John Mayer’s new album “Sob Rock”

I didn’t realize it’s been 20 years this year since he hit it big with Your Body Is a Wonderland. I hated that song but then loved it with time. And I found him incredibly cute back then. Something very sexy about him.

The critics are not having it (the NYT was particularly harsh) but I kinda liked the lead single.

R2 it has 70% positive reviews from critics on Metacritic

I guess John is back!

It’s doing well.

Surprisingly, the vinyl for it is selling great and what shot it to number 1, not even streaming.

Is he still hooking up with Andy Cohen?

He likes pussy.

R8=all the beards he's ever had.

The music itself at OP's link sounds like the b side of a Mr Mister single. I guess John succeed!

^ succeeded

R3 a statistic like 70% means nothing unless you know a) how many reviews there are and b) whether the reviews are written by idiots. Pitchfork gave it a 6.1, the NYT called it both "empty" and "bloated," the WSJ said it was "workmanlike" and "cautious."

Did his inspiration come from Shawn Mandas's mussy?

R9 Jessica Simpson wrote extensively about her relationship with him. I really don't get the sense that he's gay. And yes, it's embarrassing that I read her book, but it was a page turner. She can write. Who knew? And he's an incredible asshole.

It's pleasant and very soft-rock and boring - I liked his first single ever, before Body is a Wonderland, which I thought was a really dumb lyric.

The first single was called No Such Thing and it was brilliant - I don't think he's ever topped it.

It’s an enjoyable album. It’s nice to have an artist release a complete album of listeniable songs. Based on the album cover (looks like a budget 80s LP) and title, I think it’s supposed to bs reflective of that generic 80s music sound,

Last Train Home does have an '80's sound to it.

Yes, he wanted the album to have an 80s soft rock inspired sound. The entire album is an “80s” album. Even the video he goes for 80s.

Which may be why it’s selling Vinyls so well. I think people are going along with the 80s theme

Yeah not everything has to be groundbreaking and unquestionably good. It’s kind of what I needed right now—not a series of shitty singles every three months, which is what most artists do because that’s how they make the most money.

R20 Well said.

Thanks R20. I Guess I Just Feel Like has also been how I’ve felt the last few years. Been playing it since it was released as a single.

R22, that sounds like Shawn Mullins

Not a fan of r22

But Mayer has a few good songs.

Who is the pretentious queen who keeps using the word sublime?

His song “New Light” is phenomenal. He released the song 3 years ago, but finally found a home for it and put it on this album. It’s terrific.

New Light is just so damn smooth. And his vocals are wonderful in it.

Why am I ashamed to admit that I like him?

R28 because at some point it become cool to hate on him, and liking him was a big no no.

I honestly believe that’s why critics are so harsh with him now too. He also doesn’t follow the “rules” or modern music, which loses them. One critic kept bitching about how the album lacks catchy songs and “hooks”.

Saw him live at a college years ago and he was so cute and amazing. Time changes everything.

I listened to the songs linked above and I have to say his music is just not memorable. Boring as the poster said upthread.

Love them!

He's a very talented guitarist and a very funny person even though he is douchey. But his own music has never been anything less than serviceable. His lyrics are predictable and his compositions are never exciting. He really needs to form a duo with somebody who can write brilliant songs and he just plays guitar.

How many songs are about me?

R33 I would agree with you if he weren’t successful, but why would he do that when he’s successful? That’s just stupid.

R35 It would be smart if he actually wanted to make music that he could be remembered by because has absolutely no classic albums whatsoever. And he's still just known for "Your Body is A Wonderland", playing with The Grateful Dead and calling Jessica Simpson "sexual napalm". His teenage "look at me" hi-jinks and celebrity ass-kissing on social media can only be cute for so long too.

He’s dated half of Hollywood. He’s known for who he dates more than anyone.

His first few albums were hits.

R37 That's the issue. A musician should be known for their music. As it is their job to create art. He certainly isn't Santana, Prince, Leon Bridges or Eric Clapton in terms of making his own personal statement with his music. Mayer is an phenomenally talented guitarist but he lacks good sense when it comes to writing and composition. His technical skills are far more pronounced when he does covers or works under others direction. Having albums that sell well doesn't mean crap. He was marketed as a sex symbol for young girls who are huge consumers. He doesn't have any albums that will be held as classics. I've listened through them and he has good ideas and highly good technical skills but he just sucks as a songwriter and most of his songs are forgettable.

How many artists have albums that will be considered classics, r38? I can assure you it’s less than you think.

Maybe he isn’t worried about having “classics” and just does what he wants. He seems to have always just done what he wanted.

[quote] How many artists have albums that will be considered classics, [R38]? I can assure you it’s less than you think.

That's not a good excuse. John Mayer has talent and could do much more with it. He just likes to play it safe and maintain his fanbase. Which is fair and he has the right to do so but it just doesn't satisfy me. He can do pop and blues well, so he is versatile but like I said, his music is forgettable and it always sounds like it's missing something. At least he's more talented and deserving of a Grammy than J. Lo.

The new album is great but, beyond that and the noise, John is an incredible musician. He’s a particularly gifted guitarist. In concert, he’s amazing.

Great you sent me down the John Mayer rabbit hole. It’s now 2002. I’m 15 and at Barnes and Noble with my best friend who I am in love with. He’s finally gonna let me suck his dick tonight. I CAN FEEL IT!!!

I'm a Deadhead and I can tell you, he's VERY loved in that world. Dead and Company are playing the big spaces the Grateful Dead used to play. We all thought it was pretty much over after Jerry died and even though the surviving members had bands that toured, they were nothing like how Dead and Company is now. In a weird way I sometimes think I prefer Dead and Company shows to the Grateful Dead shows because Jerry was miserable and hopelessly addicted to drugs, while the Dead and Company crew are all just happy to be there and the shows are joyful. John Mayer has brought new life to the band. He was born to play with them. It's changed his life in a huge way, and I'm sure it's expanded his musicianship. Switching from being a drinker to a pot smoker has also changed him a lot. I think he's in a great place in his life at the moment. He hasn't had a girlfriend for quite a while (6 years?) so maybe he has been enjoying playing around with men, and good for him if he's exploring that. I definitely get a bisexual vibe from him, and I think he's 100% into men right now.

Also I prefer the acoustic version of Last Train Home. It's beautiful.

R43, it could be anyone up there and they'd be beloved. People who chose that cornball Dead music to build a personality around are just happy to have a parking lot to do drugs and dance like spazzes in. This asshole was happy to tell a magazine that his dick was racist, but kept his mouth shut about it having herpes.

What a miserable person you must be, R45.

Yeah, he does what he wants. Let him do him. He’s never done what he was expected to, most of his catalog is not radio friendly in the slightest.

I thought he was dating Shawn Mendes?

Why are you people obsessed with him and Shawn Mendes? Does he ever even mention Shawn? Shawn is in love with him, not the other way around.

R46, only because I've made the mistake of telling a deadhead that the music wasn't my cup of tea and them subjecting me to a 46 minute song from 1977 or some shit. It's just corny as fuck and if I wanted to listen to country music I'd put on Patsy Cline.

The fake hetero Mendes isn't looking so great in current pics. The fake affair is killing him.

Great title! Is sob rock a thing or did he make it up? Either way, it's brilliant! Makes me want to listen to it.

His second single is great. Love the video! Very 80s, and love the MTV style font at the beginning of the video.

The 46 minute songs were all in 1973, R50.

That song above is horrible, and his singing is affected.

Love it

I pledge allegiance to the New Jerry!

He should have made New Light his new single. It’s so smooth and I love his vocals on it.

It’s great until after the 2 minute mark when he had to get funky

Millennials are obsessed with the 80s, when they peaked in grade school. Being Latchkey Kids and coming home to watch "Full House" and "Fresh Prince" reruns.

Most Millenials memories are of the 90s

I dig him, his last few albums have been pretty good but a little too much for me with the hetero drama he sings about. My sense is that he’s some sort of pussy hound. But I’ll likely buy this new record.

I believe the DL consensus is that he is bi, and most recently in love with Shawn Mendes.

Looking great but still singing with marbles in his mouth.

I always thought he was utterly unattractive but his music makes my heart sing. Watching his fingers work a guitar does things to my body.

R61=Shawn Mendes

R64=Shawn Mendes

[Quote] Watching his fingers work a guitar does things to my body.

R80 Half of millennials weren't even born in the 80s. How old are you?

Millenials still grew up with 80s culture, e.g. TV re-runs, old 80s movies on TV, MTV's "20 Best Madonna Videos" etc.

R69 No. I think you're thinking of Gen X who has 80s nostalgia and made Madonna popular.

Millenials were born in the 1980s, Gen X was born in the 90s and Gen Z were born in the 00s?

R71 WHAT??,

[Quote] WHAT??,

I'm younger than the Average DLer. I know Boomers were born in the wake of WWII. Otherwise...

Oh honey, you're very confused. R71

Well, the person who said people with nostalgia for the 80s made Madonna popular rather threw me.

People have such bizarre ideas about generations on this site.

Shit rock

He’s repulsive.

Well, some say a genration is 25 years. But others act like 5-10 years is a new generation.

[quote] Millenials were born in the 1980s, Gen X was born in the 90s

R71 Are you a Zoomer? Did your parents tell you that?

[Quote] Are you a Zoomer?

I still use Skype.

His music sucks

New single

Fuck, R83.

R84 fuck? Him? You wanna fuck him?

That song at R83 sounds like Seals & Croft or someone like that. I think touring with Dead & Co. has influenced his aesthetic judging by his trippy video.

Mark Knopfler wants his guitar solo back, R83. Really not bad though. I've heard worse.

I like the Wild Blue song.

I liked Chris Isaak's music back in the day better, and he was good live when I saw him at the NYU classroom formerly known as The Bottom Line in NYC.

What does he have to do with Chris Isaac?

it's Isaak, and if you can't see the parallel, I'm too busy to explain it to you. Read a book or an article once in awhile, hon.

R91 lowlife, there is nothing to compare. They’re from different generations and Isaak’s sound wasn’t like this. I used to listen to him too, dear.

Maybe? Isaak was also trading in nostalgia and originally had a great guitarist who played in somewhat the same style. 50s/60s nostalgia vs 80s nostalgia. The 80s thing just won't go away.

Off topic, but it's almost too much to bear, the scenes in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me that feature Isaak and Kiefer Sutherland as FBI agents. Too delicious.

R87 Sooo Knopfler. Knopfler with Toto with a little Jerry Garcia solo.

the 80s music scene to me was the best, the industry was at its height then. So many styles, a lot of gay songwriting, singing, and producing, or at least aimed at the gay market. And the tv, movie & music industries all worked together.

Live on Friday night

John is an excellent guitarist. You have to hear him play All Along the Watchtower live on YouTube.

He is too affected in his singing voice. He sounds like a parody of himself. I am biased though. I do not like his music and never have. I don’t like that he’s stuck in his college age “funky” sound it’s just not my thing. Justin Timberlake likes that bow chick a wow wow “funk” type style too. Mixed with Dave matthews. I’m just not into it.

I would like to see what a new producer could do with him. But I think he is stuck with that affected hoarse voice

Issac was a one hit wonder. But Jon Mayer sort of is too (wonderland)

Mayer isn’t a one hit wonder because he still sells albums.

It seems as if no one cares about this new album; the only place I've even seen it mentioned is on here.

All music is boring

Son of a bitch rock

The album is good, but I think Battle Studies and Paradise Valley are his best.

I can't listen to his early stuff because it was so overplayed.

R105 I agree.

I do like the new one though.