Battle Studies

Performer: John Mayer (Adult Alternative)
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: It's no secret that John Mayer is a 21st Century Fox, wining and dining women all through tabloid headlines, so it's about time he delivered an album that traded upon his loverman persona -- and Battle Studies is that record in spades. Retaining more than a modicum of the slick, soul-blues undertones of Continuum, Mayer fashions a modern groove album, a record that maintains a smooth seductive vibe so thoroughly it spills into a one-man band cover of "Crossroads." Mayer remains somewhat of a disciple of Slowhand, but he shows an unusual interest in the big AOR stylings of Journeyman, along with Stevie Ray Vaughan's In Step, creating a coolly clean blend of synths and Strats, one that's as much about texture as it is about song.something perfectly appropriate for a make-out album like this. Sometimes, Mayer dips too heavily toward the texture, but he can't resist a good, tight melody and builds the bulk of Battle Studies upon them: the elegant "Half of My Heart," the softly soulful "Perfectly Lonely." Here, Mayer is effortlessly seductive and somewhat irresistible, and it's easy to see why the ladies love cool John. It's no secret that John Mayer is a 21st Century Fox, wining and dining women all through tabloid headlines, so it's about time he delivered an album that traded upon his loverman persona -- and Battle Studies is that record in spades. Retaining more than a modicum of the slick, soul-blues undertones of Continuum, Mayer fashions a modern groove album, a record that maintains a smooth, seductive vibe so thoroughly it spills into a one-man band cover of "Crossroads." Mayer remains somewhat of a disciple of Slowhand, but he shows an unusual interest in the big AOR stylings of Journeyman, along with Stevie Ray Vaughan's In Step, creating a coolly clean blend of synths and Strats, one that's as much about texture as it is about song.something perfectly appropriate for a make-out album like this. Sometimes, Mayer dips too heavily toward the texture, but he can't resist a good, tight melody and builds the bulk of Battle Studies upon them: the elegant "Half of My Heart," the softly soulful "Perfectly Lonely." Here, Mayer is effortlessly seductive and somewhat irresistible, and it's easy to see why the ladies love cool John.

John Mayer emerged in 2001 as the fresh young face for a new generation of earnest singer-songwriters. While Mayer's work is as confessional, intimate, and acoustic-guitar-based as that of old-schoolers like James Taylor and Jackson Browne, his approach is considerably updated. His rhythmic, often jazzy guitar and vocal style borrow more from Dave Matthews than from any baby-boomer types, and his geek-next-door image made him instantly appealing to teenagers the world over.

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