John Mayer - Battle Studies
Rating
RIYL
Eric ClaptonBruce Springsteen
Release Date
11/17/2009
Label
ColumbiaTracklist
1. Heartbreak Warfare2. All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye
3. Half of My Heart
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
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John Mayer is a jack of all trades. He gained notoriety through throngs of female fans with his first two studio albums, respect from blues and rock fans with the John Mayer Trio, and self-respect from himself with Continuum. So what does he aim to gain from Battle Studies? Well, a new legion of fans for sure, but that comes with every new album. Battle Studies seems to be Mayer's apology album. The majority of songs on this album are about each and every kind of relationship he's been in over the years, and he seems to try to redeem himself through the music, which comes across as his most honest effort yet.
Mayer sets up the album with the first track, “Heartbreak Warfare”. The song, which features sublime production by Mayer and drummer Steve Jordan, is something that we haven't heard from any of his previous output. The song is in constant motion, but the atmosphere makes it feel slow and weighty. “All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye” is heavy with emotion, and the vocal melodies laid on top of the track are classic Mayer. The song's lack of his traditional guitar prowess is notable, but also somewhat of a norm for this album. The focus here is clearly on songwriting and not solo-writing. “Half of My Heart,” the third track, is a fantastic song that would possibly sound at home on the country charts, especially with Taylor Swift appearing, and you've surely heard the single “Who Says” by now.
While it isn't an overstatement to call every song on this album good, there are a couple that are truly some of John's best. “Assassin” is his allegory to preying on unsuspecting lovers from both sides of the field. The song embarks on new frontiers both sonically and lyrically, proving to be the album's best feature. Following a few songs afterward, “Edge of Desire” is as melancholy a song as they get. The guitar work throughout the song rivals anything from Continuum in terms of emotion, and Mayer's voice reaches a new plateau, as well.
Of all of the eleven songs on this album, the one that would have to stand out as a dud is John's first recorded “Crossroads” cover. While his severely gated, yet shapeless, guitar tone may be reminiscent of very early Cream, it just doesn't come across very well. Other than that, the Mayer and Jordan production team come through with flying colors. The often over-looked (and rarely heard) Pino Palladino also provides bass duties with an exceptional talent that has been honed through years of playing with artists such as Common, Paul Simon, and filling John Entwistle's position in The Who. In addition to his production assistance, Steve Jordan's long list of credentials comes through in full force to validate his performance on drums.
While Battle Studies' low-key, melancholic tone is unique, it isn't going to be a style that Mayer sticks with for long. He normally isn't an artist to keep a vision going for more than one album, but that's one thing that doesn't hold him back from producing single after single. However, while the album is full of new directions and is interesting enough to hold a listener's attention for a complete listen, it feels somewhat empty. Instead of each song being a potential radio hit, the songs on this album don't have the definitive moments that make you go, “Woah, this is great!” Instead, they're more like, “Hey, not bad.” Battle Studies is a great album, but things aren't as memorable as in the past. Hopefully Mayer's next album combines the sincerity of Battle Studies with the more memorable atmosphere of Continuum. As for now, it will just have to do.
--Cody Rogers
Comments
Somewhere in New York
Everything I've heard from this album I have not enjoyed. It is self-indulgent and it is very bland. Definitely his worst album to date.
"If someone gives you a kazoo and toots around the house to MTV, they're not gonna fuck you." - David Cross
Minnesota
This album is not allowed a rating greater than 1/5 simply based on the cover alone.
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Somewhere in New York
I really just want to like fly through the air and snip off that flip he has going on. Then slap him across the face and tell him to get back to make his guitar sing beautiful blues notes.
"If someone gives you a kazoo and toots around the house to MTV, they're not gonna fuck you." - David Cross
Lehigh Valley, PA
I'm a huge John Mayer fan. This album was just simply dissappointing.
Wilmington DE
A good amount of the songs on this album kinda bore me but I do enjoy a good chunk of the songs too. I do think this is better then his first two albums but nowhere as good as continuum which was a 4/5 album to me and this is more of a 2.5-3. "Assassin" is also one of my favorits off this album.
Listening to:
Tides of Man
Oceansize
The Contortionist
We are the City
Periphery
Illinois
i'm a fan of john mayer's old stuff, but the cover alone made me not want to check out this album. if there's a good track, i'm sure i'll see a video for it, but i don't really plan on checking this out
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Talk about tailoring an album cover for a demographic. Sheesh.
Beer Blog
Infinitely Inwards
My sister didn't even know who the person on the cover was until I told her after she had already bought it. I love it.....And before you say anything, no she didn't bother to read the cover of the album. She picked it up, put it in the cart and then bought it without hesitation.
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Fishers, Indiana
I unabashedly love this album.
I feel like after one listen I had the same opinion as everyone here, but I ended up getting past that after another listen or two.
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