John Mayer - Born and Raised

What we thought:

It's nice, real nice to have some new John Mayer to listen to. Born and Raised doesn't have that "every track is AMAZING" feel Continuum had, and Battle Studies to a lesser extent. However, this John Mayer is softer, less edited and a little wearier. It's not his best album, but an essential one to his collection.

Best track:

"Something Like Olivia". A pleasing combination of raw honesty and desire coupled with a kick-ass bridge and less sadness than it can get away with.

Worst track:

"The Age of Worry". It's just too heavy and clunky to fit in with the rest of the album.

Sounds like:
John Mayer woke up in Nashville with a major hangover. That may sound negative, but it's not. He's reflecting on all his 'stuff'.

On "Speak For Me" he sings: "Now the cover of a Rolling Stone / Ain't the cover of a Rolling Stone". Is he referring to that issue where he revealed all about Jessica Simpson's "sexual napalm" and then apologised for it? On "Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey" John compares (his?) drinking habits to a rinse ‘n repeat hair wash. "The stage was set, the words were mine / I'm not complaining."

Listen to snippets of the songs here: