Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood

This video is just so obscure but that’s really why I love it so much.

Album of the Week #4: Born and Raised - John Mayer

Release Date: May 22, 2012 (available via iTunes or in store)

Background/General Thoughts

It’s been about two years since I received Battle Studies as an Thanksgiving/6 month anniversary present from my ex-girlfriend (of all people, right?). And in those two years, I know that I have definitely grown and changed plenty; likewise, so has John Mayer. My past two years have been nothing compared to his. My past two years haven’t consisted of blazing a trail of famous ex-girlfriends, big-upping his supposedly racist comments in a disastrous 2010 Playboy interview, playing secret shows, or undergoing throat surgery. Like him as a person or not, he finds in himself in many situations that make for good song writing material. Thus, we have Born and Raised. This is an album that forces Mayer to come to terms with himself and work out those conflicts out. Born and Raised is a highly confessional album that explores fairly new musical territory. This album feels a lot more folky and western than his previous albums. Mayer has even gone on to say that this albums hopes to “evoke a drifting cowboy sitting on the open range, strumming his guitar by the fire.” It’s an album of a different feel definitely, but there are some familiar quirks as well.

Track by Track Thoughts:

1) Queen of California - Right out of the gate, the album sets the tone for the type of style Mayer has created. This song sounds like a mix between James Taylor and The Allman Brothers. Lyrically, this is a song of about moving on from prior relationships and prior demons faced. Joni wrote ‘Blue’ in a house by the sea/ I gotta believe there’s another color waiting on me/ To set me free is a homage to Joni Mitchell’s album which explored various facets of relationships and heartaches. Overall, it’s a different, yet, strong beginning to the album. Verdict: 5/5

2) The Age of Worry - The first obviously noticeable aspect of this track is its beautiful arrangement. The finger-picking guitar line is classic John Mayer and the inner voicing and harmonization are simply gorgeous. This short song reveals Mayer’s notion to feel every other emotion except that of stress and worry. Verdict: 5/5

3) Shadow Days - This is track is the official first single. It’s a heart-felt ballad about a prior failed relationship (rumors are it’s about his relationship with Jennifer Aniston). As I listen to this song, I keep thinking about how similar it sounds to In Repair with more of a western flair. Maybe, it’s the waning electric guitar lick. There are times though I feel that aspect of this song is overdone and is overbearing. Verdict: 4/5

4) Speak For Me - I find this song to be a message to the media from Mayer. Behind the rather busy and upbeat melody lies a message about the contradictions of personal image. Now the cover of Rolling Stone/ Ain’t the cover of a Rolling Stone… You can tell something isn’t right/ When all your heroes are in black and white. This song is very much John Mayer’s acceptance of that but also his need to for someone to “speak for [him]” in certain situations. Verdict: 4/5

5) Something Like Olivia - This is my favorite track on the whole album. The lyrics are pretty much self-explanatory: it’s about finding a dream girl similar to someone’s else dream girl. It’s really a quirky and fun song similar to that of Perfectly Lonely. The songs are very much polar opposites but Mayer puts its best when describing Perfectly Lonely as a song “about a feeling that feels just as good as the song does.” It’s just a quality song filled with nostalgic sounds of what John Mayer’s has been in the past: a bluesy guitar-shedding genius. This is one of those tracks I will need to see a video of live. I can easily see John Mayer lay a seven minute epic guitar solo on this song in his typical fashion. Verdict: 5/5

6) Born And Raised - The album’s self-titled track. It’s gets good from here. I remember stumbling upon a youtube video from John Mayer’s secret LA show a year ago. (Here’s the video). The thing I remember most is how amazing that harmonica sounded in the video. It’s a completely new sound I never heard from anything Mayer’s done in the past. It’s such a rustic and raw sound which really justifies his new sound and the direction of this album. Verdict: 5/5

7) If I Ever Get Around To Living - Honestly, I find this song quite strange. I just don’t feel that it fits where it is. This is a song that’s a bit more mellower than the songs before it. Lyrically, its pretty self-explanatory as well. It’s not really that memorable for me. It has some slight hints of classic Room For Squares John Mayer with its pop feel and aquatic pedal-y sound but I don’t think of it as a standout on the album. Verdict: 2/5

8) Love Is A Verb - This track is fairly decent with its gentle approach and heartfelt and truth seeking lyrics. This is the kind of song that I can imagine being the played at a wedding ceremony. (Just wait till it hits radio) It’s a short and sweet track that I think is used as a palette cleanser more than midway through the album. Verdict: 4/5

9) Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967 - This track is probably the most unique on B&R. It’s a piece of folk storytelling woven into song. It’s a fascinating tale of man chasing his dreams and facing the challenges that lie ahead as he ventures “in his homemade, fan blade, one-man submarine ride.” The track’s concluding lines are a bit interesting and has sparked up some debate on whether Walt Grace is dead or alive. She accepted the news she never expected/ …And they smile when kid, as they speak of the man. I don’t think there is a correct answer to that question. And it might be intentional on Mayer’s part. This is just a really fascinating that I could probably write about it on its on…maybe, I might do that one day. Verdict: 5/5

10) Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey - Hmm, John Mayer and his trusty harmonica are back. At first listen, you might think this is a song about a drinking binge but I’m going to try to dig deeper into the surface with this one. I think this is a song about potential and hope. It may be a bit tarnished and rough beneath the drinking and night life but you get the feeling there is a sense of something more; a sense to be something more. Here is a video of this song live from that LA secret show. Verdict: 4/5

11) A Face To Call Home - For all those smitten people, here is your song. This is a track dedicated to those just in love. Simply in love. The relationship in this song is fairly new but it’s enough. The wordage and use of language is pretty clever and it’s the kind of song that will make a girl melt. The guitar breakdown in the bridge/outro is just superb and adds icing on the cake. Verdict: 5/5

12) Born And Raised (Reprise) - Last track and a pretty wholesome one too. This is totally the song you play around a campfire with your friends. It just feels grand and fun. It promptly sums up everything that B&R is about. Verdict: 4/5

Rating: 4 out of 5; It’s different but it’s a quality album. There are definitely moments where I do miss the old pop and bluesy John Mayer but this is a direction I can appreciate and respect. I’m interested to see how these tracks translate into live performances since Where The Light Is was such a monumental album release along with Continuum in his career. We really won’t know until he gets back to performing again after his throat heals up so I wish him the best and this album will definitely hold me over until he returns.

(Source: Spotify)

Fastball - You’re An Ocean

You’re an ocean, you’re an ocean

Settle down settle down, what’s the commotion?

I’m an island, you’re an ocean

Sara Bareilles - F*ck You/Gonna Get Over You (VEVO Presents)

I’m in love with this lovely lady. She’s such a badass.

A Mix For... As The Sun Sets

To start off this series, I wanted to briefly explain where the inspiration of this playlist came from.

As the its title suggests, this playlist is devoted to the wonderful time of day known as sunset and the “golden hour” that builds up to it. It’s that time of day where the light is just right, the sun is round and majestic, and time just seems to slow down long enough just to remind everyone that the most constant and naturally occurring change in our lives is happening. So take a moment to enjoy it, in whatever way you do. And what’s so great about sunset is that it means so many things for some many people in so many situations. A sunset may be a time to self-reflect on the day. A sunset may signify a new beginning. Even if a sunset may just be a sunset to you, nobody can’t deny its significance or its presence. This playlist contains 14 tracks that I feel really set you in the right place to enjoy the extraordinary wonder that is sunset. I encourage that next time you and sunset meet, play some of these tracks and absorb the moment for what it is. Enjoy!

Track Listing:

1) The Adventure - Angels & Airwaves

2) Another Perfect Day - American Hi-Fi

3) Shiver - Coldplay

4) Learning To Fly - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

5) Sea of Love - Cat Power

6) Northern Wind - City And Colour

7) We Don’t Eat - James Vincent McMorrow

8) Mightiest of Guns - A.A. Bondy

9) Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect - The Decemberists

10) Thirteen - Ben Kweller

11) Daylight - Matt & Kim

12) This Is The Life - Two Door Cinema Club

13) I Will Follow You Into The Dark - Death Cab For Cutie

14) Rivers And Roads - The Head and The Heart

(Source: Spotify)

I’m been enjoying Captain Cuts remixes lately. They just do a great job of adding a spicy dance flair to great songs.

(Source: Spotify)

Just diggin’ through the archives for things that bring me back a couple years back.

(Source: Spotify)