John Mayer's Born and Raised

The thing I love about John Mayer is that he knows how to make an actual concept album.
On Tuesday Mayer released Born and Raised. It his fifth album and it is already one of my favorites.
I really like the meekness of this album. I saw Jay-May perform in Toronto a couple years ago, and I know first-hand that the guitar is truly an extension of his body. He can make a guitar do anything he wants with ease. That being said, John seems to pull back a lot with his guitar playing on this album. It’s not as “heavy” as Battle Studies. Where there is space left that could be filled with a guitar solo, it’s often filled with harmonica (played by Mayer) and this gives the album a blues-ier feel. Everything on this album just seems softer. It reminds me of someone realizing they have done wrong and they come back to apologize; they’re quieter, less abrupt, softer. I appreciated the guitar picking and the all-around easy listening feel of this album.
Even lyrically, John is not his *ehem*, proud self. Mayer shows his reflective side and brings a more mature vibe to this album. John has been the object of criticism and has embarrassed himself in recent years with some off comments and this album seems to say “I’m sorry and I’ve changed” while still asking for respect.
Bottom line – I love this album. I’ve listened to it end to end 8 times in two days. It is relaxing and it speaks to where I am and where I want to be. This album further establishes John as a musician among pop-stars. I would highly recommend it for lovers of folk, soft rock, blues, and maybe even country.

Track listing:
Queen of California
The Age of Worry
Shadow Days
Speak for Me
Something Like Olivia
Born and Raised
If I Ever Get Around to Living
Love is a Verb
Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967
Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey
A Face to Call Home
Born and Raised (Reprise)

Favorites: The Age of Worry, Shadow Days, Born and Raised, Love is a Verb, Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967

Where to listen: Next to a beach fire, in a room with lots of wood/antiques, driving through the Canadian prairies

What to drink: Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey