release date: Feb. 11, 2003
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,68]
producer: John Alagia
label: Aware / Columbia - nationality: USA
Track highlights, Disc 1: 2. "No Such Thing" - 3. "Back to You" - 4. "City Love" - 5. "Something's Missing" - 7. "Message in a Bottle" - 8. "Love Song For No One" - - Disc 2: 1. "Why Georgia" - 2. "Your Body Is a Wonderland" - 3. "My Stupid Mouth" - 7. "Neon"
1st live album by John Mayer is a double disc with a playing time above 1 hour and 40 mins. recorded Sep. 12, 2002, in Birmingham, Alabama as a 4-piece band consisting of John Mayer on vocals, guitars and keyboards, Michael Chaves on keyboards, guitars and backing vocals, David LaBruyere on bass and with Stephen Chopek on drums and percussion.
The album primarily features tracks from his studio debut and his forthcoming second album (to be released Sep. 2003) only. But however familiar the playlist may seem these songs come much more to life on this occasion proving what a talented artist Mayer really is. Both the two cover songs "Message in a Bottle" by The Police and "Lenny" by Stevie Ray Vaughan showcase Mayer as a man of rock music - pop / rock and blues rock. He pays tribute to two of his great influences, and he does that by making their songs vibrant and contemporary.
This album is easily Mayer's so far best. He's a fine instrumentalist - most people already knew that, but without the multi-layered studio sound he sounds so much better playing with charms, energy and skills, just having a good time picking his guitar and displaying his fascination for jazz and blues rock.
Highly recommendable.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]
