The thing about John Mayer’s music is that he reminds everyone of utopianism, with his smooth and melodic plea for a place of peace. He reminds us that music can still be happy and peaceful, ever since he emerged in 2002 with Grammy Award-winning single “Your Body is a Wonderland”.
Mayer is most known for his skills on the guitar, more than any of his other abilities as a rock superstar. Anyone can appreciate his acoustic music, from bars to TV shows to weddings; well, let’s just say everywhere (even the Obama campaign used Mayer’s “Waiting for the World to Change” as his entrance music for his many speeches during the presidential election).
Well now John Mayer’s is back with his new album Battle Studies, but is it up to the cultural and political standards that’s been established by lovers of John Mayer?
His intro was neat because he started the same way an orchestra usually begins a concert, which symbolizes his show (this album) is about to begin. Then he goes into his music with an approach that if you play the album in the background of studying you may not notice much. But if you listen to this album as deeply as Mayer's music should be heard, then you'll peep something is not right.
Battlefield Studies is something people would enjoy at a bar, with its acoustics and Mayer’s smooth voice. However, with little to no songs of anti-war/pro-peace filling the air of town drunkards could harm (or, by a small chance, help) the atmosphere.
Actually his content doesn’t have much cultural significance to it compared to his past works, which is totally unexpected of Mayer. It is an album that drowns out his lyrics with his music. Instead, his approach to this album is one of loneliness and being heartbroken, that isn’t peaceful at all. So much for the fun times at the bar!
As usual, Mayer is phenomenal with the guitar in Battle Studies. He makes his dark and lonely side very easy to listen to, just as he’s done with all of his other music, except you can’t help but notice the songs with metaphors like death. However, he continues to mash his edgy guitar-playing skills with blues and pop with a touch of acoustic.
Best Song: “Assassin” only because it’s something different and counter to his theme. Plus he did a great job with the lyrics as well as the delivery.
Worst Song: “Crossroads” was a song originally done by Robert Johnson, a man who innovated music (period). I wasn’t looking for a new Robert Johnson, but I got residents who could play that solo better than Mayer did.
Star’s Grade: C
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