release date: Oct. 16, 2006
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,77]
producer: John Mayer and Steve Jordan
label: Aware / Columbia - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 1. "Waiting on the World to Change" - 2. "I Don't Trust Myself (With Loving You)" - 3. "Belief" - 4. "Gravity" (live) - 5. "The Heart of Life" - 6. "Vultures" (live) - 7. "Stop This Train" - 9. "Bold as Love" (love) - 12. "I'm Gonna Find Another You"
3th studio album by John Mayer released 3 years since his most recent studio album Heavier Things is co-produced by Mayer and studio musician (drummer and bassist) Steve Jordan, who has produced and worked with primarily artist of singer / songwriter, r&b and folk rock.
The album marks a bit of a new start for Mayer, who has been seen as someone walking in the footsteps of legendary artists of blues rock but so far hasn't been able to make that album that wraps it all up and instead found himself in the spotlight of a huge fan base of primarily young white pop / rock enthusiasts. what I mean by 'new start' is an evident attempt to go full in on folk, r&b, blues rock - spread his wings as a full-blown singer / songwriter.
To my liking, the songs here are completely produced without slick horn sections, heavy violin arrangements and soft and honey-dripping keys. instead it comes out as a fine blend of traditional genres and styles building on the best of the 1960s, 70s and 80s combined. There are hints from jazz, traditional rhythm & blues, folk and roots rock. And pop / rock is there as well, 'cause you can't take that away from someone singing that coarse and yet clean, but the end result is overwhelmingly compact with a clear message of chosen direction and homogeneous style. The album contain one cover song: "Bold as Love" by Hendrix, and it's really so fitting.
The only malice, if any, is that several songs display Mayer's many sources. Without 1960s Hendrix, and Clapton, 1970s and 80s Ray Vaughan and Andy Summers [listen to "Belief"] it's really hard to imagine someone like John Mayer, and some songs simply sound as paraphrases built on his idols.
Anyhow, in selecting the album's highlights it's quite a difficult job, as the album is basically without fillers.
The album was generally met by positive reviews - it was nominated and won in the category Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2007 Grammy Awards.
It's simply my favourite John Mayer studio release. From all his fine attempts this stand as the one album where he manages to keep focus through and through.
Highly recommendable.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone, Mojo 4 / 5, Blender 3,5 / 5 stars ]
