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Posts: 3369
08/16/2013 12:08 PM
Midnight...lock all the doors.
t92780 wrote:I listened to stream for second time; It's not as good as first listen, but not bad. I'm not sure if I like it better than B&R because it's "new", but so far I do. However, I've found a greater appreciation for BS since, though not a great album like Continuum, I've come to enjoy it more since. I'm don't think PV flows great, as it bounces around in genres of pop to country to Frank Ocean.....on that note, this track is barely ok as a bonus track and or meant for a pee break. If JM would have added backing/harmony vocals in his amazing "outro" ways, then layered some guitar over it, which would've extended track by .30 to a minute, it might have been a quality Bonus Track, but that's it, it's a grossly misplaced track on album. This leads me to believe it was all about money, just like the duet with Katy, clearly wanting to tap into the Perry/Ocean cash cow/audience. Not saying the duet is a bad song, though his chorus sounds Marley like to me, it's about $$, just like he knew Paper Doll would garner attention with lyrics/Swift....JM's pulling out all the stops on this record to get his name/music trending again = $$.B&R sounded forced and PV feels confusing, but yet natural sounding...confusing..lol. Maybe he's just trying hard to recapture that groundbreaking success of 1st album with catchy pop hooks and Continuum with pop/blues and now this. I recall him saying that he stayed in his room practicing to be the next SRV, then goes to Atlanta and catchy pop acoustic tunes pop out, then he shows us his electric roots on next 3-albums (HT, TRY and Continuum), ripping blues at EC's Crossroads, playing with BB, Buddy, Herbie, etc,... then BS, which includes Crossroads and normal Pop/blues stuff with only a twist in Who Says...then BAM....Americana B&R .....then BAM...Country to Garcia to Pop to Ocean...on PV.......Holy Mackro!!! You musicians here know it's great to think out of the box/explore, been a big part of my business life, but one needs to know when to pull in the reins/not to stray too far from the "core" and that's a tough balance, as exploring/out of the box is more fun and satisfying on many levels, especially when you pull off a hit, but the core keeps the train on the tracks/money in the pocket and I hope JM doesn't stray too far it....whatever that core is...lol. Whatever he does, it will always have "JM goodness", so he's bullet proof in that manner, but that can a double edge sword. What's next, not sure anymore, but whatever it is, I'm buying, his live shows this tour have been great, which include longer set lists and he's been my favorite artist/influence on guitar. What's your thoughts on PV??
Dear Marie 8/10 - I love this song. I love the storyteller vibe it has and again, I don’t think the lyrics are meant to be profound or thought provoking. I think they’re meant to be honest and encapsulate a memory from the past and then a reflection on that memory. There’s some really nice steel guitar playing as well and how can you not love the ending? I think the ending is awesome!
Waiting on the Day 9/10 – I feel like this song would have also fit on Born and Raised. I love the harmonies it has, I love the vibrato guitar, and I love the lyrics. I think this song will show a different color for each listener with regards to interpretation. I think that’s what makes it such an awesome piece of work. The guitar solos are perfect I think too, so tasteful. Overall, I think this is one of the best tracks on the album.
Paper Doll 5/10 – I’m not sure why I can’t connect with this song, I think the guitar work is wonderful and I even really like the solo but the lyrics are odd and a little weak. Another thing I noticed, Mayer has been doing more storyteller or literal writing and this song is mostly metaphoric. At least the song is catchy, no surprise there. I also have no idea why this song was released as a single; I don’t think it’s that strong of a track.
Call Me the Breze 7/10 – Not the catchiest of tunes to pick but I like the original tune and I dug Mayer’s cover. Sadly, all it really was was a cover. There wasn't much change from Mayer’s version to the original. One thing I REALLY wish he would have done was extend the outro! Come on, we have this perfect platform to start ripping licks with the 335 yet he cut it off short, bollocks. The guitar tones in the track are awesome though so at least we’ve got that going for us. One thing I think that’s cool; I’d venture to guess most people didn't know who JJ Cale was. So if Mayer’s intent was to simply educate and have fun, then mission accomplished.
Who You Love 7/10 (One of my favorite tracks though) I’m so torn about this song. I have a clear interpretation of the meaning of the lyrics but I wish Mayer had been a little cleverer in writing them. I think a lot of people will misinterpret the song (in a negative way) I think some will think this song is a corny love song that was poorly written about “settling” for someone. On the surface, the lyrics are kinda like “well crap, I guess I love you….so what the hell, let’s do it”. I think the lyrics were not quite explicit or clever enough to convey what I think the song really means. Without getting too sappy here…I think the song is about accept being in love with “an individual”, not a specific individual. From personal experience, this song has a profound effect on me because I've experienced something like this before. I've seen someone realize that they’re in love and it scares the hell out of them and they try to run away from “being in love” but usually you can’t do that. I think this song is about accepting being in love. IF the lyrics were a little more metaphorical or clever, this song would be a 10/10 because it’s a damn seductive song musically.
I Will Be Found 9/10 – Man another solid song. Lyrically it’s awesome and musically it’s so well crafted. My favorite part of the song is the little interlude between chorus and verses. There’s a little guitar melody that’s so simple yet extremely effective. I’m not sure on lyrical meaning yet…need more time.
Wildfire II – 4/10 This song is just boring for me. For one, I don’t like Frank Ocean’s voice and I think his lyrics are meh. If you’re going to do a song like this, I would have liked it to build up to something? I don’t’ know, all I know is I’ll skip over this thing every time.
You’re no one until someone lets you down – 9/10 Keeping in mind this is a straight up boot tapping country tune, I think this song is excellent. Rarely does the country genre have good lyrics and this song has pretty strong lyrics. They’re not my favorite but again, for a country tune they’re excellent and about as good as they get. The steel guitar playing on this track is superb too.
Badge and Gun 9/10 – This song is another one of my favorites. I’d suspect that this song was written when Mayer was tied up, unable to sing and had to remain at home like a recluse. To me, it’s a song of “let me out”.
On the Way Home 10/10 – Man, what a perfect closer, this song is one of my all time favorite Mayer songs now. The first thing I instantly noticed about this song is the different structure is has. It’s not a typical verse, chorus verse chorus song. It definitely repeats but I love how there’s like 5 unique sections to the song. Talk about awesome placement of instrumentation and harmonies. Those three little notes after the phrase “Just remember on the way home” get me every time. They’re so fitting and melodic.Then there’s the lyrics, they’re amazing. I have no idea what they mean and that’s why I like them. I view them as someone ending a chapter in their life, scared for what’s next. There are some incredible lines in this song and I think it’s one of Mayer’s best pieces to date.
Overall, I give this album an 8.5/10
I love this album all in all, I think I’ll end up liking it far more than Born and Raised. Mayer’s last two albums have been a bit of a genre shock for everyone and they take some time to adjust to the new style but once you adjust, you’re just as much in love with the material as you are with his old style. That’s why Mayer is my hero, as a guitar player and as an artist. He has this uncanny ability to take any genre he wants and make it listenable to damn near anyone. He can take blues, folk, country, R&B, and soul and make it sound great. He’s exposed literally millions of people to a style and/or genre of music that they normally would have never listened to. That is the most powerful ability I think an artist can ever have.
You'll have to excuse the rambling style review, I realize I didn't add much other than an opinion but usually, that's all review really are.
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