Review: Battle Studies by John Mayer
Posted on 04. Jan, 2010 by Anupa in Music
“Does it make me look soulful, playing a guitar on a hill?”-John Mayer
I’m going to preface this review by saying I used to listen to a lot more music than I do now. So, one of my crappy, lame New Years Resolutions is to make sure I hear more things and another Resolution is to write about more things. It follows, obviously, that if I want to write more I should listen to things so I can write about them and write so I have something to write about (i.e. music). Why it took me literally years for this to click? I’m not sure. Why, you’re asking, is Battle Studies by John Mayer the first album I’m writing about? Because I fucking like him, okay? Onward.
My good friend Dahlia, who is one of the smartest people I know, introduced me to John Mayer when I was going through a horrible, cliched breakup. At first I resisted, because I figured liking John Mayer was the grown-up equivalent to liking the Backstreet Boys (and that ship had sailed, and sunk, a loong time ago). Ew, John Mayer, I thought as I cued up “Vultures” but then with those plucky guitars everything changed.
I like John Mayer because he has the ability to please the ladiest of ladies who like sappy lyrics, a catchy hook, and soulful eyes, but secretly he’s a total blues machine. Don’t believe me? Just Youtube his live performances (I just did the work for you) and you’ll see.
Battle Studies is definitely not my favourite Mayer album (that spot belongs to Continuum) but I continue to appreciate his ability to sing about real life situations (“Who says I can’t get stoned?”). His lyrics can veer to the cheesier end of the spectrum but only lames ask for cheese-less pizza, right?
The first track is poppy, war allegory “Heartbreak Warfare” which has a pretty cool guitar break that redeems the depths of anthemic, U2-style new-rock. Pretty harmonies pair up with a lazy electric guitar on “All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye”—early on it comes across as a piano jam so its nice to hear that guitar. Mayer is off to a good start but the kinda boring Taylor Swift cameo (“Half Of My Heart”) and overly groovy Cream cover (“Crossroads”) break the reverie. It’s only on “Edge Of Desire” where he tones down the fluff a little for relaxed crooning where you can see what this break-up album could’ve been.
So in the end, John Mayer’s popular sensitive guy persona wins again, except now it’s totally not a secret that he can be kind of hilarious and normal and probably douche-y. In that context, the vulnerable-sounding Battle Studies is really a re-enactment of his most cliched (and boring) work.
Val
Jan 4th, 2010
This post made me feel less lame for loving John Mayer. I swear he is one of the best guitar players out there. What’s your favourite Mayer song?
Anupa
Jan 4th, 2010
I love John Mayer unapologetically. I wish he would ditch the lame lady fans and go nuts with his music.
Vultures is probably my favourite song, specifically the version on the John Mayer Trio Live album.
Simon
Jan 4th, 2010
I’ve always been a fan. Not necessarily of his song writing (although he has some catchy songs) but almost purely of his talent. Whatever people want to say about him, the guy can play a guitar better than the top percentile of human beings.
I much prefer the album to the live concert experience however: he makes these scrounged up faces when he plays that make me inexplicably uncomfortable.
jessekg
Jan 6th, 2010
Whatever, “slow dancing in a burning room” is a great tune, I dont care how much of a douche Mayer is in real life.
It’s kinda like the love hate thing with Tom Cruise. Say what you will about how much of a meathead that guy is, his movies are still pretty good (except for Mission Impossibles, of course).
Continuum is a solid album. That mothers and daughters crap, as well as this track, not so much.