release date: Sep. 9, 2003
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,44]
producer: Jack Joseph Puig
label: Aware / Columbia - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 1. "Clarity" - 2. "Bigger Than My Body" - 3. "Something's Missing" - 5. "Come Back to Bed" - 7. "Split Screen Sadness" - 8. "Daughters" - 9. "Only Heart"
2nd full length studio album by Mayer with a new producer. Soundwise, the album mostly continues where Room for Squares ended. The dominance of pop / rock is evidently here - intended or not, it's pretty slick, although, I believe it's supposed to have a more gritty touch - also with reference to the title someone must have thought that it should be "Mayer on the rocks". A few tracks turn out with more focus on rock, but it really is with a narrow margin. "Bigger Than My Body" and "Something's Missing" are typical: They could have been rockier compositions but you need looking glasses to spot the big differences. Perhaps the strongest variation from his 2001 album is the intention to add elements from jazz, fusion rock and blues rock - you'll notice small guitar riffs, sound bits and horn sections here and there; only, they literally drown in dominating pop / rock arrangements and the (over-)produced touch of the album. There are attempts of applying a wider dynamic range with both uptempo and more laid-back compositions. "Something's Missing" comes close to the fusion rock by Andy Summers' post-Police period - in fact, I often find sound-bits with reference to The Police on this album. "Come Back to Bed" is a soft rock composition with horn sections, jazz and a more traditional blues feel that one will find on the predecessor. "Daughters" picks up the same variation in being a strong mellow acoustic piano- and jazz-founded ballad with strong emotions and it sticks out as that song, which makes you wonder if it really fits that well on this predominantly pop-release!? Once again, it has Mayer standing in more than one camp. Now, there's absolutely nothing wrong in playing both with strong energy and a soft lip, but the truly conflicting element is a fundamental question of direction when it comes to what audience you intend the album to appeal to. You cannot intentionally appeal to everyone, and if you make it too broad you end up losing more than you gain. On one hand the album contains more interesting compositions, sort of building on his debut ep Inside Wants Out (1999), but it also reveals the same problem of stylistically direction and taking a stand: What do YOU want this album to be Mr. Mayer? A composite of all styles and genres... well, then you may be on your way!
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5, Blender, Slant 3 / 5, Spin 2,5 / 5 stars ]
