Not Just Another Acoustic Record

Before I begin, I want it to be known that I definitely value honest and opinionated reviews much more than a sterile deconstruction of a new album or artist. Therefore I feel I should confess that when I first got John Mayer's new CD in the mail to do this review, I really wondered if I'd like it all that much. I admit, up until recently I've been biased against male singers. I don't know what it is, I've just always been drawn toward the female voice. But I kept hearing wonderful reviews of John Mayer from people who had seen him live, listened to his new album, etc. So I was kind of hoping my bias would be turned around. Fortunately I wasn't disappointed.

Room For Squares is Mayer's new album, comprised of fourteen songs with a general attitude of being real. It's safe to assume that Room For Squares is relative to most listeners. We all ponder life, question our actions, have weird moments, etc. Room For Squares is Mayer bravely saying what we're all thinking, so that maybe we can feel a little less alone in a most times awkward world. In this album Mayer confronts two big aspects of this world, life and love.

Life. So much to say about it, where to begin? The album starts with No Such Thing, a song about finding out things aren't the way they sometimes seem in high school. That maybe the traditional paths aren't actually the best: "I just found out there's no such thing as the real world / Just a lie you've got to rise above." Why Georgia is about the contemplation of life, wondering if you're doing things the right way or not: "I wonder sometimes about the outcome of a still verdictless life / Am I living it right?" 3x5 and Great Indoors are both about actually living life. 3x5 stresses the importance of seeing the world for its value, in person, and not just taking a picture. How life is better if you see things with your own eyes: "Today I finally overcame tryin' to fit the world inside a picture frame." Great Indoors is about not sitting in front of a TV all the time, even though the outside world can be a scary thought at times. "Check your pulse it's proof / That you're not listening to / The call your life's been issuing you / The rhythm of a line of idle days."

But Mayer doesn't just sing about life on this album. Room For Squares is also about the other big "L" word: Love. City Love tells the tale of being lost and uninspired in the Big Apple. That is, until Lydia comes around and his vision completely changes: "I never liked this apple much / It always seemed too big to touch / I can't remember how I found my way before she came around" From there we move on to Your Body is a Wonderland, which has a Dave Matthews feel to it. It's a simple love song filled with lines that make you wish for a lover and a "room for two". Another love-themed song, Back to You confronts something we've all been through, trying to go about our days like usual but our minds always seem to wander off to thoughts of somebody. "I walk with your shadow / I'm sleeping in my bed with your silhouette."

As a whole, Mayer's album feels very complete. There's a good mix of tempo and variety of songs to keep it standing out and help it avoid being just another acoustic album. There's a feeling of youth and innocence, with some helpful experience mixed in as well. Something we can all relate to.

Now the big question is, when will John Mayer be playing a show around here??