctx, tx.Hash())
 		if receipt != nil {
diff --git a/accounts/keystore/account_cache.go b/accounts/keystore/account_cache.go
index 2324e128d..fb4086c3a 100644
--- a/accounts/keystore/account_cache.go
+++ b/accounts/keystore/account_cache.go
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ func (ac *accountCache) scan() ([]accounts.Account, error) {
 		case err != nil:
 			logger.Debug("Failed to decode keystore key", "err", err)
 		case (addr == common.Address{}):
-			logger.Debug("Failed to decode keystore key", "error", "missing or zero address")
+			logger.Debug("Failed to decode keystore key", "err", "missing or zero address")
 		default:
 			addrs = append(addrs, accounts.Account{Address: addr, URL: accounts.URL{Scheme: KeyStoreScheme, Path: path}})
 		}
diff --git a/accounts/usbwallet/ledger_hub.go b/accounts/usbwallet/ledger_hub.go
index d1aeed748..db874f4cc 100644
--- a/accounts/usbwallet/ledger_hub.go
+++ b/accounts/usbwallet/ledger_hub.go
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ func (hub *LedgerHub) refreshWallets() {
 		}
 		// If there are no more wallets or the device is before the next, wrap new wallet
 		if len(hub.wallets) == 0 || hub.wallets[0].URL().Cmp(url) > 0 {
-			wallet := &ledgerWallet{url: &url, info: ledger, logger: log.New("url", url)}
+			wallet := &ledgerWallet{url: &url, info: ledger, log: log.New("url", url)}
 
 			events = append(events, accounts.WalletEvent{Wallet: wallet, Arrive: true})
 			wallets = append(wallets, wallet)
diff --git a/accounts/usbwallet/ledger_wallet.go b/accounts/usbwallet/ledger_wallet.go
index 37e04e598..7952ab526 100644
--- a/accounts/usbwallet/ledger_wallet.go
+++ b/accounts/usbwallet/ledger_wallet.go
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ type ledgerWallet struct {
 	commsLock chan struct{} // Mutex (buf=1) for the USB comms without keeping the state locked
 	stateLock sync.RWMutex  // Protects read and write access to the wallet struct fields
 
-	logger log.Logger // Contextual logger to tag the ledger with its id
+	log log.Logger // Contextual logger to tag the ledger with its id
 }
 
 // URL implements accounts.Wallet, returning the URL of the Ledger device.
@@ -222,8 +222,8 @@ func (w *ledgerWallet) Open(passphrase string) error {
 //  - libusb on Windows doesn't support hotplug, so we can't detect USB unplugs
 //  - communication timeout on the Ledger requires a device power cycle to fix
 func (w *ledgerWallet) heartbeat() {
-	w.logger.Debug("Ledger health-check started")
-	defer w.logger.Debug("Ledger health-check stopped")
+	w.log.Debug("Ledger health-check started")
+	defer w.log.Debug("Ledger health-check stopped")
 
 	// Execute heartbeat checks until termination or error
 	var (
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ func (w *ledgerWallet) heartbeat() {
 	}
 	// In case of error, wait for termination
 	if err != nil {
-		w.logger.Debug("Ledger health-check failed", "err", err)
+		w.log.Debug("Ledger health-check failed", "err", err)
 		errc = <-w.healthQuit
 	}
 	errc <- err
@@ -350,8 +350,8 @@ func (w *ledgerWallet) Accounts() []accounts.Account {
 // selfDerive is an account derivation loop that upon request attempts to find
 // new non-zero accounts.
 func (w *ledgerWallet) selfDerive() {
-	w.logger.Debug("Ledger self-derivation started")
-	defer w.logger.Debug("Ledger self-derivation stopped")
+	w.log.Debug("Ledger self-derivation started")
+	defer w.log.Debug("Ledger self-derivation stopped")
 
 	// Execute self-derivations until termination or error
 	var (
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ func (w *ledgerWallet) selfDerive() {
 			// Retrieve the next derived Ethereum account
 			if nextAddr == (common.Address{}) {
 				if nextAddr, err = w.ledgerDerive(nextPath); err != nil {
-					w.logger.Warn("Ledger account derivation failed", "err", err)
+					w.log.Warn("Ledger account derivation failed", "err", err)
 					break
 				}
 			}
@@ -407,12 +407,12 @@ func (w *ledgerWallet) selfDerive() {
 			)
 			balance, err = w.deriveChain.BalanceAt(context, nextAddr, nil)
 			if err != nil {
-				w.logger.Warn("Ledger balance retrieval failed", "err", err)
+				w.log.Warn("Ledger balance retrieval failed", "err", err)
 				break
 			}
 			nonce, err = w.deriveChain.NonceAt(context, nextAddr, nil)
 			if err != nil {
-				w.logger.Warn("Ledger nonce retrieval failed", "err", err)
+				w.log.Warn("Ledger nonce retrieval failed", "err", err)
 				break
 			}
 			// If the next account is empty, stop self-derivation, but add it nonetheless
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ func (w *ledgerWallet) selfDerive() {
 
 			// Display a log message to the user for new (or previously empty accounts)
 			if _, known := w.paths[nextAddr]; !known || (!empty && nextAddr == w.deriveNextAddr) {
-				w.logger.Info("Ledger discovered new account", "address", nextAddr.Hex(), "path", path, "balance", balance, "nonce", nonce)
+				w.log.Info("Ledger discovered new account", "address", nextAddr, "path", path, "balance", balance, "nonce", nonce)
 			}
 			// Fetch the next potential account
 			if !empty {
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ func (w *ledgerWallet) selfDerive() {
 	}
 	// In case of error, wait for termination
 	if err != nil {
-		w.logger.Debug("Ledger self-derivation failed", "err", err)
+		w.log.Debug("Ledger self-derivation failed", "err", err)
 		errc = <-w.deriveQuit
 	}
 	errc <- err
@@ -851,7 +851,7 @@ func (w *ledgerWallet) ledgerExchange(opcode ledgerOpcode, p1 ledgerParam1, p2 l
 			apdu = nil
 		}
 		// Send over to the device
-		w.logger.Trace("Data chunk sent to the Ledger", "chunk", hexutil.Bytes(chunk))
+		w.log.Trace("Data chunk sent to the Ledger", "chunk", hexutil.Bytes(chunk))
 		if _, err := w.device.Write(chunk); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -864,7 +864,7 @@ func (w *ledgerWallet) ledgerExchange(opcode ledgerOpcode, p1 ledgerParam1, p2 l
 		if _, err := io.ReadFull(w.device, chunk); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		w.logger.Trace("Data chunk received from the Ledger", "chunk", hexutil.Bytes(chunk))
+		w.log.Trace("Data chunk received from the Ledger", "chunk", hexutil.Bytes(chunk))
 
 		// Make sure the transport header matches
 		if chunk[0] != 0x01 || chunk[1] != 0x01 || chunk[2] != 0x05 {
diff --git a/common/types.go b/common/types.go
index 1585d878c..0c9e68903 100644
--- a/common/types.go
+++ b/common/types.go
@@ -47,8 +47,6 @@ func StringToHash(s string) Hash { return BytesToHash([]byte(s)) }
 func BigToHash(b *big.Int) Hash  { return BytesToHash(b.Bytes()) }
 func HexToHash(s string) Hash    { return BytesToHash(FromHex(s)) }
 
-// Don't use the default 'String' method in case we want to overwrite
-
 // Get the string representation of the underlying hash
 func (h Hash) Str() string   { return string(h[:]) }
 func (h Hash) Bytes() []byte { return h[:] }
@@ -144,6 +142,17 @@ func (a Address) Big() *big.Int { return new(big.Int).SetBytes(a[:]) }
 func (a Address) Hash() Hash    { return BytesToHash(a[:]) }
 func (a Address) Hex() string   { return hexutil.Encode(a[:]) }
 
+// String implements the stringer interface and is used also by the logger.
+func (a Address) String() string {
+	return a.Hex()
+}
+
+// Format implements fmt.Formatter, forcing the byte slice to be formatted as is,
+// without going through the stringer interface used for logging.
+func (a Address) Format(s fmt.State, c rune) {
+	fmt.Fprintf(s, "%"+string(c), a[:])
+}
+
 // Sets the address to the value of b. If b is larger than len(a) it will panic
 func (a *Address) SetBytes(b []byte) {
 	if len(b) > len(a) {
diff --git a/console/bridge.go b/console/bridge.go
index 81f216d1d..6db54eb21 100644
--- a/console/bridge.go
+++ b/console/bridge.go
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ func setError(resp *otto.Object, code int, msg string) {
 func throwJSException(msg interface{}) otto.Value {
 	val, err := otto.ToValue(msg)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Failed to serialize JavaScript exception %v: %v", msg, err))
+		log.Error("Failed to serialize JavaScript exception", "exception", msg, "err", err)
 	}
 	panic(val)
 }
diff --git a/contracts/chequebook/cheque.go b/contracts/chequebook/cheque.go
index 9a2a5a2a6..548684ca7 100644
--- a/contracts/chequebook/cheque.go
+++ b/contracts/chequebook/cheque.go
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/accounts/abi/bind"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/hexutil"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/contracts/chequebook/contract"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
@@ -104,6 +105,8 @@ type Chequebook struct {
 	txhash    string   // tx hash of last deposit tx
 	threshold *big.Int // threshold that triggers autodeposit if not nil
 	buffer    *big.Int // buffer to keep on top of balance for fork protection
+
+	log log.Logger // contextual logger with the contrac address embedded
 }
 
 func (self *Chequebook) String() string {
@@ -135,11 +138,12 @@ func NewChequebook(path string, contractAddr common.Address, prvKey *ecdsa.Priva
 		owner:        transactOpts.From,
 		contract:     chbook,
 		session:      session,
+		log:          log.New("contract", contractAddr),
 	}
 
 	if (contractAddr != common.Address{}) {
 		self.setBalanceFromBlockChain()
-		log.Trace(fmt.Sprintf("new chequebook initialised from %s (owner: %v, balance: %s)", contractAddr.Hex(), self.owner.Hex(), self.balance.String()))
+		self.log.Trace("New chequebook initialised", "owner", self.owner, "balance", self.balance)
 	}
 	return
 }
@@ -147,7 +151,7 @@ func NewChequebook(path string, contractAddr common.Address, prvKey *ecdsa.Priva
 func (self *Chequebook) setBalanceFromBlockChain() {
 	balance, err := self.backend.BalanceAt(context.TODO(), self.contractAddr, nil)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Error(fmt.Sprintf("can't get balance: %v", err))
+		log.Error("Failed to retrieve chequebook balance", "err", err)
 	} else {
 		self.balance.Set(balance)
 	}
@@ -160,7 +164,6 @@ func LoadChequebook(path string, prvKey *ecdsa.PrivateKey, backend Backend, chec
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
-
 	self, _ = NewChequebook(path, common.Address{}, prvKey, backend)
 
 	err = json.Unmarshal(data, self)
@@ -170,8 +173,7 @@ func LoadChequebook(path string, prvKey *ecdsa.PrivateKey, backend Backend, chec
 	if checkBalance {
 		self.setBalanceFromBlockChain()
 	}
-
-	log.Trace(fmt.Sprintf("loaded chequebook (%s, owner: %v, balance: %v) initialised from %v", self.contractAddr.Hex(), self.owner.Hex(), self.balance, path))
+	log.Trace("Loaded chequebook from disk", "path", path)
 
 	return
 }
@@ -226,7 +228,7 @@ func (self *Chequebook) Save() (err error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	log.Trace(fmt.Sprintf("saving chequebook (%s) to %v", self.contractAddr.Hex(), self.path))
+	self.log.Trace("Saving chequebook to disk", self.path)
 
 	return ioutil.WriteFile(self.path, data, os.ModePerm)
 }
@@ -339,12 +341,12 @@ func (self *Chequebook) deposit(amount *big.Int) (string, error) {
 	chbookRaw := &contract.ChequebookRaw{Contract: self.contract}
 	tx, err := chbookRaw.Transfer(depositTransactor)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Warn(fmt.Sprintf("error depositing %d wei to chequebook (%s, balance: %v, target: %v): %v", amount, self.contractAddr.Hex(), self.balance, self.buffer, err))
+		self.log.Warn("Failed to fund chequebook", "amount", amount, "balance", self.balance, "target", self.buffer, "err", err)
 		return "", err
 	}
 	// assume that transaction is actually successful, we add the amount to balance right away
 	self.balance.Add(self.balance, amount)
-	log.Trace(fmt.Sprintf("deposited %d wei to chequebook (%s, balance: %v, target: %v)", amount, self.contractAddr.Hex(), self.balance, self.buffer))
+	self.log.Trace("Deposited funds to chequebook", "amount", amount, "balance", self.balance, "target", self.buffer)
 	return tx.Hash().Hex(), nil
 }
 
@@ -440,6 +442,7 @@ type Inbox struct {
 	maxUncashed *big.Int                    // threshold that triggers autocashing
 	cashed      *big.Int                    // cumulative amount cashed
 	cheque      *Cheque                     // last cheque, nil if none yet received
+	log         log.Logger                  // contextual logger with the contrac address embedded
 }
 
 // NewInbox creates an Inbox. An Inboxes is not persisted, the cumulative sum is updated
@@ -467,8 +470,9 @@ func NewInbox(prvKey *ecdsa.PrivateKey, contractAddr, beneficiary common.Address
 		signer:      signer,
 		session:     session,
 		cashed:      new(big.Int).Set(common.Big0),
+		log:         log.New("contract", contractAddr),
 	}
-	log.Trace(fmt.Sprintf("initialised inbox (%s -> %s) expected signer: %x", self.contract.Hex(), self.beneficiary.Hex(), crypto.FromECDSAPub(signer)))
+	self.log.Trace("New chequebook inbox initialized", "beneficiary", self.beneficiary, "signer", hexutil.Bytes(crypto.FromECDSAPub(signer)))
 	return
 }
 
@@ -490,7 +494,7 @@ func (self *Inbox) Stop() {
 func (self *Inbox) Cash() (txhash string, err error) {
 	if self.cheque != nil {
 		txhash, err = self.cheque.Cash(self.session)
-		log.Trace(fmt.Sprintf("cashing cheque (total: %v) on chequebook (%s) sending to %v", self.cheque.Amount, self.contract.Hex(), self.beneficiary.Hex()))
+		self.log.Trace("Cashing in chequebook cheque", "amount", self.cheque.Amount, "beneficiary", self.beneficiary)
 		self.cashed = self.cheque.Amount
 	}
 	return
@@ -574,7 +578,7 @@ func (self *Inbox) Receive(promise swap.Promise) (*big.Int, error) {
 				self.Cash()
 			}
 		}
-		log.Trace(fmt.Sprintf("received cheque of %v wei in inbox (%s, uncashed: %v)", amount, self.contract.Hex(), uncashed))
+		self.log.Trace("Received cheque in chequebook inbox", "amount", amount, "uncashed", uncashed)
 	}
 
 	return amount, err
@@ -582,7 +586,7 @@ func (self *Inbox) Receive(promise swap.Promise) (*big.Int, error) {
 
 // Verify verifies cheque for signer, contract, beneficiary, amount, valid signature.
 func (self *Cheque) Verify(signerKey *ecdsa.PublicKey, contract, beneficiary common.Address, sum *big.Int) (*big.Int, error) {
-	log.Trace(fmt.Sprintf("verify cheque: %v - sum: %v", self, sum))
+	log.Trace("Verifying chequebook cheque", "cheque", self, "sum", sum)
 	if sum == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid amount")
 	}
diff --git a/contracts/release/release.go b/contracts/release/release.go
index 7b63059d0..613e62aa9 100644
--- a/contracts/release/release.go
+++ b/contracts/release/release.go
@@ -127,10 +127,10 @@ func (r *ReleaseService) checker() {
 			version, err := r.oracle.CurrentVersion(opts)
 			if err != nil {
 				if err == bind.ErrNoCode {
-					log.Debug(fmt.Sprintf("Release oracle not found at %x", r.config.Oracle))
+					log.Debug("Release oracle not found", "contract", r.config.Oracle)
 					continue
 				}
-				log.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Failed to retrieve current release: %v", err))
+				log.Error("Failed to retrieve current release", "err", err)
 				continue
 			}
 			// Version was successfully retrieved, notify if newer than ours
@@ -143,13 +143,14 @@ func (r *ReleaseService) checker() {
 				howtofix := fmt.Sprintf("Please check https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/releases for new releases")
 				separator := strings.Repeat("-", len(warning))
 
-				log.Warn(fmt.Sprint(separator))
-				log.Warn(fmt.Sprint(warning))
-				log.Warn(fmt.Sprint(howtofix))
-				log.Warn(fmt.Sprint(separator))
+				log.Warn(separator)
+				log.Warn(warning)
+				log.Warn(howtofix)
+				log.Warn(separator)
 			} else {
-				log.Debug(fmt.Sprintf("Client v%d.%d.%d-%x seems up to date with upstream v%d.%d.%d-%x",
-					r.config.Major, r.config.Minor, r.config.Patch, r.config.Commit[:4], version.Major, version.Minor, version.Patch, version.Commit[:4]))
+				log.Debug("Client seems up to date with upstream",
+					"local", fmt.Sprintf("v%d.%d.%d-%x", r.config.Major, r.config.Minor, r.config.Patch, r.config.Commit[:4]),
+					"upstream", fmt.Sprintf("v%d.%d.%d-%x", version.Major, version.Minor, version.Patch, version.Commit[:4]))
 			}
 
 		// If termination was requested, return
diff --git a/core/block_validator.go b/core/block_validator.go
index 117974ee6..ed5cc3ab6 100644
--- a/core/block_validator.go
+++ b/core/block_validator.go
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ func (v *BlockValidator) VerifyUncles(block, parent *types.Block) error {
 			for h := range ancestors {
 				branch += fmt.Sprintf("  O - %x\n  |\n", h)
 			}
-			log.Info(fmt.Sprint(branch))
+			log.Warn(branch)
 			return UncleError("uncle[%d](%x) is ancestor", i, hash[:4])
 		}
 
diff --git a/core/blockchain.go b/core/blockchain.go
index e46a76fc1..27dbf6c6d 100644
--- a/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/core/blockchain.go
@@ -160,9 +160,9 @@ func NewBlockChain(chainDb ethdb.Database, config *params.ChainConfig, pow pow.P
 			headerByNumber := bc.GetHeaderByNumber(header.Number.Uint64())
 			// make sure the headerByNumber (if present) is in our current canonical chain
 			if headerByNumber != nil && headerByNumber.Hash() == header.Hash() {
-				log.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Found bad hash, rewinding chain to block #%d [%x…]", header.Number, header.ParentHash[:4]))
+				log.Error("Found bad hash, rewinding chain", "number", header.Number, "hash", header.ParentHash)
 				bc.SetHead(header.Number.Uint64() - 1)
-				log.Error(fmt.Sprint("Chain rewind was successful, resuming normal operation"))
+				log.Error("Chain rewind was successful, resuming normal operation")
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -219,9 +219,9 @@ func (self *BlockChain) loadLastState() error {
 	blockTd := self.GetTd(self.currentBlock.Hash(), self.currentBlock.NumberU64())
 	fastTd := self.GetTd(self.currentFastBlock.Hash(), self.currentFastBlock.NumberU64())
 
-	log.Info(fmt.Sprintf("Last header: #%d [%x…] TD=%v", currentHeader.Number, currentHeader.Hash().Bytes()[:4], headerTd))
-	log.Info(fmt.Sprintf("Last block: #%d [%x…] TD=%v", self.currentBlock.Number(), self.currentBlock.Hash().Bytes()[:4], blockTd))
-	log.Info(fmt.Sprintf("Fast block: #%d [%x…] TD=%v", self.currentFastBlock.Number(), self.currentFastBlock.Hash().Bytes()[:4], fastTd))
+	log.Info("Loaded most recent local header", "number", currentHeader.Number, "hash", currentHeader.Hash(), "td", headerTd)
+	log.Info("Loaded most recent local full block", "number", self.currentBlock.Number(), "hash", self.currentBlock.Hash(), "td", blockTd)
+	log.Info("Loaded most recent local fast block", "number", self.currentFastBlock.Number(), "hash", self.currentFastBlock.Hash(), "td", fastTd)
 
 	return nil
 }
@@ -262,10 +262,10 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) SetHead(head uint64) {
 	}
 
 	if err := WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.chainDb, bc.currentBlock.Hash()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to reset head block hash: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to reset head full block", "err", err)
 	}
 	if err := WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.chainDb, bc.currentFastBlock.Hash()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to reset head fast block hash: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to reset head fast block", "err", err)
 	}
 	bc.loadLastState()
 }
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ func (self *BlockChain) FastSyncCommitHead(hash common.Hash) error {
 	self.currentBlock = block
 	self.mu.Unlock()
 
-	log.Info(fmt.Sprintf("committed block #%d [%x…] as new head", block.Number(), hash[:4]))
+	log.Info("Committed new head block", "number", block.Number(), "hash", hash)
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -390,10 +390,10 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) ResetWithGenesisBlock(genesis *types.Block) {
 
 	// Prepare the genesis block and reinitialise the chain
 	if err := bc.hc.WriteTd(genesis.Hash(), genesis.NumberU64(), genesis.Difficulty()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to write genesis block TD: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to write genesis block TD", "err", err)
 	}
 	if err := WriteBlock(bc.chainDb, genesis); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to write genesis block: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to write genesis block", "err", err)
 	}
 	bc.genesisBlock = genesis
 	bc.insert(bc.genesisBlock)
@@ -416,8 +416,7 @@ func (self *BlockChain) ExportN(w io.Writer, first uint64, last uint64) error {
 	if first > last {
 		return fmt.Errorf("export failed: first (%d) is greater than last (%d)", first, last)
 	}
-
-	log.Info(fmt.Sprintf("exporting %d blocks...\n", last-first+1))
+	log.Info("Exporting batch of blocks", "count", last-first+1)
 
 	for nr := first; nr <= last; nr++ {
 		block := self.GetBlockByNumber(nr)
@@ -445,10 +444,10 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) insert(block *types.Block) {
 
 	// Add the block to the canonical chain number scheme and mark as the head
 	if err := WriteCanonicalHash(bc.chainDb, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to insert block number: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to insert block number", "err", err)
 	}
 	if err := WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.chainDb, block.Hash()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to insert head block hash: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to insert head block hash", "err", err)
 	}
 	bc.currentBlock = block
 
@@ -457,7 +456,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) insert(block *types.Block) {
 		bc.hc.SetCurrentHeader(block.Header())
 
 		if err := WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.chainDb, block.Hash()); err != nil {
-			log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to insert head fast block hash: %v", err))
+			log.Crit("Failed to insert head fast block hash", "err", err)
 		}
 		bc.currentFastBlock = block
 	}
@@ -588,8 +587,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) Stop() {
 	atomic.StoreInt32(&bc.procInterrupt, 1)
 
 	bc.wg.Wait()
-
-	log.Info(fmt.Sprint("Chain manager stopped"))
+	log.Info("Blockchain manager stopped")
 }
 
 func (self *BlockChain) procFutureBlocks() {
@@ -683,11 +681,11 @@ func (self *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain
 	for i := 1; i < len(blockChain); i++ {
 		if blockChain[i].NumberU64() != blockChain[i-1].NumberU64()+1 || blockChain[i].ParentHash() != blockChain[i-1].Hash() {
 			// Chain broke ancestry, log a messge (programming error) and skip insertion
-			failure := fmt.Errorf("non contiguous insert: item %d is #%d [%x…], item %d is #%d [%x…] (parent [%x…])", i-1, blockChain[i-1].NumberU64(),
-				blockChain[i-1].Hash().Bytes()[:4], i, blockChain[i].NumberU64(), blockChain[i].Hash().Bytes()[:4], blockChain[i].ParentHash().Bytes()[:4])
+			log.Error("Non contiguous receipt insert", "number", blockChain[i].Number(), "hash", blockChain[i].Hash(), "parent", blockChain[i].ParentHash(),
+				"prevnumber", blockChain[i-1].Number(), "prevhash", blockChain[i-1].Hash())
 
-			log.Error(fmt.Sprint(failure.Error()))
-			return 0, failure
+			return 0, fmt.Errorf("non contiguous insert: item %d is #%d [%x…], item %d is #%d [%x…] (parent [%x…])", i-1, blockChain[i-1].NumberU64(),
+				blockChain[i-1].Hash().Bytes()[:4], i, blockChain[i].NumberU64(), blockChain[i].Hash().Bytes()[:4], blockChain[i].ParentHash().Bytes()[:4])
 		}
 	}
 	// Pre-checks passed, start the block body and receipt imports
@@ -734,31 +732,31 @@ func (self *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain
 			if err := WriteBody(self.chainDb, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body()); err != nil {
 				errs[index] = fmt.Errorf("failed to write block body: %v", err)
 				atomic.AddInt32(&failed, 1)
-				log.Crit(fmt.Sprint(errs[index]))
+				log.Crit("Failed to write block body", "err", err)
 				return
 			}
 			if err := WriteBlockReceipts(self.chainDb, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), receipts); err != nil {
 				errs[index] = fmt.Errorf("failed to write block receipts: %v", err)
 				atomic.AddInt32(&failed, 1)
-				log.Crit(fmt.Sprint(errs[index]))
+				log.Crit("Failed to write block receipts", "err", err)
 				return
 			}
 			if err := WriteMipmapBloom(self.chainDb, block.NumberU64(), receipts); err != nil {
 				errs[index] = fmt.Errorf("failed to write log blooms: %v", err)
 				atomic.AddInt32(&failed, 1)
-				log.Crit(fmt.Sprint(errs[index]))
+				log.Crit("Failed to write log blooms", "err", err)
 				return
 			}
 			if err := WriteTransactions(self.chainDb, block); err != nil {
 				errs[index] = fmt.Errorf("failed to write individual transactions: %v", err)
 				atomic.AddInt32(&failed, 1)
-				log.Crit(fmt.Sprint(errs[index]))
+				log.Crit("Failed to write individual transactions", "err", err)
 				return
 			}
 			if err := WriteReceipts(self.chainDb, receipts); err != nil {
 				errs[index] = fmt.Errorf("failed to write individual receipts: %v", err)
 				atomic.AddInt32(&failed, 1)
-				log.Crit(fmt.Sprint(errs[index]))
+				log.Crit("Failed to write individual receipts", "err", err)
 				return
 			}
 			atomic.AddInt32(&stats.processed, 1)
@@ -784,7 +782,7 @@ func (self *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain
 		}
 	}
 	if atomic.LoadInt32(&self.procInterrupt) == 1 {
-		log.Debug(fmt.Sprint("premature abort during receipt chain processing"))
+		log.Debug("Premature abort during receipts processing")
 		return 0, nil
 	}
 	// Update the head fast sync block if better
@@ -792,20 +790,16 @@ func (self *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain
 	head := blockChain[len(errs)-1]
 	if self.GetTd(self.currentFastBlock.Hash(), self.currentFastBlock.NumberU64()).Cmp(self.GetTd(head.Hash(), head.NumberU64())) < 0 {
 		if err := WriteHeadFastBlockHash(self.chainDb, head.Hash()); err != nil {
-			log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to update head fast block hash: %v", err))
+			log.Crit("Failed to update head fast block hash", "err", err)
 		}
 		self.currentFastBlock = head
 	}
 	self.mu.Unlock()
 
 	// Report some public statistics so the user has a clue what's going on
-	first, last := blockChain[0], blockChain[len(blockChain)-1]
-
-	ignored := ""
-	if stats.ignored > 0 {
-		ignored = fmt.Sprintf(" (%d ignored)", stats.ignored)
-	}
-	log.Info(fmt.Sprintf("imported %4d receipts in %9v. #%d [%x… / %x…]%s", stats.processed, common.PrettyDuration(time.Since(start)), last.Number(), first.Hash().Bytes()[:4], last.Hash().Bytes()[:4], ignored))
+	last := blockChain[len(blockChain)-1]
+	log.Info("Imported new block receipts", "count", stats.processed, "number", last.Number(), "hash", last.Hash(),
+		"elapsed", common.PrettyDuration(time.Since(start)), "ignored", stats.ignored)
 
 	return 0, nil
 }
@@ -829,10 +823,10 @@ func (self *BlockChain) WriteBlock(block *types.Block) (status WriteStatus, err
 
 	// Irrelevant of the canonical status, write the block itself to the database
 	if err := self.hc.WriteTd(block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), externTd); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to write block total difficulty: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to write block total difficulty", "err", err)
 	}
 	if err := WriteBlock(self.chainDb, block); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to write block contents: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to write block contents", "err", err)
 	}
 
 	// If the total difficulty is higher than our known, add it to the canonical chain
@@ -863,11 +857,11 @@ func (self *BlockChain) InsertChain(chain types.Blocks) (int, error) {
 	for i := 1; i < len(chain); i++ {
 		if chain[i].NumberU64() != chain[i-1].NumberU64()+1 || chain[i].ParentHash() != chain[i-1].Hash() {
 			// Chain broke ancestry, log a messge (programming error) and skip insertion
-			failure := fmt.Errorf("non contiguous insert: item %d is #%d [%x…], item %d is #%d [%x…] (parent [%x…])",
-				i-1, chain[i-1].NumberU64(), chain[i-1].Hash().Bytes()[:4], i, chain[i].NumberU64(), chain[i].Hash().Bytes()[:4], chain[i].ParentHash().Bytes()[:4])
+			log.Error("Non contiguous block insert", "number", chain[i].Number(), "hash", chain[i].Hash(),
+				"parent", chain[i].ParentHash(), "prevnumber", chain[i-1].Number(), "prevhash", chain[i-1].Hash())
 
-			log.Error(fmt.Sprint(failure.Error()))
-			return 0, failure
+			return 0, fmt.Errorf("non contiguous insert: item %d is #%d [%x…], item %d is #%d [%x…] (parent [%x…])", i-1, chain[i-1].NumberU64(),
+				chain[i-1].Hash().Bytes()[:4], i, chain[i].NumberU64(), chain[i].Hash().Bytes()[:4], chain[i].ParentHash().Bytes()[:4])
 		}
 	}
 	// Pre-checks passed, start the full block imports
@@ -893,7 +887,7 @@ func (self *BlockChain) InsertChain(chain types.Blocks) (int, error) {
 
 	for i, block := range chain {
 		if atomic.LoadInt32(&self.procInterrupt) == 1 {
-			log.Debug(fmt.Sprint("Premature abort during block chain processing"))
+			log.Debug("Premature abort during blocks processing")
 			break
 		}
 		bstart := time.Now()
@@ -903,8 +897,8 @@ func (self *BlockChain) InsertChain(chain types.Blocks) (int, error) {
 			r := <-nonceResults
 			nonceChecked[r.index] = true
 			if !r.valid {
-				block := chain[r.index]
-				return r.index, &BlockNonceErr{Hash: block.Hash(), Number: block.Number(), Nonce: block.Nonce()}
+				invalid := chain[r.index]
+				return r.index, &BlockNonceErr{Hash: invalid.Hash(), Number: invalid.Number(), Nonce: invalid.Nonce()}
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -978,7 +972,7 @@ func (self *BlockChain) InsertChain(chain types.Blocks) (int, error) {
 		// coalesce logs for later processing
 		coalescedLogs = append(coalescedLogs, logs...)
 
-		if err := WriteBlockReceipts(self.chainDb, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), receipts); err != nil {
+		if err = WriteBlockReceipts(self.chainDb, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), receipts); err != nil {
 			return i, err
 		}
 
@@ -990,9 +984,9 @@ func (self *BlockChain) InsertChain(chain types.Blocks) (int, error) {
 
 		switch status {
 		case CanonStatTy:
-			log.Debug("", "msg", log.Lazy{Fn: func() string {
-				return fmt.Sprintf("inserted block #%d [%x…] in %9v: %3d txs %7v gas %d uncles.", block.Number(), block.Hash().Bytes()[0:4], common.PrettyDuration(time.Since(bstart)), len(block.Transactions()), block.GasUsed(), len(block.Uncles()))
-			}})
+			log.Debug("Inserted new block", "number", block.Number(), "hash", block.Hash(), "uncles", len(block.Uncles()),
+				"txs", len(block.Transactions()), "gas", block.GasUsed(), "elapsed", common.PrettyDuration(time.Since(bstart)))
+
 			blockInsertTimer.UpdateSince(bstart)
 			events = append(events, ChainEvent{block, block.Hash(), logs})
 
@@ -1013,9 +1007,9 @@ func (self *BlockChain) InsertChain(chain types.Blocks) (int, error) {
 				return i, err
 			}
 		case SideStatTy:
-			log.Trace("", "msg", log.Lazy{Fn: func() string {
-				return fmt.Sprintf("inserted forked block #%d [%x…] (TD=%v) in %9v: %3d txs %d uncles.", block.Number(), block.Hash().Bytes()[0:4], block.Difficulty(), common.PrettyDuration(time.Since(bstart)), len(block.Transactions()), len(block.Uncles()))
-			}})
+			log.Debug("Inserted forked block", "number", block.Number(), "hash", block.Hash(), "diff", block.Difficulty(), "elapsed",
+				common.PrettyDuration(time.Since(bstart)), "txs", len(block.Transactions()), "gas", block.GasUsed(), "uncles", len(block.Uncles()))
+
 			blockInsertTimer.UpdateSince(bstart)
 			events = append(events, ChainSideEvent{block})
 
@@ -1055,19 +1049,22 @@ func (st *insertStats) report(chain []*types.Block, index int) {
 	)
 	// If we're at the last block of the batch or report period reached, log
 	if index == len(chain)-1 || elapsed >= statsReportLimit {
-		start, end := chain[st.lastIndex], chain[index]
-		txcount := countTransactions(chain[st.lastIndex : index+1])
-
-		var hashes, extra string
-		if st.queued > 0 || st.ignored > 0 {
-			extra = fmt.Sprintf(" (%d queued %d ignored)", st.queued, st.ignored)
+		var (
+			end = chain[index]
+			txs = countTransactions(chain[st.lastIndex : index+1])
+		)
+		context := []interface{}{
+			"blocks", st.processed, "number", end.Number(), "hash", end.Hash(), "txs", txs,
+			"mgas", float64(st.usedGas) / 1000000, "elapsed", common.PrettyDuration(elapsed),
+			"mgasps", float64(st.usedGas) * 1000 / float64(elapsed),
 		}
-		if st.processed > 1 {
-			hashes = fmt.Sprintf("%x… / %x…", start.Hash().Bytes()[:4], end.Hash().Bytes()[:4])
-		} else {
-			hashes = fmt.Sprintf("%x…", end.Hash().Bytes()[:4])
+		if st.queued > 0 {
+			context = append(context, []interface{}{"queued", st.queued}...)
 		}
-		log.Info(fmt.Sprintf("imported %4d blocks, %5d txs (%7.3f Mg) in %9v (%6.3f Mg/s). #%v [%s]%s", st.processed, txcount, float64(st.usedGas)/1000000, common.PrettyDuration(elapsed), float64(st.usedGas)*1000/float64(elapsed), end.Number(), hashes, extra))
+		if st.ignored > 0 {
+			context = append(context, []interface{}{"ignored", st.ignored}...)
+		}
+		log.Info("Imported new chain segment", context...)
 
 		*st = insertStats{startTime: now, lastIndex: index}
 	}
@@ -1152,19 +1149,8 @@ func (self *BlockChain) reorg(oldBlock, newBlock *types.Block) error {
 	if len(oldChain) > 63 {
 		logFn = log.Warn
 	}
-	logFn("", "msg", log.Lazy{Fn: func() string {
-		oldLen, newLen := len(oldChain), len(newChain)
-		newLast, newFirst := newChain[0], newChain[newLen-1]
-		oldLast, oldFirst := oldChain[0], oldChain[oldLen-1]
-
-		return fmt.Sprintf("Chain split detected after #%v [%x…]. Reorganising chain (-%v +%v blocks), rejecting #%v-#%v [%x…/%x…] in favour of #%v-#%v [%x…/%x…]",
-			commonBlock.Number(), commonBlock.Hash().Bytes()[:4],
-			oldLen, newLen,
-			oldFirst.Number(), oldLast.Number(),
-			oldFirst.Hash().Bytes()[:4], oldLast.Hash().Bytes()[:4],
-			newFirst.Number(), newLast.Number(),
-			newFirst.Hash().Bytes()[:4], newLast.Hash().Bytes()[:4])
-	}})
+	logFn("Chain split detected", "number", commonBlock.Number(), "hash", commonBlock.Hash(),
+		"drop", len(oldChain), "dropfrom", oldChain[0].Hash(), "add", len(newChain), "addfrom", newChain[0].Hash())
 
 	var addedTxs types.Transactions
 	// insert blocks. Order does not matter. Last block will be written in ImportChain itself which creates the new head properly
@@ -1271,12 +1257,12 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) addBadBlock(block *types.Block) {
 // reportBlock logs a bad block error.
 func (bc *BlockChain) reportBlock(block *types.Block, receipts types.Receipts, err error) {
 	bc.addBadBlock(block)
-	log.Error("", "msg", log.Lazy{Fn: func() string {
-		var receiptString string
-		for _, receipt := range receipts {
-			receiptString += fmt.Sprintf("\t%v\n", receipt)
-		}
-		return fmt.Sprintf(`
+
+	var receiptString string
+	for _, receipt := range receipts {
+		receiptString += fmt.Sprintf("\t%v\n", receipt)
+	}
+	log.Error(fmt.Sprintf(`
 ########## BAD BLOCK #########
 Chain config: %v
 
@@ -1286,8 +1272,7 @@ Hash: 0x%x
 
 Error: %v
 ##############################
-`, bc.config, block.Number(), block.Hash(), receiptString, err)
-	}})
+`, bc.config, block.Number(), block.Hash(), receiptString, err))
 }
 
 // InsertHeaderChain attempts to insert the given header chain in to the local
diff --git a/core/database_util.go b/core/database_util.go
index 68263f8d8..bcd99be5f 100644
--- a/core/database_util.go
+++ b/core/database_util.go
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ func GetBlockNumber(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) uint64 {
 		}
 		header := new(types.Header)
 		if err := rlp.Decode(bytes.NewReader(data), header); err != nil {
-			log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to decode block header: %v", err))
+			log.Crit("Failed to decode block header", "err", err)
 		}
 		return header.Number.Uint64()
 	}
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ func GetHeader(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Header
 	}
 	header := new(types.Header)
 	if err := rlp.Decode(bytes.NewReader(data), header); err != nil {
-		log.Error(fmt.Sprintf("invalid block header RLP for hash %x: %v", hash, err))
+		log.Error("Invalid block header RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
 		return nil
 	}
 	return header
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ func GetBody(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Body {
 	}
 	body := new(types.Body)
 	if err := rlp.Decode(bytes.NewReader(data), body); err != nil {
-		log.Error(fmt.Sprintf("invalid block body RLP for hash %x: %v", hash, err))
+		log.Error("Invalid block body RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
 		return nil
 	}
 	return body
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ func GetTd(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int {
 	}
 	td := new(big.Int)
 	if err := rlp.Decode(bytes.NewReader(data), td); err != nil {
-		log.Error(fmt.Sprintf("invalid block total difficulty RLP for hash %x: %v", hash, err))
+		log.Error("Invalid block total difficulty RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
 		return nil
 	}
 	return td
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ func GetBlockReceipts(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) types.
 	}
 	storageReceipts := []*types.ReceiptForStorage{}
 	if err := rlp.DecodeBytes(data, &storageReceipts); err != nil {
-		log.Error(fmt.Sprintf("invalid receipt array RLP for hash %x: %v", hash, err))
+		log.Error("Invalid receipt array RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
 		return nil
 	}
 	receipts := make(types.Receipts, len(storageReceipts))
@@ -285,15 +285,15 @@ func GetTransaction(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) (*types.Transaction, co
 }
 
 // GetReceipt returns a receipt by hash
-func GetReceipt(db ethdb.Database, txHash common.Hash) *types.Receipt {
-	data, _ := db.Get(append(receiptsPrefix, txHash[:]...))
+func GetReceipt(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) *types.Receipt {
+	data, _ := db.Get(append(receiptsPrefix, hash[:]...))
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
 	var receipt types.ReceiptForStorage
 	err := rlp.DecodeBytes(data, &receipt)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Debug(fmt.Sprint("GetReceipt err:", err))
+		log.Error("Invalid receipt RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
 	}
 	return (*types.Receipt)(&receipt)
 }
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ func GetReceipt(db ethdb.Database, txHash common.Hash) *types.Receipt {
 func WriteCanonicalHash(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) error {
 	key := append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), numSuffix...)
 	if err := db.Put(key, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to store number to hash mapping into database: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to store number to hash mapping", "err", err)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ func WriteCanonicalHash(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64) erro
 // WriteHeadHeaderHash stores the head header's hash.
 func WriteHeadHeaderHash(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) error {
 	if err := db.Put(headHeaderKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to store last header's hash into database: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to store last header's hash", "err", err)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ func WriteHeadHeaderHash(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) error {
 // WriteHeadBlockHash stores the head block's hash.
 func WriteHeadBlockHash(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) error {
 	if err := db.Put(headBlockKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to store last block's hash into database: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to store last block's hash", "err", err)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ func WriteHeadBlockHash(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) error {
 // WriteHeadFastBlockHash stores the fast head block's hash.
 func WriteHeadFastBlockHash(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash) error {
 	if err := db.Put(headFastKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to store last fast block's hash into database: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to store last fast block's hash", "err", err)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -342,13 +342,12 @@ func WriteHeader(db ethdb.Database, header *types.Header) error {
 	encNum := encodeBlockNumber(num)
 	key := append(blockHashPrefix, hash...)
 	if err := db.Put(key, encNum); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to store hash to number mapping into database: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to store hash to number mapping", "err", err)
 	}
 	key = append(append(headerPrefix, encNum...), hash...)
 	if err := db.Put(key, data); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to store header into database: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to store header", "err", err)
 	}
-	log.Debug(fmt.Sprintf("stored header #%v [%x…]", header.Number, hash[:4]))
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -365,9 +364,8 @@ func WriteBody(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64, body *types.B
 func WriteBodyRLP(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64, rlp rlp.RawValue) error {
 	key := append(append(bodyPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
 	if err := db.Put(key, rlp); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to store block body into database: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to store block body", "err", err)
 	}
-	log.Debug(fmt.Sprintf("stored block body [%x…]", hash.Bytes()[:4]))
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -379,9 +377,8 @@ func WriteTd(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64, td *big.Int) er
 	}
 	key := append(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...), tdSuffix...)
 	if err := db.Put(key, data); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to store block total difficulty into database: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to store block total difficulty", "err", err)
 	}
-	log.Debug(fmt.Sprintf("stored block total difficulty [%x…]: %v", hash.Bytes()[:4], td))
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -414,9 +411,8 @@ func WriteBlockReceipts(db ethdb.Database, hash common.Hash, number uint64, rece
 	// Store the flattened receipt slice
 	key := append(append(blockReceiptsPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
 	if err := db.Put(key, bytes); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to store block receipts into database: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to store block receipts", "err", err)
 	}
-	log.Debug(fmt.Sprintf("stored block receipts [%x…]", hash.Bytes()[:4]))
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -434,7 +430,7 @@ func WriteTransactions(db ethdb.Database, block *types.Block) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		if err := batch.Put(tx.Hash().Bytes(), data); err != nil {
+		if err = batch.Put(tx.Hash().Bytes(), data); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 		// Encode and queue up the transaction metadata for storage
@@ -457,7 +453,7 @@ func WriteTransactions(db ethdb.Database, block *types.Block) error {
 	}
 	// Write the scheduled data into the database
 	if err := batch.Write(); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to store transactions into database: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to store transactions", "err", err)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -489,7 +485,7 @@ func WriteReceipts(db ethdb.Database, receipts types.Receipts) error {
 	}
 	// Write the scheduled data into the database
 	if err := batch.Write(); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to store receipts into database: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to store receipts", "err", err)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -595,7 +591,7 @@ func WritePreimages(db ethdb.Database, number uint64, preimages map[common.Hash]
 	for hash, preimage := range preimages {
 		if _, err := table.Get(hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
 			batch.Put(hash.Bytes(), preimage)
-			hitCount += 1
+			hitCount++
 		}
 	}
 	preimageCounter.Inc(int64(len(preimages)))
@@ -604,7 +600,6 @@ func WritePreimages(db ethdb.Database, number uint64, preimages map[common.Hash]
 		if err := batch.Write(); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("preimage write fail for block %d: %v", number, err)
 		}
-		log.Debug(fmt.Sprintf("%d preimages in block %d, including %d new", len(preimages), number, hitCount))
 	}
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/core/genesis.go b/core/genesis.go
index 58d3440d6..d827ac1c1 100644
--- a/core/genesis.go
+++ b/core/genesis.go
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ func WriteGenesisBlock(chainDb ethdb.Database, reader io.Reader) (*types.Block,
 	}, nil, nil, nil)
 
 	if block := GetBlock(chainDb, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); block != nil {
-		log.Info(fmt.Sprint("Genesis block already in chain. Writing canonical number"))
+		log.Info("Genesis block known, writing canonical number")
 		err := WriteCanonicalHash(chainDb, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64())
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
@@ -146,7 +146,6 @@ func WriteGenesisBlock(chainDb ethdb.Database, reader io.Reader) (*types.Block,
 	if err := WriteChainConfig(chainDb, block.Hash(), genesis.ChainConfig); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-
 	return block, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/core/headerchain.go b/core/headerchain.go
index a0550a428..775321bc6 100644
--- a/core/headerchain.go
+++ b/core/headerchain.go
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func NewHeaderChain(chainDb ethdb.Database, config *params.ChainConfig, getValid
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		log.Info(fmt.Sprint("WARNING: Wrote default ethereum genesis block"))
+		log.Warn("Wrote default Ethereum genesis block")
 		hc.genesisHeader = genesisBlock.Header()
 	}
 
@@ -154,12 +154,11 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) WriteHeader(header *types.Header) (status WriteStatus, er
 
 	// Irrelevant of the canonical status, write the td and header to the database
 	if err := hc.WriteTd(hash, number, externTd); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to write header total difficulty: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to write header total difficulty", "err", err)
 	}
 	if err := WriteHeader(hc.chainDb, header); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to write header contents: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to write header content", "err", err)
 	}
-
 	// If the total difficulty is higher than our known, add it to the canonical chain
 	// Second clause in the if statement reduces the vulnerability to selfish mining.
 	// Please refer to http://www.cs.cornell.edu/~ie53/publications/btcProcFC.pdf
@@ -185,15 +184,13 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) WriteHeader(header *types.Header) (status WriteStatus, er
 			headNumber = headHeader.Number.Uint64() - 1
 			headHeader = hc.GetHeader(headHash, headNumber)
 		}
-
 		// Extend the canonical chain with the new header
 		if err := WriteCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, hash, number); err != nil {
-			log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to insert header number: %v", err))
+			log.Crit("Failed to insert header number", "err", err)
 		}
 		if err := WriteHeadHeaderHash(hc.chainDb, hash); err != nil {
-			log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to insert head header hash: %v", err))
+			log.Crit("Failed to insert head header hash", "err", err)
 		}
-
 		hc.currentHeaderHash, hc.currentHeader = hash, types.CopyHeader(header)
 
 		status = CanonStatTy
@@ -227,11 +224,11 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) InsertHeaderChain(chain []*types.Header, checkFreq int, w
 	for i := 1; i < len(chain); i++ {
 		if chain[i].Number.Uint64() != chain[i-1].Number.Uint64()+1 || chain[i].ParentHash != chain[i-1].Hash() {
 			// Chain broke ancestry, log a messge (programming error) and skip insertion
-			failure := fmt.Errorf("non contiguous insert: item %d is #%d [%x…], item %d is #%d [%x…] (parent [%x…])",
-				i-1, chain[i-1].Number.Uint64(), chain[i-1].Hash().Bytes()[:4], i, chain[i].Number.Uint64(), chain[i].Hash().Bytes()[:4], chain[i].ParentHash.Bytes()[:4])
+			log.Error("Non contiguous header insert", "number", chain[i].Number, "hash", chain[i].Hash(),
+				"parent", chain[i].ParentHash, "prevnumber", chain[i-1].Number, "prevhash", chain[i-1].Hash())
 
-			log.Error(fmt.Sprint(failure.Error()))
-			return 0, failure
+			return 0, fmt.Errorf("non contiguous insert: item %d is #%d [%x…], item %d is #%d [%x…] (parent [%x…])", i-1, chain[i-1].Number,
+				chain[i-1].Hash().Bytes()[:4], i, chain[i].Number, chain[i].Hash().Bytes()[:4], chain[i].ParentHash[:4])
 		}
 	}
 	// Collect some import statistics to report on
@@ -316,7 +313,7 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) InsertHeaderChain(chain []*types.Header, checkFreq int, w
 	for i, header := range chain {
 		// Short circuit insertion if shutting down
 		if hc.procInterrupt() {
-			log.Debug(fmt.Sprint("premature abort during header chain processing"))
+			log.Debug("Premature abort during headers processing")
 			break
 		}
 		hash := header.Hash()
@@ -332,13 +329,9 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) InsertHeaderChain(chain []*types.Header, checkFreq int, w
 		stats.processed++
 	}
 	// Report some public statistics so the user has a clue what's going on
-	first, last := chain[0], chain[len(chain)-1]
-
-	ignored := ""
-	if stats.ignored > 0 {
-		ignored = fmt.Sprintf(" (%d ignored)", stats.ignored)
-	}
-	log.Info(fmt.Sprintf("imported %4d headers%s in %9v. #%v [%x… / %x…]", stats.processed, ignored, common.PrettyDuration(time.Since(start)), last.Number, first.Hash().Bytes()[:4], last.Hash().Bytes()[:4]))
+	last := chain[len(chain)-1]
+	log.Info("Imported new block headers", "count", stats.processed, "number", last.Number, "hash", last.Hash(),
+		"elapsed", common.PrettyDuration(time.Since(start)), "ignored", stats.ignored)
 
 	return 0, nil
 }
@@ -445,7 +438,7 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) CurrentHeader() *types.Header {
 // SetCurrentHeader sets the current head header of the canonical chain.
 func (hc *HeaderChain) SetCurrentHeader(head *types.Header) {
 	if err := WriteHeadHeaderHash(hc.chainDb, head.Hash()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to insert head header hash: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to insert head header hash", "err", err)
 	}
 	hc.currentHeader = head
 	hc.currentHeaderHash = head.Hash()
@@ -488,7 +481,7 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) SetHead(head uint64, delFn DeleteCallback) {
 	hc.currentHeaderHash = hc.currentHeader.Hash()
 
 	if err := WriteHeadHeaderHash(hc.chainDb, hc.currentHeaderHash); err != nil {
-		log.Crit(fmt.Sprintf("failed to reset head header hash: %v", err))
+		log.Crit("Failed to reset head header hash", "err", err)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/core/state_processor.go b/core/state_processor.go
index 72c6e6c37..3edc042a3 100644
--- a/core/state_processor.go
+++ b/core/state_processor.go
@@ -17,14 +17,12 @@
 package core
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"math/big"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
 )
 
@@ -122,8 +120,6 @@ func ApplyTransaction(config *params.ChainConfig, bc *BlockChain, gp *GasPool, s
 	receipt.Logs = statedb.GetLogs(tx.Hash())
 	receipt.Bloom = types.CreateBloom(types.Receipts{receipt})
 
-	log.Debug(fmt.Sprint(receipt))
-
 	return receipt, gas, err
 }
 
diff --git a/core/state_transition.go b/core/state_transition.go
index 98a24af2b..fb7518647 100644
--- a/core/state_transition.go
+++ b/core/state_transition.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ package core
 
 import (
 	"errors"
-	"fmt"
 	"math/big"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
@@ -256,7 +255,7 @@ func (self *StateTransition) TransitionDb() (ret []byte, requiredGas, usedGas *b
 		ret, self.gas, vmerr = evm.Call(sender, self.to().Address(), self.data, self.gas, self.value)
 	}
 	if vmerr != nil {
-		log.Debug(fmt.Sprint("vm returned with error:", err))
+		log.Debug("VM returned with error", "err", err)
 		// The only possible consensus-error would be if there wasn't
 		// sufficient balance to make the transfer happen. The first
 		// balance transfer may never fail.
diff --git a/core/tx_pool.go b/core/tx_pool.go
index b0a8eea0f..e52e59a4f 100644
--- a/core/tx_pool.go
+++ b/core/tx_pool.go
@@ -162,15 +162,10 @@ func (pool *TxPool) eventLoop() {
 func (pool *TxPool) resetState() {
 	currentState, err := pool.currentState()
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Failed to get current state: %v", err))
+		log.Error("Failed reset txpool state", "err", err)
 		return
 	}
-	managedState := state.ManageState(currentState)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Failed to get managed state: %v", err))
-		return
-	}
-	pool.pendingState = managedState
+	pool.pendingState = state.ManageState(currentState)
 
 	// validate the pool of pending transactions, this will remove
 	// any transactions that have been included in the block or
@@ -192,7 +187,8 @@ func (pool *TxPool) Stop() {
 	pool.events.Unsubscribe()
 	close(pool.quit)
 	pool.wg.Wait()
-	log.Info(fmt.Sprint("Transaction pool stopped"))
+
+	log.Info("Transaction pool stopped")
 }
 
 func (pool *TxPool) State() *state.ManagedState {
@@ -323,24 +319,19 @@ func (pool *TxPool) add(tx *types.Transaction) error {
 	// If the transaction is already known, discard it
 	hash := tx.Hash()
 	if pool.all[hash] != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Known transaction: %x", hash[:4])
+		log.Trace("Discarding already known transaction", "hash", hash)
+		return fmt.Errorf("known transaction: %x", hash)
 	}
 	// Otherwise ensure basic validation passes and queue it up
 	if err := pool.validateTx(tx); err != nil {
+		log.Trace("Discarding invalid transaction", "hash", hash, "err", err)
 		invalidTxCounter.Inc(1)
 		return err
 	}
 	pool.enqueueTx(hash, tx)
 
 	// Print a log message if low enough level is set
-	log.Debug("", "msg", log.Lazy{Fn: func() string {
-		rcpt := "[NEW_CONTRACT]"
-		if to := tx.To(); to != nil {
-			rcpt = common.Bytes2Hex(to[:4])
-		}
-		from, _ := types.Sender(pool.signer, tx) // from already verified during tx validation
-		return fmt.Sprintf("(t) 0x%x => %s (%v) %x\n", from[:4], rcpt, tx.Value(), hash)
-	}})
+	log.Debug("Pooled new transaction", "hash", hash, "from", log.Lazy{Fn: func() common.Address { from, _ := types.Sender(pool.signer, tx); return from }}, "to", tx.To())
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -409,7 +400,6 @@ func (pool *TxPool) Add(tx *types.Transaction) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-
 	pool.promoteExecutables(state)
 
 	return nil
@@ -420,19 +410,21 @@ func (pool *TxPool) AddBatch(txs []*types.Transaction) error {
 	pool.mu.Lock()
 	defer pool.mu.Unlock()
 
+	// Add the batch of transaction, tracking the accepted ones
+	added := 0
 	for _, tx := range txs {
-		if err := pool.add(tx); err != nil {
-			log.Debug(fmt.Sprint("tx error:", err))
+		if err := pool.add(tx); err == nil {
+			added++
 		}
 	}
-
-	state, err := pool.currentState()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	// Only reprocess the internal state if something was actually added
+	if added > 0 {
+		state, err := pool.currentState()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		pool.promoteExecutables(state)
 	}
-
-	pool.promoteExecutables(state)
-
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -513,33 +505,29 @@ func (pool *TxPool) promoteExecutables(state *state.StateDB) {
 	for addr, list := range pool.queue {
 		// Drop all transactions that are deemed too old (low nonce)
 		for _, tx := range list.Forward(state.GetNonce(addr)) {
-			log.Debug("", "msg", log.Lazy{Fn: func() string {
-				return fmt.Sprintf("Removed old queued transaction: %v", tx)
-			}})
-			delete(pool.all, tx.Hash())
+			hash := tx.Hash()
+			log.Debug("Removed old queued transaction", "hash", hash)
+			delete(pool.all, hash)
 		}
 		// Drop all transactions that are too costly (low balance)
 		drops, _ := list.Filter(state.GetBalance(addr))
 		for _, tx := range drops {
-			log.Debug("", "msg", log.Lazy{Fn: func() string {
-				return fmt.Sprintf("Removed unpayable queued transaction: %v", tx)
-			}})
-			delete(pool.all, tx.Hash())
+			hash := tx.Hash()
+			log.Debug("Removed unpayable queued transaction", "hash", hash)
+			delete(pool.all, hash)
 			queuedNofundsCounter.Inc(1)
 		}
 		// Gather all executable transactions and promote them
 		for _, tx := range list.Ready(pool.pendingState.GetNonce(addr)) {
-			log.Debug("", "msg", log.Lazy{Fn: func() string {
-				return fmt.Sprintf("Promoting queued transaction: %v", tx)
-			}})
-			pool.promoteTx(addr, tx.Hash(), tx)
+			hash := tx.Hash()
+			log.Debug("Promoting queued transaction", "hash", hash)
+			pool.promoteTx(addr, hash, tx)
 		}
 		// Drop all transactions over the allowed limit
 		for _, tx := range list.Cap(int(maxQueuedPerAccount)) {
-			log.Debug("", "msg", log.Lazy{Fn: func() string {
-				return fmt.Sprintf("Removed cap-exceeding queued transaction: %v", tx)
-			}})
-			delete(pool.all, tx.Hash())
+			hash := tx.Hash()
+			log.Debug("Removed cap-exceeding queued transaction", "hash", hash)
+			delete(pool.all, hash)
 			queuedRLCounter.Inc(1)
 		}
 		queued += uint64(list.Len())
@@ -650,25 +638,22 @@ func (pool *TxPool) demoteUnexecutables(state *state.StateDB) {
 
 		// Drop all transactions that are deemed too old (low nonce)
 		for _, tx := range list.Forward(nonce) {
-			log.Debug("", "msg", log.Lazy{Fn: func() string {
-				return fmt.Sprintf("Removed old pending transaction: %v", tx)
-			}})
-			delete(pool.all, tx.Hash())
+			hash := tx.Hash()
+			log.Debug("Removed old pending transaction", "hash", hash)
+			delete(pool.all, hash)
 		}
 		// Drop all transactions that are too costly (low balance), and queue any invalids back for later
 		drops, invalids := list.Filter(state.GetBalance(addr))
 		for _, tx := range drops {
-			log.Debug("", "msg", log.Lazy{Fn: func() string {
-				return fmt.Sprintf("Removed unpayable pending transaction: %v", tx)
-			}})
-			delete(pool.all, tx.Hash())
+			hash := tx.Hash()
+			log.Debug("Removed unpayable pending transaction", "hash", hash)
+			delete(pool.all, hash)
 			pendingNofundsCounter.Inc(1)
 		}
 		for _, tx := range invalids {
-			log.Debug("", "msg", log.Lazy{Fn: func() string {
-				return fmt.Sprintf("Demoting pending transaction: %v", tx)
-			}})
-			pool.enqueueTx(tx.Hash(), tx)
+			hash := tx.Hash()
+			log.Debug("Demoting pending transaction", "hash", hash)
+			pool.enqueueTx(hash, tx)
 		}
 		// Delete the entire queue entry if it became empty.
 		if list.Empty() {
diff --git a/core/vm/contracts.go b/core/vm/contracts.go
index 0479adfda..e87640d02 100644
--- a/core/vm/contracts.go
+++ b/core/vm/contracts.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ package vm
 
 import (
 	"crypto/sha256"
-	"fmt"
 	"math/big"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
@@ -83,7 +82,7 @@ func (c *ecrecover) Run(in []byte) []byte {
 	pubKey, err := crypto.Ecrecover(in[:32], append(in[64:128], v))
 	// make sure the public key is a valid one
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Trace(fmt.Sprint("ECRECOVER error: ", err))
+		log.Trace("ECRECOVER failed", "err", err)
 		return nil
 	}
 
diff --git a/core/vm/interpreter.go b/core/vm/interpreter.go
index 41f6a53f8..7d12ebc05 100644
--- a/core/vm/interpreter.go
+++ b/core/vm/interpreter.go
@@ -123,13 +123,9 @@ func (evm *Interpreter) Run(contract *Contract, input []byte) (ret []byte, err e
 		}
 	}()
 
-	log.Debug("", "msg", log.Lazy{Fn: func() string {
-		return fmt.Sprintf("evm running: %x\n", codehash[:4])
-	}})
+	log.Debug("EVM running contract", "hash", codehash[:])
 	tstart := time.Now()
-	defer log.Debug("", "msg", log.Lazy{Fn: func() string {
-		return fmt.Sprintf("evm done: %x. time: %v\n", codehash[:4], time.Since(tstart))
-	}})
+	defer log.Debug("EVM finished running contract", "hash", codehash[:], "elapsed", time.Since(tstart))
 
 	// The Interpreter main run loop (contextual). This loop runs until either an
 	// explicit STOP, RETURN or SELFDESTRUCT is executed, an error occurred during