John Mayer, "Battle Studies" 11/19/2009
By Brendan Harte Gilsenan
✭✭ ½
Over the past three years, John Mayer has disbanded, reunited after 10 years, and released an album of new material that he hopes will recapture the attention of the world, but instead is left with a subpar album of meh. Sure, it’s only actually been three years since his last release, Mayer has never left the game, and the album will undoubtedly sell millions. But I can’t help from comparing this new collection of songs to all of those pitiful attempted comeback albums from older, reunited bands that never seem to be able to recapture the magic of their previous releases. And I can’t help this because that is what Battle Studies sounds like.
Aside from a few highlights, nothing on Battle Studies really stands out. It feels like a blah comeback album that would leave Mayer playing in the background of coffee houses. And trust me, I was really excited for this album. After letting the guitar god within peek out from around the corner on 2006’s Continuum, Mayer was bound to follow up with an album proving to the world once and for all that he is much more than just a pop artist. Or so I thought.
Even after hearing the lead single, “Who Says”, I was stoked for the release of Battle Studies. “Who Says” had Mayer continuing with the mature songwriting that tracks off of his preview work, such as “Waiting on the World to Change”, showed he was truly capable of. Unfortunately, on Battle Studies Mayer shies away from the chance to kick down the door of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame (although he will most likely have it gently opened to him one day – but that’s a whole other review unto itself).
The album leads off with “Heartbreak Warfare”. Sounding like a U2 rip-off, the track has a forced analogy threaded throughout its lyrics. Two songs later the Taylor Swift featured “Half of My Heart”, while burying Swift’s vocals deep in the mix (except for two short lines of vocal exchange), continues the streak of laid back, lounge songs. Thankfully the album takes a turn after this with both “Who Says”, and “Perfectly Lonely”, two of Studies' best offerings.
Mayer’s cover of the Robert Johnson "Crossroads", originally made famous by Cream, had me anticipating the man would rock out on at least be one track. Unfortunately the cover goes nowhere with its computerized sounding riff, and unexcited vocals. The solo, while technically proficient, lacks emotion and personality as well.
The analogies continue on two more tracks, “Assassin” and “War of My Life”, which I suppose is appropriate as they, in addition to “Heartbreak Warfare", go along with the album’s name. But lyrically, these tunes sound forced and far from the organic nature of his previous works.
Thankfully the record wraps up on a high note with “Friends, Lovers or Nothing”. Possibly the best offering of the bunch, the song leaves hope for a return to the mature, bluesy songwriting that Mayer showcased on both Continuum and his John Mayer Trio effort Try!.
Ultimately, too many of the tracks sound like just another John Mayer song. It appears as if he is writing songs simply to write songs; to build upon ‘brand Mayer’. He has crafted himself a formula for success that leaves these pieces lacking true individuality.
When it comes down to it, this album is good, and I do to some extent enjoy listening to it. But unfortunately it is the type of good that would have me spinning it as the background music to my family’s Thanksgiving dinner. It just does not demand the detailed listening that Mayer should be producing at this stage in his career. While Continuum made me proud to be a John Mayer fan, Battle Studies has me less convinced. I know he has it in him. I’m just left asking: John, when will you unleash the beast?
1. Heartbreak Warfare
2. All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye
3. Half of My Heart (with Taylor Swift)
4. Who Says
5. Perfectly Lonely
6. Assassin
7. Crossroads
8. War of My Life
9. Edge of Desire
10. Do You Know Me
11. Friends, Lovers or Nothing
✭✭ ½
Over the past three years, John Mayer has disbanded, reunited after 10 years, and released an album of new material that he hopes will recapture the attention of the world, but instead is left with a subpar album of meh. Sure, it’s only actually been three years since his last release, Mayer has never left the game, and the album will undoubtedly sell millions. But I can’t help from comparing this new collection of songs to all of those pitiful attempted comeback albums from older, reunited bands that never seem to be able to recapture the magic of their previous releases. And I can’t help this because that is what Battle Studies sounds like.
Aside from a few highlights, nothing on Battle Studies really stands out. It feels like a blah comeback album that would leave Mayer playing in the background of coffee houses. And trust me, I was really excited for this album. After letting the guitar god within peek out from around the corner on 2006’s Continuum, Mayer was bound to follow up with an album proving to the world once and for all that he is much more than just a pop artist. Or so I thought.
Even after hearing the lead single, “Who Says”, I was stoked for the release of Battle Studies. “Who Says” had Mayer continuing with the mature songwriting that tracks off of his preview work, such as “Waiting on the World to Change”, showed he was truly capable of. Unfortunately, on Battle Studies Mayer shies away from the chance to kick down the door of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame (although he will most likely have it gently opened to him one day – but that’s a whole other review unto itself).
The album leads off with “Heartbreak Warfare”. Sounding like a U2 rip-off, the track has a forced analogy threaded throughout its lyrics. Two songs later the Taylor Swift featured “Half of My Heart”, while burying Swift’s vocals deep in the mix (except for two short lines of vocal exchange), continues the streak of laid back, lounge songs. Thankfully the album takes a turn after this with both “Who Says”, and “Perfectly Lonely”, two of Studies' best offerings.
Mayer’s cover of the Robert Johnson "Crossroads", originally made famous by Cream, had me anticipating the man would rock out on at least be one track. Unfortunately the cover goes nowhere with its computerized sounding riff, and unexcited vocals. The solo, while technically proficient, lacks emotion and personality as well.
The analogies continue on two more tracks, “Assassin” and “War of My Life”, which I suppose is appropriate as they, in addition to “Heartbreak Warfare", go along with the album’s name. But lyrically, these tunes sound forced and far from the organic nature of his previous works.
Thankfully the record wraps up on a high note with “Friends, Lovers or Nothing”. Possibly the best offering of the bunch, the song leaves hope for a return to the mature, bluesy songwriting that Mayer showcased on both Continuum and his John Mayer Trio effort Try!.
Ultimately, too many of the tracks sound like just another John Mayer song. It appears as if he is writing songs simply to write songs; to build upon ‘brand Mayer’. He has crafted himself a formula for success that leaves these pieces lacking true individuality.
When it comes down to it, this album is good, and I do to some extent enjoy listening to it. But unfortunately it is the type of good that would have me spinning it as the background music to my family’s Thanksgiving dinner. It just does not demand the detailed listening that Mayer should be producing at this stage in his career. While Continuum made me proud to be a John Mayer fan, Battle Studies has me less convinced. I know he has it in him. I’m just left asking: John, when will you unleash the beast?
1. Heartbreak Warfare
2. All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye
3. Half of My Heart (with Taylor Swift)
4. Who Says
5. Perfectly Lonely
6. Assassin
7. Crossroads
8. War of My Life
9. Edge of Desire
10. Do You Know Me
11. Friends, Lovers or Nothing
