"Battle Studies" -A Review

As a fan of John Mayer's, I've followed him throughout his career. I distinctly remember the poppy, almost bubble-gummy feel of Room For Squares. Then he released Heavier Things, which had a more rocky, edgier feel to it. Later, we got Continuum, which showed a new stage of evolution in Mayer's songwriting. Continuum had a very bluesy feel to it... it felt real. Today, Mayer released his fourth studio album entitled Battle Studies, and I'll admit it- this album is very different. It's not what I expected from Mr. Mayer. So, here's my take on it.

1. Heartbreak Warfare: This is probably my favorite track on this album. It's got layered guitars that almost has a U2 feel to it, and lyrics that are incredibly poignant. I really like Mayer's comparison of love to warfare; while I know that the two are in no way similar, the imagery sticks with you. I also love the bluntness with which this song is written (ex: the line "If you want more love why don't you say so?) It's such a perfect tale of love and the trials that come with it.

2. All We Ever Do is Say Goodbye: This is a simple song with almost a minimalist feeling to it. Acoustic guitars over a piano, drums and bass guitar with Mayer's voice floating over it... it's definitely a different style for him. However, it kind of feels like something's missing... it doesn't exactly feel full enough. I'm not quite sure what it is about it, but I feel this track is a little weak.

3. Half of my Heart: When I first heard this song, I thought I was listening to a country song. And then Taylor Swift began singing. I was blown away! Their voices blend very well, but I feel that for a duet, Swift just didn't exactly get her chance to truly shine on what could be a wonderful song. Don't get me wrong- I do like this song. Once again, it's a very different sound for Mayer, and it's not exactly something I was expecting to hear from him. But all in all, it's a pretty good song.

4. Who Says: Yes, it's a song about everyone's favorite subject! No, not sex. Pot. Indeed, Mayer wrote a song about smoking weed, talking about his personal opinions about the drug (and his possible use). Now, I personally don't really like the message of this song, nor do I really like the song in general. It just feels too short. Personally, probably one of the worst tracks on here.

5. Perfectly Lonely: Now, this song sounds a little more like his previous works. It's got a pretty bluesy intro, and fairly typical Mayer lyrics that talk about his love life, or lackthereof in this case. But I like this song, probably because of the familiarity of it. It sounds full, with just enough of everything in it. And I like the message of independence that's being passed along... the idea of being cool with being single, but also accepting the fact that he knows one day he'll find someone. In general, I like this song. It's pretty good.

6. Assassin: This song definitely doesn't sound like anything we've heard from Mayer before, but it's cool. I like it, personally, and think it's a sound he can definitely pull off. I love the groovy bass line that seems to kind of drive this song, as well as that xylophone (I'm assuming that's what it is) that is played. I also like this lyrics of this song. They're very interesting. From what I understand, it's about a one-night-stand, or something like that. It's a tale that's poetically told, though, with an interesting comparison to the lovers being assassins. This song definitely has a cool funky, and though I used this word before, groovy feel to it. It's something that you can just kind of bob your head to... dance to a little bit. This is another one of my favorite songs on this album.

7. Crossroads: I've heard the original version of this song done by Robert Johnson, and I liked that. I've also heard the version Eric Clapton did with Cream, and I loved that. I also saw a live performance with Clapton and Mayer doing this song, and I thought that was absolutely wonderful! But this version? Ehhh... not so much. In fact, I really don't like this version at all. There's just something about it that I don't like. Maybe it's all the harmonies that are layered over a simple melody. Maybe it's the strange sound of the lead guitar. I'm not sure what it is. But I just do not like this song. In fact, this was the song I was looking forward to the most, and it was just a huge let down. Basically, I really just... yeah. Don't like this version of what could be a great song.

8. War of my Life: This song is Ok. It's just kinda got a soft feeling that I'm not exactly used to hearing from Mayer. But I like the lyrics, especially the line "If fear hasn't killed me yet/ then nothing will." It's a good song, with a very mellow feeling to it. I'm still warming up to it, though.

9. Edge of Desire: This is a kind of slow, almost ballad-type of a song. I'm sure how I feel about the vocals on this track; they almost seem a little stressed or strained. But I like this words. The chorus is blunt; the last line in it almost feels like a suckerpunch to me ("There I just said it / I'm scared you'll forget about me") This song seems to speak to anyone who's been in a relationship and has had a major fight or problem with their significant other, and I love that. It's a song that almost anyone can relate to. It's also an incredibly passionate, moving song. Once again, this is a track that I really like.

10. Do You Know Me: This is another one of those quick little songs on this album. I kind of like this, but it just feels so short. I like the guitar that's played on it, though. But... it's just so short, it's feels hard to get a grasp on it.

11. Friends, Lovers, or Nothing: I love the piano in this song. I almost love the questions that are posed in this song. It's kinda funny in a way, because I'm pretty sure that almost anyone could relate to this song as well. I do like the style of this song. Once again, it's a style that's different for Mayer, but he makes it work.

Like I've said before, Battle Studies definitely has a totally different sound than any of his other albums. Personally, I find it to be a little lacking. It doesn't sound full enough... it doesn't sound complete. There's just something about it, and I can't quite put my finger on it. Regardless, I think Where The Light Is and Continuum remain tied for the position of my favorite album. This could be a really good album with a little more work, but for now, it's just not doing it for me. I'm hoping that if I listen to it some more, it'll rub off on me. I don't know. I guess we'll see. For now, though, I give Battle Studies 3 out of 5 stars.