Born and Raised by John Mayer

John Mayer is an interesting character. His first album from 2001 blasted him into the consciousness with his song No Such Thing. Perceptions of him as a pop singer quickly faded as he toured and released albums that proved his merit as a guitarist and writer of great songs.

Mayer of course has become known as a serial dater, perhaps white rock stardom's version of Derek Jeter as he has dated many of the most popular actresses and singers. Jennifer Anniston, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Taylor Swift to name just three. Swift even wrote her song " Dear John" about him an event that Mayer has called embarrassing.

Born and Raised, his most recent album proves once and for all that for all the fluff surrounding his public persona and dating life Mayer is a true artist. This album is a master work.

Quiet, reserved, lyrically and musically strong Mayer answers any question one might have about his talent and depth on this album. Well crafted pop songs, sing along if you like, but most of all songs that match.

The opening song Queen of California opens the album and shows a great deal of the influences Mayer has heard. Sounding like it comes from the early seventies and even referencing Neil Young's After the Goldrush in 1971 Mayer knows his history and open the album brilliantly.

Another song Shadow Days has the same feeling and groove. Singing of being able to finally let it go, and knowing that he is a good man with a good heart and that his Shadow Days are over. A self revealing song that is another song many of us can relate to. Of special interest to me was the Beatles sound in the instruments after the second chorus, Mayer shows all his history lessons.

For all the girls named Olivia in the world you finally have a song with your name in it. Mayer sings that Olivia is taken but that he needs something like Olivia. One assumes he could probably get her if he just sang her this song.

Born and Raised, the title song, is an instant classic. With it's harmonica again bringing Neil Young to mind, and a confessional air Mayer talks about " one of these days, I'll be Born and Raised and it's such as waste to grow up lonely." " Still has dreams, just not the same, they don't fly as high as they used to" Mayer sounds older than he is. Certainly much life has been lived by him in the last decade. This song might be the result of those years.

Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967 starts with a Miles Davis like mini solo and then launches into a whimsical story song about just what it says, Walt Grace's submarine test. Still with the lyric " When your done with this world. you know the next is up to you" Mayer is talking about more than Walt Grace, he is talking about all of us making decisions about not just the next life but the rest of this one.


Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey again starts with the harmonica and tells of " trying to find the man I never got to be" and becomes another confessional of disappointment in the deal he made, not with the devil, but with himself. A great song.

John Mayer is not a pop star. He should be taken seriously after this album. This is a thoughtful, graceful, album that is certainly the high point of his career.