IWC Big Pilot in Bradley Cooper

Hangover wolfpack leader Bradley Cooper at a premier of Silver Lining Playbook last January wore two iconic and classic pieces that showcased the personality of a successful man yet maintaining casual logical sense.

Cooper was sporting the "Iron Ranger" Red Wing boot from its heritage collection.

And an IWC Big Pilot as zoomed in below.  

The IWC BP is actually simply the most iconic and timeless design at its size at 46mm hence the name "Big Pilot".  Pilot watches were naturally big during their stint in the war in the 40s, but IWC is the only brand who has reincarnated the observers watch with a minimalist and classy tone, not too loud and not too vintage looking.  A match at every generation.

And the people who wear the Big Pilot share that same characteristics the watch emits.

Jude law sported one in the move "Blueberry Nights"

John Mayer, a known huge watch collector like Clapton, also sports an IWC Big Pilot during the early days as seen on his "Any Given Thursday" concert and on this humurous youtube video with Kanye way back in 2006.

And some more pics of Bradley Cooper looking dapper with a suit and the IWC BP.

John Mayer 2013 Google+ Hangout with Rolex

Just two days ago, bluesman and new guitar god John Mayer held his first live online concert after his vocal problems reappearred after his latest album Born and Raised was released.  I'm a big Mayer fan and though I should talk more about his comeback, this time its about the watch he was wearing.  We all know John is a huge watch fan and a serious watch collector (even one fan asked him during the hangout what he'd trade his whole watch collection for, money not considered) and every sighting of John is worth a look, aside from the great songs he can offer. He is also a contributor at Hodinkee.

For the Google+ hangout last March 22, he was wearing a gold vintage Paul Newman Rolex Daytona.

See the whole thing below.  Enjoy!

Music Review: Born and Raised by John Mayer

 Household name John Mayer has been in the news lately about his comeback after a two year silence after the widely talked about Rolling Playboy interviews. It seems the public eye had more interest in his up and down private gone kiss and tell life than the reason why he ever was a celebrity in the first place. But here at SOT, we vow to focus on what should matter to you and leave the gossip to Perez and dumb blonde bombshells.

John has come a long way. From his breakthrough success as a pop prince to becoming Slowhand Jr. and settling down as a Battle Star right up to his hibernation to be reborn as a Western Cowboy. John announced "Born and Raised" as his next album mid last year and was continually giving fans scenic glimpse of what the album will be intil its official release today.





"Shadow Days" was the first single that was released a couple weeks back then followed with its own music video that would set the mood for the whole album. The song starts of with a drum roll as John starts his trip to the west in search for something beneath the cony mountains and long stretch of fields playing his new custom Martin atop his defender. The words chosen are like excerpts from cliches that 90% of them can be found on popular songs sprawling around. Combined with a major un-complex tune, I could easily imagine that this could be a song written by studio songwriters for American Idol winners. The great thing though is that the guitar work is still comprehensively talented amidst the major notes as basis. A true testament that John up to this moment is still more of a guitar player than a singer or songwriter.



First track off the bat is "Queen of California".  It starts with an acoustic strum that's bright as sunny skies and beaches of California.  The tune suggests of a hopeful dream becoming a reality and freedom from the past as the beats starts digging in to your bones. The guitar blends and solo is a perfect compliment, a tone similar to what was introduced to us in Shadow Days, that has a country slide laid back character quite different from previous JM strat settings.

"Age of Worry", even though in some ways it has no relation whatsoever, but the track reminds me of the Christmas season.  The echo of the percussion and winter hums give me a picture of carolers in the frigid streets singing to their hearts desire in a cold silent night.  But this is about giving up worrying, truly we should not care.  John composed this song straight out, its not guitar driven, and it feels the class and power of an orchestra.  Though John is not known as a powerful singer, but he
sang this perfectly considering his condition and capacity to strut those vocal chords.  Its his song anyway.  Something new and surprising.  So far liking it.

Olivia Oliva Oliva....  Many for sure wants to know who she is.  And what hes done to the Connecticut native, as he has composed a somewhat intriguing and mysterious song that we again would not want to over analyze further.  All we care is the emotion in it and rhythmic electric guitar strums all throughout the song.  A breather for the left lung from the Martin strums.  And a solo widely reminds us of the old bluesman in John without compromising the whole character of the album.

Ahh yes the flagship track. What is an album like this without a harmonica eh?  Many said he's mirroring Dylan and makes a Dylanish album.  Dylan is different, though blows that harmonica and hungs a guitar around his neck, but John delivers this album with his own results.  And we've heard of what John has been up to even though he is away from the limelight for a while, and we can confidently say that the simple lyrical genius of this song is for everyone, to relate, to tell, to share, and say a story that even the most successful music artists in our generation has his own gaps.  I personally love the words in this, its yes hard to take and hard to fake but luckily for John has come to being reborn and re-raised shall I say.  To most of us, we may still be on the way and this track is for us.  When I first listened to this track, I instantly remembered is Adele's "Someone like you".  The recognizable tune has some similarities on some parts of this track and seemingly coincidental that Adele also mentions something about being born and raised on her song. But wait, John reprises this on the last track.

"If I Get Around to Living" is undoubtedly my favorite track, just ask my old school record player.  At first I said, well next track please... but as it moved on to a few minutes on the track where a familiar guitar tune comes up, a gave it the whole nine yards.  And yes got to replay and replay it again and again and again again.  Yes its CSN inspired or majorly influenced, but come on... it may not be that original but its excellently produced.  Its got the typical ingredients of a CSN song, continuous parallel sounds of progressive smooth old school folk and pop electric and acoustic guitar, organic country keys, and a seemingly endless rhythm that housed like 3 songs or so that you wish would never end and will just play forever and ever.  We've never seen John play like this, and its total prodigy.  What a tribute to the classics through CSN.  His transition from the innocent looking acoustic artist to a mature long haired hat wearing Montana resident is as smooth and beautifully unpredictable as this song goes on.  Can we possibly have them collaborate in a stage performance soon?  Get well soon John.  Aced it on this track.

The other remaining tracks are notably good too.  They fill-up what needs to be done, you know what I'm saying.  It completes everything without competing.  Well less competition is not favorable sometimes but we can live through em.  The track "A Face to Call Home" has an inspiring ending giving us a contemporary message that the pop prince has come home sweet home after being long gone.

One of the biggest hurdles with this album is that their ain't going to be tours and live performances to promote this album. because of John's current condition, but I'm confident with this one that it'll live on through.  Why?  Because a well made record will succeed and will see through it to everyone's airwaves by itself.  So am I saying that John has rebounded from the not so wonderful heartbreak album?  Well honestly after the Continuum era, I've accepted the fact of the human life cycle and  thank the Lord almighty daily that we have an artist like John that roams around us everyday.  Born and Raised, through the words of John is the most honest album hes ever made.  Well, it kinda is.  Honest that its an acceptance of saying its ok, its ok to be like this or like that, to come to this or that.  We can't always justify everything, it just has to be that way.  No grammys, no blues licks, no pop sensation, no tour, just the pleasure of writing songs and sharing them.  Know what matters the most.








   

Battle Studies by John Mayer

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.

Where the Light Is by John Mayer

On top of the hills of LA, John starts of with a Gibson on his lap, the trusted two rock tubes on his side, a jacket on and starts to magically play as what he usually and masterfully does. It is simply by this that tells you, your heading for a big one. “Where the Light Is”. Mayer has been around for quite sometime. Jumpstarted his career with Room for Squares way back in 2001 then two years later gave us Heavier Things, offered us his hip blues tunes with Try! and his latest studio offering which definitely has stamped him as one of the music greats with Continuum. Sure there were singles, and LPs and live albums that came in between and after in some of the line up, but this latest offering puts this up as one of the Must See and Hear.

This live album features John in his three musical personalities. Well for us, us listeners, I’d like to say it as our three different moods. You’d surely wonder or I would generally wonder how can you come up with such a full packed concert with three different kinds of sort of genres, feel, and emotions in one night. It like what I’ve said, you can’t possibly have three moods within 3 hrs in an evening. It resembles a mentally crazy you. But worth a try to be crazy for the musical need right?

Acoustic Set. Spotlights pointing to John, starts a furiously jaw-dropping strum on his Martin which later on plucks the familiar tune of Neon… He has that sense of pureness when he plays acoustic. The nice crisp sound of those ernie ball strings that resonate to the spruce body coupled with that husky voice that screams and hums out poetic and metamorphic lyrics that resemble the scene of you waking up at the middle of the night with someone in your dreams. That calm and innocent feel that’s irreplaceable and needed in some moments of a week. Mood verb: Cry

Trio. Clothed in decent tailored suits, John, Steve and Pino put up one show for the ages as expected from this powerhouse band. With his own Double Trouble, blues licks from the Try! album are once again put into fire. Remakes from Jimi and Ray bring to life that reminds us all where all came from and thank God someone is still on stage and continuing the trend. Blues, one of the basic roots of most genres is purely one influence John has that has made him what he is today. It’s an imperative ingredient that John, you and me should have flowing in our daily blood veins to keep us sane and high at the same time. Blues, the ambassador of sad tunes and notes can be a party animal too. Just look at JM3, I mean who do you think theses guys are? Everyone on three… “Loose and Colorful!” Mood verb: Laugh.

Full Band. Now with his army of friends who got his back, continuumayer is in the house! This is the complete package, where the level does not get any better. Ah I take that back, it does got better during the encore when Steve and Pino join them. Pretty damn dream line-up. Well since touring with the whole US and Europe continent, this set still hasn’t lost the continuum flavor that makes them distinct from every assuming other. Only this band can close a full packed concert and bring conclusion to John’s music that will figure on your head till the next week’s morning on what musical encounter will he next divulge and create into. Sure can’t wait. Mood verb: Smile

Grabbed from a lyric of one pulling song, opened it up in a hill in LA, this will introduce you, redefine you, and wonder you to John’s music from anything you’ve missed and will be missing. From pop prince to blues balladeer, almost a decade of guitar strummed songs, together we cry, laugh and smile once again as we get the dog eyes view to the top of the surreal stage of our hunger for musical taste, we know where to find it… we just look at where the lights is….spotlight’s on John Mayer everyone.