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As Pat Benatar once said, love is a battlefield. That’s the main point John Mayer wants to convey on his fourth studio album. It’s called Battle Studies, and militaristic song titles expand on the theme: “Heartbreak Warfare,” “War of My Life,” “Assassin.” That last one is the set’s most ambitious track -- an obsessive groove building louder toward clatter and buzz for five minutes, insulated by Middle Eastern background wails as Mayer likens both parties in an apparent one-night stand to killers performing a night’s mission. But the album’s tone is already set in the first two numbers, both prominently featuring broken hearts; by the third -- a duet with Taylor Swift, who enters only briefly, toward the song’s end -- his heart has been split in half.
Sometimes Mayer’s response to such emotional combat seems to be that of a conscientious objector. “Perfectly Lonely,” for instance, is a world-weary blue-eyed soul pledge to remain single and free. The catchy single “Who Says” is another declaration of independence. Clinking glasses, honking horns and crowd sounds lure you into a night where Mayer does whatever he wants, all by his lonesome: gets high, books a trip to Japan, visits Baton Rouge ... and who are you to stop him? There’s a pleasingly rough tone to his recitation and a sneaky forward push. Not hard to imagine a hit country cover by some rambling free spirit like, say, Dierks Bentley. Closing track “Friends, Lovers or Nothing,” which opens with some heavy ‘70s Elton John-style piano bombast and then evolves into a ringer for late ‘80s George Michael, argues that jealousy is inevitable, and there is no middle ground. Romance, Mayer insists, is an all-or-nothing proposition. But sleeping in his clothes on the floor in the shimmering, Sting-like “Edge of Desire,” he finally lets the real cat out of the bag: “There, I just said it. I’m scared you’ll forget about me.” In the end, he’s just a vulnerable guy.
Appropriately, his guitar solos mostly stay as sensitive as he is, though occasionally -- toward the end of “Heartbreak Warfare” and “Assassin,” at least -- he beefs things up a bit. And when he covers Cream’s version of Robert Johnson’s mythic “Cross Road Blues,” he gives it some real funk: bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Steve Jordan seem almost ready to break into Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.” John Mayer can still barrelhouse, baby, on the riverside.
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Portions of album content provided by All Music Guide © 2011 All Media Guide, LLC ® 1999-2011 Rhapsody International Inc.
yayyyyy
Wow...there are no words other than to thank JM for providing us with this work of a genius.
I listened to this album and I've heard much better from John in the past. I believe this will be the first album I don't buy of his. Go back to your roots.
Hey John,
this album is great because it's who you really are. I write and play and sing and can understand how this simple and well constructed album is just you where you are at in life. not the same as other stuff you've done and not as demonstrative of your talent. Rather it's more you wearing your heart on your sleeve and not cluttering it with too much showiness. You've been around the world 100 times and have learned and loved and you'll never get anymore successful than you are now. Know that Jesus loves you, and when you grab onto Him, all your music and singing and living will be way more worth it. Can't wait for the next one.
Much love,
whit
Kenny your wrong, I like the album and its more pure and mature. It isnt as long as id like but its still great, you cant say go to your roots? his root are room for squares hed get laughed at if he wrote another song like your body is a wonderland in this day and age! hes growing up, grow up with him!
btw even though ive pre orderd this album, i illegally downloaded it, i cant wait im sorry, its ok though hes got my money!
the album is true, pure, long standing! and is so john mayer its not!
John your ability to be unpredictable, still keep your amazing talent on the guitar apparent, and win us over with lyrics is absolutely astounding.
Love it and will buy it like all the others. Yours are the only albums I will spend the money to purchase the whole thing. Most other artists are only worth a song or two off itunes.
I love it after one listen, however, this style seems to be milder or mccartney style or even countryish. More Please. The trio is perfect.
John Mayer's talent usually jumps off of the album and on to my heart and mind... Can't say the same about this album - at least not quite yet.
I can understand Mayer's movement away from showing off his talent; after all, it is about time for something different. But I guess that I am waiting for that one song which reminds us just how talented he really is. I thought that it was going to be on this album. It will likely come without trying though, kinda like Stevie Nicks when she wrote "Dreams" for Fleetwood Mac (I love that song). I felt like he did that with Free Fallin but after all, that was someone else's song...
I have felt that Mayer's heart has either been broken or on the way there in the last couple of albums. His recent material has been a far shot from the days of Room for Squares (my personal favourite). I miss it though, I mean really! I miss the music that you could drive and fly to - his music used to make me feel like I was headed somewhere. He used to talked directly to me. Dunno if demographics has changed his style or just plain growing up... Perhaps a bit of both.
Finally, I would like to hear Mayer push through an eargasm masterpiece because I know that he is fully capable. It might even mean moving away from his standard writing methods.
At the end of the day, he is still one of my most favourite artists of all times. My best guess is that he needed to get these feelings off of his chest and once this throat clearing is over, we will get a chance to hear how he really feels about this world we live in and the joy and pain of love -- to me, this is a transitional album.
Right there with you, Marcus, though I must say that, the more I listen to this album, the more I like it. It's lyrics are more complex than they appear. Still, though, you can tell John's heart is in pain and has been. In fact, I have a completely irrelevant theory that he was in true love with a woman named Lydia, who moved to LA, and with whom he had an ultimately unsuccessful long distance relationship. Ever since, I think he's been missing something, trying to ignore the pain... trying to move on to new relationships, but finding himself a little too broken.
But, anywho.
I found this album refreshing. John's back on the right track. While "Continuum" may have been more musically "mature," I didn't feel the heart behind it at all. "Battle Studies," while disconnected, grasps for heart through shameless honesty. I can understand and connect to that.
Right there with you, Marcus, though I must say that, the more I listen to this album, the more I like it. Its lyrics are more complex than they appear. Still, though, you can tell John's heart is in pain and has been. In fact, I have a completely irrelevant theory that he was in true love with a woman named Lydia, who moved to LA, and with whom he had an ultimately unsuccessful long distance relationship. Ever since, I think he's been missing something, trying to ignore the pain... trying to move on to new relationships, but finding himself a little too broken.
But, anywho.
I found this album refreshing. John's back on the right track. While "Continuum" may have been more musically "mature," I didn't feel the heart behind it at all. "Battle Studies," while disconnected, grasps for heart through shameless honesty. I can understand and connect to that.
I'm a huge john mayer fan i probably listen to the john mayer pandora station over any other because i love to hear his music. In your atmosphere live is the john i like to listen too. But this CD was worthless. Assassins was the only mildly good song.. My room mate shares the same opinion with me and we both jam to JM on the reg.
Weak JM.... WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAK.....
i hear what your sayin kenny..
O M F G!!
I am sick of all these whiney, music snob aristocrates complaining that isn't this or that. And they are on every freaking review site!! Why not just sit back, listen and have a genuine, naked, musical experience? Could you imagine if we looked at painings this way. "Oh well this blue period painting by picasso isn't as good as this earlier cubist work. Insanity!! The point of art is not to judge it in the context or paradigm of a totally different piece of work that is trying to accomplish something totally different.
You know these same musical wiseacres would be complaining that Mayer should have tried to do something different had he produced another CONTINUIM. I for one will be glad that if I want to listen to a JM record I will be able to choose from the diversity contained amongsts CONTINUIM room4squares, Try! or ANY, ANY of the live albums. You snotty amateur music pundits need to go home, pick an instrument and just try to write a song. Then when you fail miserably at expressing youself or realize you don't have the guts to display the successes and failures of you personal for all the world to see maybe then you'll just calm th F down and shuffle a few in a few of the songs off Battle Studies into your JM playlists.
-pshshh "Its not this, its not that, you guys would be the 1st ones voted off the island. Peace.
I Think overall the album is worth purchasing i dont regret it. But there are a few sketchy songs on there. There are songs i like the most is edge of desire, to me the song idolizes young love which most of his listeners can relate too including me. Secondly Assassin is a Hit in my book with the metaphoric means used to implement a one night stand i love it and he shows some vocals in the song towards the middleish end.
Lastly all we ever do is say goodbye. If the title would catch your ear the mellow tunes of this track shall. Im gonna say its a good album but is not his best work..
Christopher-Everyone is allowed to have their own opinions. When a musician goes into the public eye, there will always be people who love it and hate it. I don't think you should hate on other people's opinions. If you notice, almost all of the comments left were stated respectfully. Nobody has said anything like John Mayer sucks or this album made me hate John Mayer. People have simply said that they do not like the album as much as the ones in the past. That is OK. I think it is you who needs to calm the F down.
This is a good album and I don't regret buying it, but...I was expecting so much more. I feel like the entire album kind of alienates anyone who isn't single or heartbroken. There are some good tracks though.
Hopefully, like Marcus said, it will just be a transitional album and he'll revert to the ways of Continuum and TRY! again. In all honesty, that's the John Mayer music I fell in love with. Before that he was just another pop guy to me; I don't want him to go back to that.
John - look forward to seeing you in Philly. Always have loved hearing you and watching your amazing talent! I think I will wait and judge for myself, the album sounds good, I know you'll be awesome live!
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