t92780 wrote:
DyanCan wrote:
Devonjp wrote:

t92780 wrote:He didn't do anything for before B&R in 3-years, which was BS, which was pretty much a bust, no touring in 3-years, no hit singles in 5-years, 2-3 hit records IMO, can't sell out arena's in 1-minute like Katy, seems to have a good lifestyle appetite and with artist not making much money after everyone pulls their dirty mitts out of the cash bag (so they say), I would think he needs "new money" coming in to feed the "appetite". 

C'mon, the Katy duet and Ocean tracks were 100% money/marketing motivated as was Paper Doll, all while JM laughs his way to the bank, no, sorry, it was Katy who laughed. The Ocean song is the worse of the three, truly insulting and quite "Frank-ly", no pun intended, track doesn't do Ocean any artistic justice.

I don't blame JM and not knocking him, heck I would've recorded Jennifer farting and released it as a track, but with Mayer not likely to have another Your Body Is A Wonderland giant hit being past the cash cow crowd teen audience, he smartly piggybacks with other artist to cross pollinate to reach a broader audience to sell more units, throws his name into the Country cash cow hat too, etc.... I love the business side of it and not saying the duet is a bad song, geez, pull Mayer's finger and he'll fart out brilliant song he's so damn great.

Honestly i think you're a little mistaken. Both katy and frank ocean are close friends of his one of them being his girlfriend, so it makes sense that he wants them on the record. This record, as he mentioned, was only released because he felt the need to have new material that coincided with his new mind set while on tour. This, if anything, was a fun album for John which is why it seems more happy, upbeat and less meticulous. I think John is capable of releasing a pop album again if he gets his voice back all the way but he just doesn't want to. He said that he wanted to be the artist that you listen to when the times right, at the opportune moment. I think he wants to be respected for making good well crafted songs away from mainstream of things. Making money isnt what its about for him this point in the game, he wants to make music with people he likes and songs that yes may be poppy but will be recognized for how its crafted rather than how well it does on the charts. Its rather arrogant to say its a money maker because if he really wanted to he would have waited till his voice was back and released a full album of pop songs like maroon 5 is doing. 

Hi.  I know I'm not normally over here, so excuse me for budging in.   Couldn't JM's motives be somewhere in the middle of what you both are saying?   Not all one motive ($$$) or the other (artistic altruism)  Perhaps there are other motivators  we are just not privy too, as well. I remember he was at some big get together, a couple of months ago, for an exec from Columbia.  I recall JM spoke at this event and was quoted as saying something to the effect of "I'll make you proud."  Whatever he exactly said, it gave me the impression he meant he would make sure their investment in him would pay off.


I don't think JM pure motive is solely money in his pocket, but also to keep partnership with label happy, etc, which comes down to $, so I agree with your point and dont want to make JM out to be a money motivated sell out by any means, just can't help myself when I hear people thinking its purely about his music, an exploration of his musical creativity, etc, as it scares me for them in the real world outside of MSM-ville. As JM is cross pollinating on last 2-albums, MSM should, welcome to "this side"nor board. Back on track with PV...., I'm digging first half-ish of album more as of now.
I still think Mayer's doing what he wants to do with regards to musical style. Look at this album for a second, it's folksy, country, jammy etc. It's NOT MAINSTREAM music at all. If Mayer were trying to hit a home run, we all know he's capable of doing that. He could put out another Room for Squares and sell a boat load of records. 

Now, I think the presentation of the record (marketing) to the public is very money driven and as it should be. I personally would have made "Who You Love" the first single, then "Wildfire" then "Paper Doll" right before it drops because those are the buzz songs minus wildfire. 

None of us are ever going to really know but from what we see, I think Mayer makes the music he wants to make and has on his record whoever he damn well pleases. I think it was a huge added bonus that the person he's dating just so happens to sound awesome on his song AND is a megastar. I don't think his thought was "Who can I have on here that will make me the most money". 

I really dig the album, and I still dream of him making a blues pop record some day or at least a little more aggressive record. He's still sitting in that damn pocket of 110 BPM.  


Brandon