• Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 2,578

Topic: John Mayer - Battle Studies

Hope noone minds me creating a new thread to talk specifically about Mayer's new album:

To my surprise my pre-ordered copy of Battle Studies arrived early and I've been listening to it at times over the last 24 hours. What can I say:

First point, this is a singer song writers album rather than a guitarist's album. We've all heard Crossroads on here. That is the only song on the album that is blues based and by far the song with the guitar most prominent. There are a few other good guitar solos on the album - notably on Assassin and Edge of Desire, but for the most part the album is quite lightweight, with quite slow and thoughful songs. That's not to say the songs are bad. The single Who Says is pleasant, better still are Half Of My Life, which features Taylor Swift (she only repeats a few lines) and Perfectly Lonely (about his split up with Jen). Robbie McIntosh only appears on the acoustic All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye. Steve Jordan and Pino Palladino feature on most of the songs, but to be hoest the songs do not really give them the opportunity to demonstrate much of their respective talents. The album is no dud and does feature some of Mayer's most mature songwriting, but those hoping that it would mark the continuation of a guitar blues era for Mayer it is a missed opportunity. I will persist with it though, and still plan to see Mayer in January.

"The recently formed Edinburgh Blues Club has identified an appetite for the personal communication between musicians and audience that the blues long ago perfected." The Herald Newspaper (Scotland)
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  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: John Mayer - Battle Studies

This is what I was thinking. I am very interested to hear it when it ships next week. I have no problem with Mayer's songwriter side. I know everybody here is a guitar freak (myself included big_smile) but there's nothing better than a good song. The Beatles proved that. Not saying Mayer's on that level but he is definitely one of the songwriters going in pop music.

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

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  • Registered: 2008-12-19
  • Posts: 2,606

Re: John Mayer - Battle Studies

I definitely agree that there's nothing wrong with the singer/songwriter sound.  I still mine the genre quite regularly with great success.  For me this new album is a big deal cause Mayer's not released a studio album in three years.  I realize that achievement can be fleeting and to sustain the level of success that JM's accomplished is a daunting task.  He's a better than average guitarist, but it's his songwriting that's made him what he is.  I play golf and a pro once told me that just about anyone (with decent hand-eye coordination and diligence) can teach himself to be a scratch golfer, but it's the putting that separates a par golfer from a tour pro.  In the music business the mastery of one's instrument is like the golf swing and songwriting the putting.  You can teach yourself to be a half-assed putter, but feel is a gift from above and it's the same with creating a great song.  A bit of a waffle, but I hope I've made my point.

  • Registered: 2006-06-16
  • Posts: 465

Re: John Mayer - Battle Studies

I agree, to me it doesn't have the blues/r&b edge of Continuum, but John Mayer set out to make a mellow pop album with the theme of heartbreak, and thats exactly what it is.  It's definitely got some great moments on there and I look forward to investigating it further.

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  • From: West Yorkshire, England
  • Registered: 2007-08-02
  • Posts: 1,587

Re: John Mayer - Battle Studies

I agree with all the comments. It's a nice album but I was hoping for something a bit more bluesy. I've only listened a couple of times so far and I don't think it'll get a regular airing.
It's a bit like candy floss.....very sweet and fluffy but rather unsatisfying for me.

Tripsy smile

6 Reply by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2009-11-16 21:18:43)

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: John Mayer - Battle Studies

I too am depressed by this theme of album.

From one point, what he writes is what it is... and that becomes the album. ok.

But he carries no torches, it is not inspiring to guitar players, and it doesn't evolve the things he has already done. Don't get me wrong, I love JM music. I remember when JM3 came out and I thought it was going to change things in pop culture, and I honestly believe it had the power to do that. The relapse to pop left me wondering why. Just a failure to live up to expectations. Good album, but not great.

And "who says I can't get stoned" roll - is this original subject matter?
"Everybody must get stoned" - Bob Dylan
"I'm going to burn one down." - Ben Harper

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  • Registered: 2009-01-01
  • Posts: 665

Re: John Mayer - Battle Studies

I'm somewhat disappointed -- obviously I expected something else. I only listened to the samples on amazon and I thought I clicked on some anonymous 80s pop record in the Phil Collins/Lionel Ritchie vein by mistake. Oh dear... whatever floats your boat, John. But not for me, sorry.

  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: John Mayer - Battle Studies

Just got it in the mail yesterday. Once I get a chance to listen to it, I shall post my thoughts.

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

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9 Reply by andre wittebroek (edited by andre wittebroek 2009-11-21 22:32:59)

  • From: Netherlands.
  • Registered: 2006-04-27
  • Posts: 2,186

Re: John Mayer - Battle Studies

Too poppy for me. Sorry!

I think he was more busy with glamour etc. the last years than with the music.

Andre Wittebroek

  • From: Missoula, Montana
  • Registered: 2008-08-18
  • Posts: 308

Re: John Mayer - Battle Studies

Bluesbreaker wrote:

I'm somewhat disappointed -- obviously I expected something else. I only listened to the samples on amazon and I thought I clicked on some anonymous 80s pop record in the Phil Collins/Lionel Ritchie vein by mistake. Oh dear... whatever floats your boat, John. But not for me, sorry.

Yes, agree completely. I feel about this album the way I felt about the second Back Door Slam album. To much Pop, not enough Blues

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  • Registered: 2006-06-16
  • Posts: 465

Re: John Mayer - Battle Studies

I dont want to hear a pure pop record from John, nor do I want to hear a pure blues record (his lead guitar playing isn't orignal enough for me).  I believe his strength lies in his compositional skills, and his ability to meld multiple genres into bluesy, soulful yet accessible music.  Continuum was in that vein, this album is a step backwards, but he is an artist with an approach and we just gotta see what the future will bring us from JM.

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