Artiste: John Mayer

Rating: 3/5

Label: Sony Music

Mayer's fourth studio album Battle Studies pretty much runs in every direction - from his trademark pop groove sound to some tried and tested references that come from iconic bands like U2, Sting, and Pink Floyd. Now, was it a paean to these bands or just an experiment is something only Mayer can answer. However, the album does feature incredible songs like 'Who says', 'Do you know me' and 'All we ever do is say good bye' that throw you back in the Your body is wonderland days. Mayer also covers the popular Robert Johnson blues anthem Crossroads and gives it a progressive jazz blues touch- the song's a riot.    

One song that majority of us will revisit on this album is 'Who says' and 'Do you know me' where Mayer explores the power of simple lyrics and easy arrangements - now 'who says' Mayer can ever go wrong with that? In short, both these songs set a kind of feeling where you won't mind happily jumping off a tower. Mayer's duet with Taylor Swift on Half of My heart, and the ballad All we ever do is say good bye also has more or less the same effect. It's only with the tracks like Heartbeat warfare that you hit on the bump because its just NOT Mayer, and almost sinful to hear his trademark whipped cream vocals layered with the identifiable U2 - Floyd wannabe sound. Ironically, a well informed listener will find too many similarities with popular sounds. For instance, on the track Assassin, he goes in a Santana mode while on Edge of desire he creates a hook by (probably) reversing the popular 'Every Breath You Take Riff (Police)!' Having said that, Battle Studies is an album where Mayer has experimented (perhaps too much?) with the sound. The album features 11 tracks in all, and you can easily sail through the album without any complains once you have heard some of the gems (listed below) 

Look for:

Who Says

All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye

Perfectly Lonely

Crossroads (Cover, Robert Johnson)

Do You Know Me