Fairfield’s favorite ‘local boy done good,’ John Mayer, is jumping back into the music scene with his sophomore effort, “Heavier Things.” His ten song album, released under the Aware/Columbia Records label, comes on the heels of his triple-platinum debut “Room For Squares,” released in 2001.
Mayer was in town to promote the release in early August at the ctnow.com Meadows Music Centre. The apperance was part of a nationwide co-headlining tour with the Counting Crows that wrapped Sept. 2 in Charlotte, N.C.
Produced by Jack Joseph Puig, whose professional credits include working with No Doubt, Sheryl Crow and Hole. The album showcases a uniquely different side of Mayer. With more of a rock feel, the album comes complete with electric guitar riffs and up-tempo hooks.
The disc opens with the soulful “Clarity,” which is very much reminiscent of Mayer’s previous hit, “Your Body is a Wonderland.” The guitar and horn-driven track features a guest appearance from hip-hopper Amir Thompson of the Roots, who backs up Mayer on the drums. According to MTV News, Mayer is hoping that “Clarity” will become clear to listeners when he makes it the second single off “Heavier Things.”
Music fans in the area have certainly heard the second track “Bigger Than My Body” on the local radio waves lately, as it has been added to the playlist at stations like KC101 and Hartford’s WTIC 96.5. A video for “Bigger Than My Body” has been completed and can currently be seen on MTV and other music video stations.
Mayer slows things down for “Something’s Missing,” a whiny, lyrically-unoriginal track. Educated at the renowned Berklee College of Music, Mayer fails to produce songs worthy of a second listen this time around.
A slight reprise comes with “Split Screen Sadness,” which offers listeners a chance to sit back and groove to the beat of Mayer’s seventh track. Also guitar-driven, the track is a welcome break from the rest of the all-too-similar songs.
The CD also features the songs “Daughters,” the radio-worthy “Only Heart,” “Come Back To Bed,” and “Homelife,” most of which Mayer has been previewing during his performances on the road, to crowd acclaim.
The bottom line on John Mayer’s new release: Save your money and listen to his current hit “Bigger Than My Body” and the upcoming “Clarity,” the two best cuts from the album, on the radio.
Rating out of five music notes, with five being the best: Two and a half notes.
