To preface, I was a die-hard John Mayer fan. When Inside Wants Out came out, I listened to nothing but No Such Thing, Neon, Love Soon and Why Georgia for two months straight. Room For Squares was a step down, but still very good.
When Heavier Things came out, my heart broke. John-bon-bon Mayer-san was clearly embracing the poppier, easy way to make music as opposed to sticking to his creative chord creations (and alliterations) and soulful lyrics despite progressions that were often poppy. That, and his studio tracks always sucked compared to the live ones.
I'd given up hope.
Then I read an article (I think it was in Time, but I don't really remember anymore), where he stated his own disdain for what his music had become. He was moving on. Embracing the blues. Suddenly, I was excited again.
I downloaded Try! from a music store yesterday, and I feel revived. John's managed to combine traditional blues elements with his own creativity to create something entirely new: a sort of palatable mainstream blues sound that still manages to rock.
I've fallen back in love.
Anyone else listened to it? Thoughts?
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
I haven't heard it yet, but I'm also a die hard John Mayer fan. I've been learning his songs one at a time on the guitar for the last few months. I'm definitely gonna go check out the new album, though.
quote:When Heavier Things came out, my heart broke. John-bon-bon Mayer-san was clearly embracing the poppier, easy way to make music as opposed to sticking to his creative chord creations (and alliterations) and soulful lyrics despite progressions that were often poppy.
I don't agree with this, though. Heavier things was poppy, and less guitar driven than Room for Squares, but not because it was easier. The songs are just as good, they're just not a reliant on the guitar. I saw an interview with him where he discussed this very phenomenon. It was something to the effect of, "I wanted to really show what I could do on the first album, from a musicianship standpoint. Because if you don't blow people away with the first album you won't get to make a second one." Then he played part of Clarity and part of Neon to illustrate that point.
If I can find the link to that video I'll email it to you.
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
The chord structure of the music in his second album is depressingly easier - and the guitar is the only part of his music I enjoy. I can't stand the studio versions of his stuff - hence my aversion to Room for Squares and complete disdain for Heavier Things.
Just glancing at the tab for pretty much any song from Inside Wants Out as compared to the stuff on Heavier Things will illustrate the Neon vs Clarity point, although that's a comparison he undoubtedly picked for its severity: I'm sure you'll agree that Neon is far and away the most difficult song he's written to play (I can't really count anything on Try!, since it's mostly improv), whereas Clarity is almost the easiest (with possible exceptions for St. Patrick's Day, which is kind of just a crappy song in general, and Love Song for No One).
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
He is Ickys favorite.....
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
The only problem with jazz is that it's so much better live.
I guess I'll just need to see him in concert again. Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
I had heard a couple of songs of his and was interested. I picked up Heavier Things and was completely unimpressed. I don't think I listened past the first song.
I guess I was expecting something heavy. I see a cover with the singer holding an electric guitar . . . I expect to rock. It pissed me off. <mocking> "Heavier Things". How non-commital! "Well, it isn't exactly heavy. Just kind of heavier than what I was doing before." Have some balls! If I wanted that kind of crap, I'd listen to Hall & Oates
I'll have to check out the albumns you mentioned and his latest.
[ February 02, 2006, 06:18 PM: Message edited by: Primal Curve ]
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
Inside Wants Out, while my favorite, is mostly acoustic - except Neon, which is worth the price of admission, IMO.
Try! on the other hand, is all electric, and it rocks the heck out.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
I'll probably listen to it when I install my cable modem (which came in the mail today!), but I'm not a huge John Mayor fan, so I don't have high hopes. Mostly because when "Your Body Is a Wonderland" came out, one of my friends made me listen to it over and over and over and over...
-pH
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
pH - Try! is so different that if he wasn't singing, you'd be hard pressed to tell it was the same person.
And Your Body is a Wonderland is, hands down, John Mayer's worst song - including all of Heavier Things.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
YBIAW, as the crazies call it, is one of the worst songs he's written. Due in large part to the super heavy radio play it got, which has killed far better songs.
His other 'big hit' is No Such Thing, and I'm not crazy about it either.
Neon acoustic is freakin sweet, and I mean right up there with the acoustic Layla sweet (though I'm sure everyone disagrees with me on that comparison).
I don't know, Clarity, Wheel, and Bigger Than My Body are some of my favorite Mayer songs (that he's released on CD anyway - Sucker, Man On the Side, and Covered in Rain are all unreleased and very good). But I definitely see your point, erosomniac.
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
Covered in Rain is one of my favorites. I like Sucker, and don't really see a lot of merit in Man On the Side, but am emotionally attached to it anyway .
Neon acoustic is very, very hot - but I like the electric better.
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
I don't know, I've always really disliked Great Indoors.
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
Wow, I'm slow.
But anyway, Neon, electric, is by far my favorite John Mayer song.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
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