I'm only slightly obsessed.
A mostly Mayer-filled bedroom door. Just the way I liked it.
I know I'm just a little late (like a few months or so) to post a review of John Mayer's Battle Studies, but I've been busy! Now, as you can see in these pictures...I might like Mayer, a little bit. So, this post is going to be slightly (just a a tad) biased. I know he's been in the news recently and I don't agree with everything he's been saying, but in the end, he's a kick ass musician-end of.
Yes, yes I had a car banner which said, "honk if you <3 John Mayer." And I'm damn proud.
From Room For Squares to Battle Studies, John Mayer fans travelled with John through various stages of his musical career. Battle Studies, released this November, sees Mayer heading back, in my opinion, where he started: just a regular guy singing his songs. John may have changed and progressed as an artist along the way but this album gives his fans exactly what they want; the John they fell in love with.
Ten years since he started with his independent Inside Wants Out album and Room For Squares (his first studio album), Mayer released Battle Studies; an 11 song album which shows us an older, more mature artist. Yet the artist we see now reveals emotions and song writing which match the John we saw in those earlier albums. The themes of Battle Studies are those of heartache, love and the change and lessons learned from life. Battle Studies lyrics mimic those of Room For Squares. Songs like “War of My Life” (Battle Studies) resemble “Why Georgia” (Room For Squares), with their talk of life as it is now and how John views living it. Just as “Why Georgia” questions a “verdictless life,” “War of My Life” struggles with the battle of life and carrying on in it despite its chaos. “All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye”(Battle Studies) and “Back to You” (Room For Squares) also parallel each other, reflecting on the miscommunications and hurt caused by love but the desire to return to love over and over.
“Half Of My Heart” (featuring Taylor Swift on vocals) is a light and pop styled song like the John of old both in its lyrics and form (presence of drums, bass and acoustic guitar). Also included in Battle Studies is John’s version of Robert Johnson’s bluesy “Crossroads.” With the use of different forms of music like blues styles in his albums, John demonstrates how he adds his own slant to that style of music. It also gives the audience a taste of styles which may influence John’s work.
Many Mayer fans may have noted the changes in band members over the years; John now has Pino Palladino on bass and Steve Jordan on drums and percussion. Despite the changes in musicians, the basic instruments and sound have remained close to John’s beginnings. The styling of this album is more enhanced and grown up than Room For Squares but some change is to be expected as an artist moves through his/her career. Any style changes in the work do not mean that Battle Studies assumes a grandiose position or one which overpowers where John began-listeners will rejoice at the simple yet introspective Mayer they know and love. His style of writing and creating music has always offered his fans the feeling that he is learning and struggling in life in the same way his listeners’ do, which I believe is what created Mayer’s success.
What’s next for Mayer post Battle Studies?
According to what has been released already, I think fans can only expect more good things from Mayer. As he gets older, his lyrics and style will continue to reflect what he feels about life, love and his relationships-we just have to sit back and enjoy the journey with him.
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