September 30, 2006 - All I can say is WOW. I’ve never been a diehard John Mayer fan, but this album reeled me in. It is sensitive, melodic, and reflective. This is one of those rare CDs you can push play, sit back and listen to in its entirety without the urge to skip a song here and there. Gone are the pop-like songs aiming for the Top 40 that used to steer me away from Mayer. This album appears to be a rite of passage, as though Mayer has paid his mainstream dues and is now free to play his own kind of music.

John Mayer

This album is a nice blend of slow and bluesy with a little funky, yet melodic. Songs like “Gravity” and “Stop this Train” are deep and personal, expressing Mayer’s own fears of self-destruction and growing older. “Waiting For the World to Change” is Mayer’s anti-war song on the album, as well as a plea for our younger generation to step up to the plate. He pulls off the funky upbeat melody without sounding political, just honest. “Bold as Love,” appeared at first to be somewhat off tempo, until I recognized the old Jimi Hendrix song. Mayer singing a Hendrix song was somewhat of a stretch for me, but it was a gutsy, nonetheless.

Fans are sure to pick up on the fact that Mayer once again transcends to a higher level with each album. Intensely reflective artists like Mayer can sometimes struggle with pulling off an album with an edge, however this is a well-constructed album. He has mastered the ability to incorporate a great sound with meaningful lyrics. This album is sure to add new followers to Mayer’s already well-established fan-base.

John Mayer is from New York, NY and tours on a regular basis. For more information visit the official John Mayer Website. To sample music visit the John Mayer page at Myspace.com.

CD Review by Angela Dudley – Copyright © 2006 – Florida Entertainment Scene – All Rights Reserved