11:11
03/13/09, 06:47 PM
John Mayer - Heavier Things
Record Label: Aware Records
Release Date: September 9, 2003
It's a truly rare occasion when an up-and-coming artist, fresh off of taking the radio by storm with their hit singles, gets past the infamous sophmore slump. When the artist is John Mayer himself, however, he takes the bar set for himself, hurls it in the air and yells, "I'm going to go even higher." And that's just what he does. Kicking off the album is the track "Clarity," aptly named because that's exactly what Mayer has reached. With hand claps that will have you nodding your head even before the piano sinks in and Mayer's pipes crooning "I worry/ I weigh three times my body/ I worry/ I throw my fear around," you can tell right away this isn't another album cheaply produced just to make a quick buck. Mayer has implemented more instruments as well, with trumpets taking over soon after the song starts. He quickly follows with the song "Bigger Than My Body," which showcases a solo with guitar and piano hitting the notes simultaneously to produce a lovely sound.
The next song, which to me screams "radio single," is "Something's Missing." Mayer's lyrical prowess shines through on this little number's outro, with the lines like "How come everything I think I need/ always comes with batteries?" Moving forward in this musical journey, we reach track 4, titled "New Deep." The title of the album comes from the end of the song, and Mayer reminds you why he's won "Best Pop Artist Vocal Performance" when he sings lines like "I'm a new man/ I wear a new cologne, and/ you wouldn't know me/ if your eyes were closed." Mayer takes a new turn on the next track, however, and performs an attempt of what he calls a "real" blues song. "Come Back To Bed" nearly hits the mark, with a solo that will leave you relaxed and thankful that someone put a guitar into Mayer's hands. Next comes the only relatively weak song on the album, "Home Life." It's probably not a coincidence that this is also the only song on the album Mayer did not write himself. He soon picks things up with "Split Screen Sadness" though; it's possibly the best song on the album. Everything seems to mesh just right, with the mood of the song harmonizing with Mayer's lyrics perfectly.
Jumping into the game at number 8, we have the radio mega-hit "Daughters." You want to hate the song after hearing it constantly everywhere you go, but there's some invisible draw that keeps you smiling everytime you hear the simple-yet-creative chord progression on Mayer's acoustic guitar. Dragged into a false sense of calmness, the next song, "Only Heart," is an upbeat tune that will wake you right up. With lines like "Feel my chest when I look at you,/ Baby you/ You've got my only heart," you begin to understand why Mayer's simple lyrics are so likable. Closing the album is the song "Wheel", which is perfect for any fall day. It has a soothing tone, a nice bluesy solo, and ends a capella, the perfect way to end an album such as this.
Several years later, this album has not lost its charm. It didn't disappoint in '03, doesn't disappoint now, and I don't expect it to lose any momentum in the next few years either. Toss aside any labels you've given Mayer and pick up this album right now.
Jason Mraz; Room For Squares; solo artists; something refreshing
myspace.com/johnmayer (http://www.myspace.com/johnmayer)
Record Label: Aware Records
Release Date: September 9, 2003
It's a truly rare occasion when an up-and-coming artist, fresh off of taking the radio by storm with their hit singles, gets past the infamous sophmore slump. When the artist is John Mayer himself, however, he takes the bar set for himself, hurls it in the air and yells, "I'm going to go even higher." And that's just what he does. Kicking off the album is the track "Clarity," aptly named because that's exactly what Mayer has reached. With hand claps that will have you nodding your head even before the piano sinks in and Mayer's pipes crooning "I worry/ I weigh three times my body/ I worry/ I throw my fear around," you can tell right away this isn't another album cheaply produced just to make a quick buck. Mayer has implemented more instruments as well, with trumpets taking over soon after the song starts. He quickly follows with the song "Bigger Than My Body," which showcases a solo with guitar and piano hitting the notes simultaneously to produce a lovely sound.
The next song, which to me screams "radio single," is "Something's Missing." Mayer's lyrical prowess shines through on this little number's outro, with the lines like "How come everything I think I need/ always comes with batteries?" Moving forward in this musical journey, we reach track 4, titled "New Deep." The title of the album comes from the end of the song, and Mayer reminds you why he's won "Best Pop Artist Vocal Performance" when he sings lines like "I'm a new man/ I wear a new cologne, and/ you wouldn't know me/ if your eyes were closed." Mayer takes a new turn on the next track, however, and performs an attempt of what he calls a "real" blues song. "Come Back To Bed" nearly hits the mark, with a solo that will leave you relaxed and thankful that someone put a guitar into Mayer's hands. Next comes the only relatively weak song on the album, "Home Life." It's probably not a coincidence that this is also the only song on the album Mayer did not write himself. He soon picks things up with "Split Screen Sadness" though; it's possibly the best song on the album. Everything seems to mesh just right, with the mood of the song harmonizing with Mayer's lyrics perfectly.
Jumping into the game at number 8, we have the radio mega-hit "Daughters." You want to hate the song after hearing it constantly everywhere you go, but there's some invisible draw that keeps you smiling everytime you hear the simple-yet-creative chord progression on Mayer's acoustic guitar. Dragged into a false sense of calmness, the next song, "Only Heart," is an upbeat tune that will wake you right up. With lines like "Feel my chest when I look at you,/ Baby you/ You've got my only heart," you begin to understand why Mayer's simple lyrics are so likable. Closing the album is the song "Wheel", which is perfect for any fall day. It has a soothing tone, a nice bluesy solo, and ends a capella, the perfect way to end an album such as this.
Several years later, this album has not lost its charm. It didn't disappoint in '03, doesn't disappoint now, and I don't expect it to lose any momentum in the next few years either. Toss aside any labels you've given Mayer and pick up this album right now.
Jason Mraz; Room For Squares; solo artists; something refreshing
myspace.com/johnmayer (http://www.myspace.com/johnmayer)