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John Mayer’s new album is not good.
It is f****** fantastic.
The album itself is a standalone classic, multifaceted that crosses generations of consumers in the marketplace.
Mr Mayer never ceases to amaze me with his profound creativity when it comes to music, and this album is quite possibly one of the best he has done in the line of innovative prolific thoughts. Albeit a few introspective lyrics that I might have refrained from , this guy is a genius. Pisses me off he’s such a damn creative smarty pants. (Not really) I’m elated …he has really come full circle on this new album.
If you are a fan of 70’s music transcended into today, Born and Raised brings you home , back to the days of Neil Young, Crosby Stills and Nash, Don Henley with a hint of Willie Nelson. If you’re a younger fan , Mayer’s album twists and turns with values of growing upward and onward. It’s all good.
My absolute favorite composition on the album is Walt Graces Submarine Test January 1967. The beginning of the song is a set up. Tantalizing your senses as only Chris Botti can do with a mute trumpet solo; it will emotionally move you from head to toe. Botti gives the trumpet its own voice expanding its instrumental powers to almost human form and I have a hard time not lapsing into a romantic daydream when I hear this intro. The creativity behind the lyrics, the message of self preservation in escapism and the delightful marching band snare drum phrasing background make the lyrics flow happily through your mind. People like happy endings. The song is embracing. John’s a genius. I hate him. (Not really that’s poetic envy and sarcasm…I really think he must be a great guy.)
He’s told us so in my next favorite song Shadow Days. A reiteration of self perception, he’s a good man with a good heart.
I must say throughout the album, which has shifted John Mayer from the “wonderland of my body” to a place on the platform of such greats as Neil Young, Don Henley, Crosby Stills and Nash, Don McLean, Bob Dylan , I can almost hear their voices.
Which brings me to a concluding thought for Mick Management who boasts John Mayer as their Knight in shining armor . John and team, have produced a solid precious beautiful album that deserves consideration of a tribute to the man himself. I’m all about the recognition before someone dies …not after they are gone. I envision a super star line up from Don Henley, to Willie Nelson singing these songs for John while he cannot tour with his voice, expanding with the voices of others and making the tribute album almost as good as the initial album. OK , so call me crazy, (yes Tess, you’re insane. ) but here is who I hear when I’m listening…..Queen Of California…Don Henley and the Eagles. The Age Of Worry…The Irish Rovers, Shadow Days ( I can’t seem to hear anyone else but John singing this song)…Speak for Me, Neil Young, Something like Olivia Ray Charles, Born and Raised Neil Young, If I ever get around to living, Don McLean, Love is a Verb Willie Nelson, Walt Graces Submarine Test.. Arlo Guthrie , Whiskey Whiskey, Whiskey, Keith Urban , A face to call Home, Jason Mraz and Born and Raised reprise Willie Nelson .
OK so you’re thinking the girl’s gone absolutely mad, half of those cats are dead, and John just released this album , it’s five star on its own.
It is, but I want more. I’m a poet …I dream and critique in realms and pathways others don’t feel comfortable to cross… suggestive lines.
John asked the other night what more could he do, he can’t give us any better than this album already has .
It’s just awesome and allows for a consideration at the very least of a tribute album…to the man , the artist, the damn genius… nice work John. As always …a huge cut above .
Now dedicating such a tour …to John’s passion of helping our arm force veterans, with vocal line ups that are both his friends and colleagues in music… the consideration of such would make my Memorial Day Birthday just the best ever.
One small side note, the fabulous artistic cover of the record by David Smith is so synergistically perfect with the album you wonder if the artist could have been his Twin from a Different Mother. I’ll have to query Tim Weisberg and Dan Fogelberg about that.

Nice work Pepe.
Awesome album. Hats off. (No internet blogger pun intended)
Tess

Ever wonder who is crazy enough to stand in a crowded line in rainy Manhattan for three and a half hours (maybe 4) to do a meet and greet with one of my favorite singer song writers? Soaking wet from lack of umbrella and up since 4:30 a.m. I was a sight for sore eyes and getting sleepier by the moment. Poet’s don’t like crowds, we barely like our audiences, ( we barely stomach anyone for that matter) and we really.. really…really wilt after being up for 18 hours straight. SO… as we were told that John had called it quits for the night .(adjacent black Cadillac SUV fires up its engine) .we were just at the entrance. The young couples ahead of me left disgusted and I thought the young lady next to me was going to cry. They allowed us in, and I began quickly to sense this most scurried atmosphere. I had promised this young lady I would take her picture with John and I don’t break my promises. As she approached , I was poised with her camera. Click, (her talking to John) Click, (John signing her CD), Click,( her giving John a hug ) (that was endearing) , Then I realized we weren’t suppose to be taking pictures so close, OK camera back to its rightful owner its my turn. I’m worse than Ralphie in the Christmas Story, waiting to ask Santa Claus for the red rider BB Gun, and I did mention I’ve been up since 4:30 am and standing in the rain since 7:10 p.m.. I give John a congrats card that I thought he might like, he’s kind of stiff and I get this creepy feeling like I’ve made him feel horribly uncomfortable and and I don’t know the protocols cause I’ve never done this before…So he politely asks me who should he sign the CD to, and I look confused at him and think wait a minute, I know your name, how is that after sifting through 1000 of your closest fans… you don’t know my name ? He seems even more creep-ed out. I don’t verbalize this I’m just thinking it…Poets have a knack for creeping people out and it seems I’m unintentionally really good at it. “Tess” I responded. Nothing clicks… I’m getting the inner vibe that he’s thinking I just want to get the hell out of here, enough already. My contract said until 9:00 p.m. and now I have to deal with people like this. The scary skinny blonde lady who looked like she had been road hard and hung up wet was expediting the line, barking orders and I began to feel like processed cheese. I would have smelled like processed cheese, but I had at least showered before I got there, so drowned rat with ode to city rain water, was the look I was boasting at that moment. He was ready to be done with this process, I was kicking myself and blurted out Well, Good luck in Bozeman. To which John (as uncomfortable as he seemed) never forgets good manors and said Thank you. I left, exhausted, and was merrily approached outside by the young lady I photographed moments earlier with John. We had 3 and one half hours of previous banter and she was very sweet. She thanks me profusely. I had given her one of things she had come for. She was elated. My mantra of good deed doing had fulfilled its daily obligation in my psyche. In the cab ride back to Grand Central I couldn’t give any thought to this exchange… exhaustion had set in. I had ordered his new CD and LP on line so this one from the pop-up store was for my car…Well, inside the card I had given John a cowboy named Cody, he grows to 600 times his size. A useful friend when one embraces Bozeman Montana as a new “place to call home.”
T