John Mayer

DISCLAIMER: I know this post will immediately get eye-rolls, "omg's", and sarcastic "wow"s, but I have to do it. Because I respect Mayer, it is important to defend him from being regarded as the "Your Body Is a Wonderland Guy," or the ever popular "Douchebag." Also, despite the convincing evidence below, note: I am NOT a "all his posters on my bedroom walls, totally smitten with him,  tween girl" ...I'm just a fan.

So, I respect John Mayer. Being a guitarist/singer-songwriter myself, I have an appreciation for his talent, artistry, and the 3 Grammys he's won. It might be hard to respect him if you didn't like his music, and if you're not a musician. But because I am those things, I can really relate to what he's accomplished, and where he is going. He debuted on the pop charts in 2002 with a track called "No Such Thing" from his first studio album Room For Squares. His next single which could be viewed as a huge gain and loss, was "Your Body Is A Wonderland". This brought him both his first trip to the Grammys, and the loss of many future listeners whose opinion rides predominately on what they hear on the radio. In hindsight, for me one reason that John Mayer as an artist was not colored by "Your Body Is A Wonderland", is the fact that I barely listen to the radio. I listen every once in awhile when I'm stuck on the kennedy expressway. I find that you can never get the full spectrum of the artist by means of his/her radio-ready single. Unless your music is extremely similar song to song it is next to impossible to have one song to sums up your music or album. That is the undermining function of radio and thus the reason I don't tune in.(However 93XRT is enjoyable) I digress...

So, most people write the Mayer-man off after "Wonderland". If they haven't written him off for that, they buy into People/US weekly and well...anyone who reads tabloids for the facts is setting themselves behind the curve. Enter Joe...A non-tabloid subscriber, radio sceptic, decent guitarist, whose goal is to track at least two major albums and win a grammy before 30. After class one day in high school, I went to my local record shop to surf blues/rock. I came across an album entitled TRY!  by the John Mayer Trio. I gave it an ear. I was blown away. It is a non-radio-ready-raw-sound that is seldom heard in our world of Nickelback and Hinder as rock gods.(to clarify not a fan of these two.) The Mayer Trio's album was, and is phenomenal. After buying the album I noticed Mayer was playing in my home town. I bought a ticket for myself and girlfriend at the time. I then witnessed the closest thing to the phrase "Rock N' Roll" I have ever seen. Now it wasn't leather pants, and pelvic thrusting everywhere but by god it was gooood music. Soon Mayer's most recent studio album Continuum was released. After buying it, listening for weeks with a discerning ear, and attending another concert I was hooked. His guitar playing is amazing. His songs with the exception of few, are well-crafted honest pieces that continue to be necessary as opposed to the industry's standard of contrived made for radio works. In addition to Continuum, Mayer has also released a music video/documentary entitled Where The Light Is. This music video/ documentary is behind the scenes and under the microscope look at the different incarnations of Mayers music from his perspective. It is both a great musical showcase and an excellent rebuttal to those who see Mayer as a one trick pony. In summation, I respect John Mayer for his music, achievements, and drive as an artist to make necessary music. If you get the chance to listen to Continuum or Where The Light Is, take it, breath it in, and don't exhale for two to three months.