This is the eighth in a 13 post long series about my favorite artists and their best music. To check out my previous entry on this series, click here.
Genius. Nothing more. Nothing less. While he doesn't have an entire album that I'd listen to straight through to the end, he has enough great music that I've got multiple playlists all focused on his guitar skillz. Make that a hard "z".
Favorite Artists of All Time Series
John Mayer
Ranking: #6
Genre: Pop - Rock - Blues - Folk - Soul
Best Song: Belief
Now we get to the artists that I really love. I know most of their music and to me they are the "elite." I'll give you a "Max 12" to their best songs as well. Numbers six and five are kinda joined together in their own tier, while four through one are grouped as the best of the best. Anyhow, moving on.
Here lies another rare artist whom I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to since I was a child. Actually, Mr. Mayer held the honor of his album Room For Squares used as one of the main music sources for my 25+ stuffed animals to sing to during their daily American Idol competition. I had a lot of time on my hands as you can see. "Neon", "My Stupid Mouth", and "No Such Thing" were favorites of mine from the album. Later on I looked up Mayer's live concert-movie Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles on Youtube. I fell in love with his musicality immediately. He didn't slow down nor go down in quality when playing live but instead upped the ante, showing off with songs like "Neon" (an acoustic version) and "Vultures."
I've learned to truly appreciate a lot of Mayer's lyrics, whether compelling love songs that hit the heart, political pieces that make us question the world, or those that speak about learning to enjoy life as it passes us by, I think he's bonafide genius. Overall, his albums haven't been stellar (and his newer stuff has left a lot to be desired), but enough songs from all those albums together make for one heck of a playlist. The Grammy winning Continuum (Best Pop Vocal Album) is most certainly his best even to this day. He made the switch on that record to a more bluesy sound that took everything to another level.
Mayer is real and doesn't add over the top sounds or fantastical looks (how about that epic live concert he had, eh?) He's a true singer-songwriter, helping to set the bar high, and winning seven Grammys in the process. Not bad Johnny boy. Not bad at all.
Best Songs:
*Honorable Mentions:
Say - from The Bucket List (2007 film)
I'm Gonna Find Another You - from Continuum
12. My Stupid Mouth - from Room For Squares
My Stupid Mouth resonates with me for the fact that it's very... well... ME. As both an extrovert and a guy, talking too much and saying the wrong thing at the wrong time has happened all too often. Speaks right to my heart. Not only is Mayer dead accurate through the song overall, but he hits the spot when stating that his talking too much stems from one desire alone: he just wants to be liked. Just wants to be funny. I think most people are the same in that regard. With all our insecurities, we try too hard, making huge mistakes in the long run. Of course had the melodies and music sucked, the song wouldn't be on the list. But John doesn't sacrifice good music for the lyrics, instead doing both, proving why he's one of the best.
11. Wait Until Tomorrow (cover from The Jimi Hendrix Experience) - from Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles
It's fun and perfect for jamming to. Nothing more to say other than "Wait Until Tomorrow", which is a cover of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Mayer's live show from Los Angeles, is the best I've ever seen of any musician. Go buy the DVD. It's really the best around.
10. Dreaming With A Broken Heart - from Continuum
A song that deals with the concept of the death of the special someone, it gives me chills just with the opening piano riff alone. When you're dreaming with a broken heart, the waking up is the hardest part. The cry of a man who tries to cope with the loss of a loved one is powerful and Mayer conveys that pain flawlessly.
9. Gravity - from Continuum
I think most all of us know this Mayer classic. Can't make a best of list without naming it.
8. No Such Thing - from Room for Squares
"No Such Thing" is the perfect opener for Mayer's Room for Squares album, setting the tone for the rest of the record while holding a rebellious yet thoughtful sense lyrically to the piece. You know you feel just as invincible as Mayer when he states how he is so. The fun and confident sound is hard to stray from. Running down the halls of my old high school screaming because I can? Sounds fun. Anyone else in?
7. Free Fallin' (cover from Tom Petty) - from Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles
I couldn't think as to why I like this take on the Tom Petty song so much. Yet it's a go to in the fall when I'm on a drive going past nature. Must be the presence Mayer brought to all his live performing which, as I've said, is stellar. Just something about it takes me to another place, which after all is said and done, isn't that why we make and listen to music? Takes us somewhere else?
6. Neon - from Room for Squares and Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles
The original "Neon" is good. But number six placing ABOVE "Free Fallin'" is the live version, in which Mayer just goes berserk on the guitar, showing of his mad playing skillz to begin the concert. Dang bro. I'd normally say no one likes a show off, but after one song, Mayer had taken the breath away from all those in the audience. Add to the fact that his voicing is perfect for each lyric as he cries out about a girl who has many flaws, but he loves her anyways. Yet how long will it be before her destructive ways kill her.
5. Vultures - from Continuum and Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles
A song about doing whatever is necessary to achieve one's goals. Life will test him, as are the "vultures" (media, paparazzi, critics etc.) who are after him day in and day out.
Once again a song that's good was made fantastically awesome through Mayer's live adaption of the piece. He added a swagger and grooviness not present in the original. It's the same guitar riff, yet you know there's more of coolness in Mayer's singing of the song. The old "Vultures", Mayer sounds like a wishful thinker, trying and trying to survive. Here in the live version, he knows he's the best, and try as they might to stop him, he won't be, to which he follows up with a show stopping guitar solo.
4. Daughters - from Heavier Things and Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles
This won the Grammy for Song of the Year. Yup. Pretty big win I'd say. Mayer didn't think the song would bode well with audiences nor did he think it was a good single as he had no plans to make more music like "Daughters" (making it a unique stand out in his collection of songs). But the producers convinced Mayer to release it. It's now one of his best tracks. Singing about the relationship of a daughter and father, Mayer urges all men to take good care of their girls, as they hold much weight in their hearts. Another song from the heart, Mayer perfected "Daughters" on his live duet performance with Robbie McIntosh in Los Angeles.
3. Stop This Train - from Continuum and Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles
As life goes on, you realize things begin to speed up. The stresses of life, the responsibilities, the hurt and loss one goes through. In this song, Mayer sings about all the changes he's witnessing, begging someone to stop the train that is life. "You cry, when you're driving away in the dark". Mayer relents, admitting we will never stop this train. This piece can emotionally hit any and all people. How many times I wish I could just go back to the comforts of my home as a child with no worries or pain.
2. Waiting On The World To Change - from Continuum
This was at one point the number one track on my list. But last second it got pushed back a spot. Heck, this is the "front man" song of the hit album Continuum, winning the Grammy for Best Male Pop Performance. Mayer is urging us to take the risks and do something about the issues within our country. We get scared and wait for someone else to do something. We've got to get up and move if things are going to get better. A fun upbeat track that's good for the highway, "Waiting on the World" was the perfect opener, albeit there's one track better from Continuum...
1. Belief - from Continuum
Poignant. Striking. Unforgettable. Convicting. Distressing.
Mayer makes some strong and powerful statements that leave you haunted, with an incredibly tight performance by Mayer and Co. to boot, and the na na na's acting as the cherry on top, Belief is my jam and a got to whenever I want something fulfilling.
"What puts a hundred thousand children in the sand. Belief can. What puts a folded flag inside his mother's hand. Belief can."
Agree? Disagree? Bit a both? Let me know your thoughts and check out other content on my site!