JOHN MAYER
Continuum
SonyBMG
· No ringtones – just the best blues-pop around.
No flashy packaging. No enhanced CD. Not even an insert telling us how to purchase Continuum ringtones. How does John Mayer expect to compete in the modern music market with releases like this? For starters, writing some of the best blues-pop songs of our generation doesn’t hurt.
After the pop success of 2001’s Room for Squares, Mayer could have followed the same blueprint for the rest of his career and would likely be enjoying much more radio play than he currently gets. But after he took a left turn towards the blues on 2003’s Heavier Things, he became one of the industry’s favourite punching bags. Major publications across North America were tripping over themselves to take cheap shots at Mayer for his supposed turn to adult contemporary, but they were all missing something – his songs are pretty damned good.
That trend continues on the aptly named Continuum. Mayer’s captivating guitar work is in full effect on the blues-heavy "Gravity" and "Vultures," but he is also able to tone it down and put lyrics first on "Stop This Train" and "Belief." While the album’s subject matter – the state of the world, fears of getting older, etc. – may be tiresome, Mayer’s unique way with words keeps things interesting.
Continuum is likely to keep Mayer under the mainstream radar, but don’t be fooled – this is one of the most solid front-to-back albums of the year.
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