I quickly filled up my player, went to my room, grabbed my audiophile earphones , made myself comfortable, made sure I got the L-R right, then relaxed and pressed play.
Battle Studies has begun.
Flashback to June when John himself announced the new album title and the start of a journey he openly shared to all his fans through tweets and blogs, videos and everything. Thus like me, the self proclaimed #1 fan in my city started anticipation and making intelligent guesses as to what this new album has to give.
When the movie-ish intro of Heartbreak Warfare started, it was not new to the ear as expected. John has plugged this out to the public prior release. He even released an augment reality video to give touch to fans with the latest webcam flash technology or so. The song's solo is saved this song from losing the battle. I first heard this from a live acoustic set by John on the Mayercraft. People have dubbed it the "Jennifer Aniston" break-up song and whatever TMZ. I didn't care, cause all I could worry is the plain mediocre lyrics that somehow is an understatement of what John could do and has done in the past. I never expected this to be part of a studio album. But it did, and first track even. Hmmmm.
Let's move to the next chapter. This one kinda sets the tone of the album considering Heartbreak Warfare was widely heard already. It would say, "Yes avid fan, this is what battles studies and the rest of the album will be more about". True to the sense of having a heartbreak album. Chorus has a nice sad touch to it, left me singing right after the first one. Its easy to like. Simple but deep.
Honestly going to track 3, I was still convinced that this isn't going to be a good JM album based on my predictions. And what better to justify my claim was Half of my Heart with Taylor Swift. that pop alternative catchy tune that would expectantly have usual love song DNA to it. The Jonas Brothers would be happy and would think they are doing it right.
And what more by adding fuel to the fire with 'Who Says'. This song, i had no idea why this is in the heartbreak album or why even John wrote this. Have they been friends with Kanye too long or have gone too close. I have nothing more to say to it I'm sorry. It's not even worth it to think about it. What is that your saying? there is a video? I think I have intentionally and permanently deleted it in my human memory.
Perfectly Lonely showed a sign of good to this material. It had this upbeat basic rhythm with that tingy tele sound chopped in slabs and coupled with overall pop blues side licks. It has that powerful bridge that shows a variety of that husky pop prince voice that John has. It opens up going to the solo that is short and worthy. You know its a John Mayer solo because it sings to you like you understand what it is saying or sounding. His Fender axes are like his duet singers of some sort.
After the lonely fade, these Japanese inspired bamboo sounds come in. Assassin. From an early observatory standpoint, its that red fender 4 string bass being gamed on by Mr. Palladino. It is in this song, not even on the Try! album, that i had an awe for this guys talent. Please listen to it and concentrate on Pino, you'd want to hear it again. But aside from that, this is the first song in the album or rather is the only song that can be awarded with the Continuum Degree of Great Songs from John Mayer University. I know that song award title was full of corny WTH stuff but mind you this song isn't. It also tells the story of how an self proclaimed heartbreaker has found her match and had reacted with everything to late. Broken Mr. Heartbreaker.
From the title itself, its impossible you would think John would ever make an original song on a very popular title. Its the 'Bold As Love' cover song for battle studies. Crossroads has been reinvented, Mayerized (what he usually does on his covers) and as usual goes away with it. This 1930's song just got a flavor of the 2000's. Robert Johnson would be happy, I'm sure he is. Probably John has made a point that although he is dubbed as the "Slowhand Jr." which is already a huge compliment, is that he has something truly his own, to rediscover and reinvent like the legendary Clapton himself and other notable greats.
From this moment on, confidence is back. Everything is now calmer. Listening to War of my Life makes me damn sad and yet hopeful. I love the low volume guitar plucks on this one and the simplicity of drum beats as if playing with the audience is sleeping and dreaming on their own struggles and pains. Its like a pop psychiatric audio tape that your therapist would recommend to you, its just that your therapist is the Pop prince, new blues god John Mayer. The studies of heartbreak has now almost culminated. Dry that tear and let's move on.
In Edge of Desire, that sad aura still resides. But the dim mood is fought back by that complex guitar plucking rhythm with clear broken arpeggios ringing from pickups. Beautiful. This song crystallizes the clarity of feelings for someone that you'd imagine singing this song while just even saying out in the open. Love is crazy beautiful, and so is the belief of yearning for it and the man made songs to come with it. This song is one of em, this is how love should be depicted in songs. You can't even describe the desire but you can surely sing it. I wont forget to mention the amazingly short and perfect guitar solo on this one. You also have to get a copy of the acoustic version of this, recorded by John in his apartment as appreciation to all of us.
I can't quite remember the rest of this song sounds like except for the title line in the chorus. I was not able to pay attention too much as I was running back and forth, replaying the earlier great tracks. It has that similar guitar pattern with Edge of Desire, but the message on Do You Know Me is dreamy. Bloomed picture of vivid colors of that girl in your head, that you seem to have shared precious moments but simply can't utter or recall who she was. Seems like a pitch from a movie set in central park new york. It lasts only 2 mins but the mystery of that person grabs you at the right exact moment.
Last track is Friends, Lovers or Nothing. Song title probably states it all. This is probably the new undying theme song for all best friend relationships on earth. Or for those confused and baffled. It is accompanied with keyboards and John riffs out slow licks to spice up the confused. John has everything right on this one, many will connect, many will realize, because of this song, you will then have to take notice. Even if non-Mayer fans would love this when they come across it. It's real, straight to the point, no mambo-jumbo. Say it love, "just give it up.....". The Coda on this song damn nearly killed me. Maybe it did. I wanted to shout out in the highest voice and sing it....and close it with a lick only John can make. Thank you John.
To conclude, i should lay it out simply. Its mediocre. Its not great. Some tracks made me think John was high on e and and that he was hanging out with the Jonas Brothers or being brainwashed by Kanye while wearing that striped shades of his. But it brings me to a point that some tracks are damn neat. It absolutely killed me on those. I'd then say this is the worst John Mayer ever done on all four. He was absolutely right not compare it with Continuum....he has confessed it already early on. But why is it that I keep on listening and why you should keep it playing if its the worst? Because it is way way better that what else is out there. And it being un-great makes it an underdog that redefines a character you yourself will love and yearn for it years to come. Weird but true.
End of class.
