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Editorial Reviews
Born and Raised, the new album from Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician John Mayer. The first single, "Shadow Days," Billboard calls "a gentle and shimmering confluence of mellow Southern rock".
Mayer produced Born and Raised with Don Was, who worked on albums for acts such as the Rolling Stones, B.B. King and Bonnie Raitt. Rock legends David Crosby and Graham Nash provide vocals on the title song, "Born and Raised." Musicians joining Mayer on the album and on the road include highly-regarded keyboardist/pianist Chuck Leavell who has worked with the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and The Allman Brothers Band as well as previous collaborators Sean Hurley on bass and Aaron Sterling on drums.
Mayer's previous albums Room for Squares, Heavier Things, Continuum and Battle Studies have sold more than 12 million copies combined. He has been honored with seven Grammy Awards and an additional 11 nominations. He has also been included in Time Magazine's annual Time 100 list of the most influential contemporary thinkers, leaders, artists and entertainers, and twice been featured on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine s annual "Guitar" issue.
Mayer produced Born and Raised with Don Was, who worked on albums for acts such as the Rolling Stones, B.B. King and Bonnie Raitt. Rock legends David Crosby and Graham Nash provide vocals on the title song, "Born and Raised." Musicians joining Mayer on the album and on the road include highly-regarded keyboardist/pianist Chuck Leavell who has worked with the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and The Allman Brothers Band as well as previous collaborators Sean Hurley on bass and Aaron Sterling on drums.
Mayer's previous albums Room for Squares, Heavier Things, Continuum and Battle Studies have sold more than 12 million copies combined. He has been honored with seven Grammy Awards and an additional 11 nominations. He has also been included in Time Magazine's annual Time 100 list of the most influential contemporary thinkers, leaders, artists and entertainers, and twice been featured on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine s annual "Guitar" issue.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
134 of 147 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
John Mayer's music is no Otis Redding or Radiohead. For the casual walk-in-the-park, secondhand-smoke listeners, it's still good accessible music. The real charm however lies in multiple listens, the layers that you peel away.
It's funny how I remember every phase of my last five years of existence through a John Mayer album. They're like bookmarks, neatly dividing the book into shades of white and grey. It all might sound a little too juvenile but it is what it is. Those albums remind me of a time smothered with so much innocence, it's unimaginable for me to shrug the feeling off. I find myself in a completely different position from how it was back then as I write about Mayer today. It's 2012 and I'm two albums away from the album that redefined how I interpreted music - Continuum. The parallel running similarities creep me out at times, but I've learned to live with it.
For the sake of this review, I realize that I must do one essential thing.
Fan boy mode : OFF
Finally, and gosh have we waited for 6 years, Born And Raised is everything Continuumwas and so much more.
After the success of Continuum, John wanted to shred the sumptuous bluesy pop ambience and write a country record. The plans had to take the back burner for a while as John decided to write something else instead for his next studio release. 2009's Battle Studies was a decent effort but for all it's worth, it was John Mayer lite - Fleetwood Mac-esque, low-key, striped-down melodies, super-polished mainstream pop record about heartbreak. A good album as a whole but it suffered from low listenability; faded away with time and got skipped almost every time his discography was revisited by the fans. It was mildly annoying since it just seemed like a lazy step back instead of a step forward, something that just doesn't look good on what John has fostered in his twelve years of music career.
Right from the beginning of Born And Raised, it becomes evident that he feels at home this time around. Everything is so much more organic and heartfelt, it's overwhelming. The opener is that one good country song that Keith Urban or Tim McGraw wished they had written. A playful chorus with the glorious lead solo, Queen Of California is the soundtrack of every droptop Mercedes cruising away from a city skyline.
Musically, the minimalistic low-key approach complements everything perfectly, giving Mayer enough room to play around with his new-found calm and repose. The reason why this is the coming of age of John Mayer is sprinkled all over the album. Life events are now less calamitous and more of an experience. He's done with low-handed mud slinging, holding on to something that doesn't exist and everything callow and innocent. "It's just a phase, it's not forever and I still might have a ways to go." - he croons in Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey.
If Heavier Things was a lyric-lover's paradise, John is on another echelon this time around. Each song is a tad more personal than its predecessors, making Born And Raisedthe most intimate record John has written yet. The title song, for that instance, is the warmth of acceptance of how/why things are the way they are. "Still have dreams, they're not the same. They don't fly as high as they used to." - Born And Raised is bold and mature, unlike the helplessness and yearning of Speak For Me. The feel is chiefly folkish and acoustic, but not in a way that would render the songs colorless. There's just enough soul in songs like Something Like Olivia to make you tap your feet, sing along as well as be moved and provoked by the simplicity.
What makes Born And Raised perfect is how it's a stark contrast to what Continuumwas. Instead of being an album which is versatile, multi-faceted and full of worthy singles, this is much more cohesive and humanlike. Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey is followed by what might possibly be a career highlight. Just by the name, one can tell how ambitiousWalt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967 is. It's an emotionally-fueled story about a man who thought against the grain and went against the odds. The song begins with a simple dobro picking and trumpet and breaks into something so beautiful, you shouldn't be surprised if you find a little something in your eye by the end of the song. In fact, Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967 could have an album of its own.
This is it. As the credits roll along with the reprise version of the title song and the rightful closer, a feeling of completeness takes over. Like Continuum was a boy's living soul,Born And Raised is a grown man's narrative. There's no more questioning, no more dissatisfaction... instead, John comes around and accepts the beauty of it. One of the slightest hints of love is seen in A Face To Call Home, but it's unlike anything John has written before. It swells into a massive chorus towards the end, but the boyish charm makes way for the maturity of a bruised heart. There's a restrain which makes it all the more appealing. Clearly, he has embraced everything he used to fight before and the outcome is evident in Born And Raised. For the last few lines of this review, this happens - Fanboy Mode ON. This is everything that you look for in music. You want to feel something. That's what we all are looking for, isn't it? While we find solace in Born And Raised, Mayer continues to be the living proof that there's a hidden genius in the quiet and contemplative.
It's funny how I remember every phase of my last five years of existence through a John Mayer album. They're like bookmarks, neatly dividing the book into shades of white and grey. It all might sound a little too juvenile but it is what it is. Those albums remind me of a time smothered with so much innocence, it's unimaginable for me to shrug the feeling off. I find myself in a completely different position from how it was back then as I write about Mayer today. It's 2012 and I'm two albums away from the album that redefined how I interpreted music - Continuum. The parallel running similarities creep me out at times, but I've learned to live with it.
For the sake of this review, I realize that I must do one essential thing.
Fan boy mode : OFF
Finally, and gosh have we waited for 6 years, Born And Raised is everything Continuumwas and so much more.
After the success of Continuum, John wanted to shred the sumptuous bluesy pop ambience and write a country record. The plans had to take the back burner for a while as John decided to write something else instead for his next studio release. 2009's Battle Studies was a decent effort but for all it's worth, it was John Mayer lite - Fleetwood Mac-esque, low-key, striped-down melodies, super-polished mainstream pop record about heartbreak. A good album as a whole but it suffered from low listenability; faded away with time and got skipped almost every time his discography was revisited by the fans. It was mildly annoying since it just seemed like a lazy step back instead of a step forward, something that just doesn't look good on what John has fostered in his twelve years of music career.
Right from the beginning of Born And Raised, it becomes evident that he feels at home this time around. Everything is so much more organic and heartfelt, it's overwhelming. The opener is that one good country song that Keith Urban or Tim McGraw wished they had written. A playful chorus with the glorious lead solo, Queen Of California is the soundtrack of every droptop Mercedes cruising away from a city skyline.
Musically, the minimalistic low-key approach complements everything perfectly, giving Mayer enough room to play around with his new-found calm and repose. The reason why this is the coming of age of John Mayer is sprinkled all over the album. Life events are now less calamitous and more of an experience. He's done with low-handed mud slinging, holding on to something that doesn't exist and everything callow and innocent. "It's just a phase, it's not forever and I still might have a ways to go." - he croons in Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey.
If Heavier Things was a lyric-lover's paradise, John is on another echelon this time around. Each song is a tad more personal than its predecessors, making Born And Raisedthe most intimate record John has written yet. The title song, for that instance, is the warmth of acceptance of how/why things are the way they are. "Still have dreams, they're not the same. They don't fly as high as they used to." - Born And Raised is bold and mature, unlike the helplessness and yearning of Speak For Me. The feel is chiefly folkish and acoustic, but not in a way that would render the songs colorless. There's just enough soul in songs like Something Like Olivia to make you tap your feet, sing along as well as be moved and provoked by the simplicity.
What makes Born And Raised perfect is how it's a stark contrast to what Continuumwas. Instead of being an album which is versatile, multi-faceted and full of worthy singles, this is much more cohesive and humanlike. Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey is followed by what might possibly be a career highlight. Just by the name, one can tell how ambitiousWalt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967 is. It's an emotionally-fueled story about a man who thought against the grain and went against the odds. The song begins with a simple dobro picking and trumpet and breaks into something so beautiful, you shouldn't be surprised if you find a little something in your eye by the end of the song. In fact, Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967 could have an album of its own.
This is it. As the credits roll along with the reprise version of the title song and the rightful closer, a feeling of completeness takes over. Like Continuum was a boy's living soul,Born And Raised is a grown man's narrative. There's no more questioning, no more dissatisfaction... instead, John comes around and accepts the beauty of it. One of the slightest hints of love is seen in A Face To Call Home, but it's unlike anything John has written before. It swells into a massive chorus towards the end, but the boyish charm makes way for the maturity of a bruised heart. There's a restrain which makes it all the more appealing. Clearly, he has embraced everything he used to fight before and the outcome is evident in Born And Raised. For the last few lines of this review, this happens - Fanboy Mode ON. This is everything that you look for in music. You want to feel something. That's what we all are looking for, isn't it? While we find solace in Born And Raised, Mayer continues to be the living proof that there's a hidden genius in the quiet and contemplative.
60 of 65 people found the following review helpful
By David
Format:Audio CD
I'm always surrounded by people who cringe at the mere mention of John Mayer. I can't say i'm surprised when people give me the "WTF" face whenever I tell them I'm a huge fan. Admittedly, it's a little tough to get yourself past songs like Your Body Is A Wonderland or Come Back To Bed and how overly pop they are so you can enjoy his music.
As I've always said, the real heart of a musicians repertoire lies deeper in their discography. You just have to do a little digging to find the real gems and masterpieces. Nobody I know has any clue what Wheel sounds like, or that John actually covered Hendrix on Continuum, or that he has SRV tattoo'd on his arm. For years, I was the same way. I wrote John Mayer off as some ridiculous pop hack writing catchy tunes just to get the girls excited... That was until a friend brought Try! into work one night and put it in for us to listen to. While everyone else was busy lamenting on how lame it was, I was fixated. I needed to hear more, and one of the tracks that stood out the most was Gravity. I had to have Continuum. That was the album that completely changed my position on Mayer's music. I've always been a blues fan, and I had rarely heard a contemporary artist channel the blues feeling as well as John did on that album. I'm Gonna Find Another you was absolutely beautiful and a perfect nod to Peter Green's Need Your Love So Bad. I've been a huge fan and promoter of John's music ever since. I gained an even deeper respect for him after learning about his affection for Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Where The Light is was the album that truly sealed the deal for me. It's Even better that he kinda sounds like Stevie. ;)
The point being that Born and Raised is no exception. It's equally as brilliant and addictive as Continuum. Whereas on his 2006 album he was channeling and imitating the blues sound, on BaR he channels his southern rock and country chops. When you listen to the music, you taste a little Neil Young, Allman Brothers, Hank Williams and John's own flavor injection. It's a little disconcerting to know that many will write this album off because of John's reputation, but it's definitely a must listen. I don't know that I would consider any of the tracks pop station staples because most mainstream listeners won't get them, but it doesn't make them any less effective or infectious for the seasoned Mayer vet. The thing I love the most about the album is probably it's low key nature. It takes a more reserved, acoustic approach and relies less on overproduction or polishing and instead relies on feeling, telling a story and sending a message. I liken the approach to what Springsteen did with Nebraska. Something about a stripped down, raw album hits home for me more than a polished, meticulously arranged album ever could.
I have to say that Walt Grace, Love Is A Verb, Queen of California and Something Like Olivia are the standouts for me. The very latter being a song I can easily see myself cranking in my 1980 TA while I roll down the highway, T-Tops off and a bandana keeping the hair out of my face. It's apparent that John has been listening to his share of Neil Young. He even makes reference to Young's After The Goldrush (another must listen for fans of southern/classic rock) on the opener Queen of California. It's actually a little funny (and ironic) that John is able to do country better on this album than most supposed "country" musicians can. Sure, he's no Hank Williams, Patsy Cline or Merle Haggard, but he sure sounds like he'd be right at home on stage with them, given what he's showed us on this album (please listen to the Born and Raised reprise). Queen of California reminds me of Midnight Rider. Heck, just look at the album cover. That alone is the perfect nod to classic 60s and 70s southern rock bands (I feel a heavy Marshall Tucker, Molly Hatchet and Allman Brothers vibe going on there).
I was a little skeptical to hear this album after hearing Battle Studies, but I wasn't afraid. I know what John is capable of, and even if I didn't like his previous album as much as Heavier Things or Continuum, I knew there would at least be something here I could gravitate towards. What impresses me is how complete and honest BaR feels. The most important seller for any album is its ability to connect with me on a personal level. Whether I'm looking for something that's fun or something I can relate to, that's always the deciding factor over how much i'll like an album. John has nailed the flavor, emotion and feeling he was going for with this. After my first 5 listens, the only thing I could think of was how much I wanted two of my closest friends to hear it. Walt Grace has been on repeat for 2 days running. :)
Please don't be fooled by the lack of guitar driven tracks or ooey gooey "gives me chills" solos that were abundant on Continuum. There aren't any here, and that's the point. We already know John is capable of shredding, so there's no need to demonstrate it for us again. Instead, what he's done with Born and Raised is put together an ensemble of tracks that are more suited to a relaxed, "sit on my porch with a beer and watch the rain come down" atmosphere (as songs like Speak For Me demonstrate beautifully). John is still able to display his uncanny knack for melody, harmony and killer guitar licks. Don't focus so much on how technical the guitar work sounds. Instead, focus on the mood it conveys, the ambiance it creates and ultimately what it invokes in you after you've heard it.
I don't think it's appropriate to do a track by track review of the album, because everyone interprets and experiences the music differently. I felt it was more appropriate to give you a more rounded view of how it feels as a whole. Overall, it's a little country, it's a little southern rock (If I ever get around to living sounds like Young's "Old Man"), and there are tinges of blues sprinkled throughout the album (Something Like Olivia is a standard 12 bar blues progression). Bottom line, if you're a borderline, "I don't really know if I should get this" Mayer fan, rest assured you won't be disappointed. It's no mistake that he was able to convince Guys like Graham Nash and David Crosby to record with him here. They know as well as guys like Clapton know that John is the real deal. This is definitely one of those albums you want to have a physical copy of because it is that good. A huge improvement over Battle Studies and a worthy contender to Continuum. I'll be listening to this for years to come and defining pieces of my life on the songs therein. That's the true sign of a classic.
5 Stars.
As I've always said, the real heart of a musicians repertoire lies deeper in their discography. You just have to do a little digging to find the real gems and masterpieces. Nobody I know has any clue what Wheel sounds like, or that John actually covered Hendrix on Continuum, or that he has SRV tattoo'd on his arm. For years, I was the same way. I wrote John Mayer off as some ridiculous pop hack writing catchy tunes just to get the girls excited... That was until a friend brought Try! into work one night and put it in for us to listen to. While everyone else was busy lamenting on how lame it was, I was fixated. I needed to hear more, and one of the tracks that stood out the most was Gravity. I had to have Continuum. That was the album that completely changed my position on Mayer's music. I've always been a blues fan, and I had rarely heard a contemporary artist channel the blues feeling as well as John did on that album. I'm Gonna Find Another you was absolutely beautiful and a perfect nod to Peter Green's Need Your Love So Bad. I've been a huge fan and promoter of John's music ever since. I gained an even deeper respect for him after learning about his affection for Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Where The Light is was the album that truly sealed the deal for me. It's Even better that he kinda sounds like Stevie. ;)
The point being that Born and Raised is no exception. It's equally as brilliant and addictive as Continuum. Whereas on his 2006 album he was channeling and imitating the blues sound, on BaR he channels his southern rock and country chops. When you listen to the music, you taste a little Neil Young, Allman Brothers, Hank Williams and John's own flavor injection. It's a little disconcerting to know that many will write this album off because of John's reputation, but it's definitely a must listen. I don't know that I would consider any of the tracks pop station staples because most mainstream listeners won't get them, but it doesn't make them any less effective or infectious for the seasoned Mayer vet. The thing I love the most about the album is probably it's low key nature. It takes a more reserved, acoustic approach and relies less on overproduction or polishing and instead relies on feeling, telling a story and sending a message. I liken the approach to what Springsteen did with Nebraska. Something about a stripped down, raw album hits home for me more than a polished, meticulously arranged album ever could.
I have to say that Walt Grace, Love Is A Verb, Queen of California and Something Like Olivia are the standouts for me. The very latter being a song I can easily see myself cranking in my 1980 TA while I roll down the highway, T-Tops off and a bandana keeping the hair out of my face. It's apparent that John has been listening to his share of Neil Young. He even makes reference to Young's After The Goldrush (another must listen for fans of southern/classic rock) on the opener Queen of California. It's actually a little funny (and ironic) that John is able to do country better on this album than most supposed "country" musicians can. Sure, he's no Hank Williams, Patsy Cline or Merle Haggard, but he sure sounds like he'd be right at home on stage with them, given what he's showed us on this album (please listen to the Born and Raised reprise). Queen of California reminds me of Midnight Rider. Heck, just look at the album cover. That alone is the perfect nod to classic 60s and 70s southern rock bands (I feel a heavy Marshall Tucker, Molly Hatchet and Allman Brothers vibe going on there).
I was a little skeptical to hear this album after hearing Battle Studies, but I wasn't afraid. I know what John is capable of, and even if I didn't like his previous album as much as Heavier Things or Continuum, I knew there would at least be something here I could gravitate towards. What impresses me is how complete and honest BaR feels. The most important seller for any album is its ability to connect with me on a personal level. Whether I'm looking for something that's fun or something I can relate to, that's always the deciding factor over how much i'll like an album. John has nailed the flavor, emotion and feeling he was going for with this. After my first 5 listens, the only thing I could think of was how much I wanted two of my closest friends to hear it. Walt Grace has been on repeat for 2 days running. :)
Please don't be fooled by the lack of guitar driven tracks or ooey gooey "gives me chills" solos that were abundant on Continuum. There aren't any here, and that's the point. We already know John is capable of shredding, so there's no need to demonstrate it for us again. Instead, what he's done with Born and Raised is put together an ensemble of tracks that are more suited to a relaxed, "sit on my porch with a beer and watch the rain come down" atmosphere (as songs like Speak For Me demonstrate beautifully). John is still able to display his uncanny knack for melody, harmony and killer guitar licks. Don't focus so much on how technical the guitar work sounds. Instead, focus on the mood it conveys, the ambiance it creates and ultimately what it invokes in you after you've heard it.
I don't think it's appropriate to do a track by track review of the album, because everyone interprets and experiences the music differently. I felt it was more appropriate to give you a more rounded view of how it feels as a whole. Overall, it's a little country, it's a little southern rock (If I ever get around to living sounds like Young's "Old Man"), and there are tinges of blues sprinkled throughout the album (Something Like Olivia is a standard 12 bar blues progression). Bottom line, if you're a borderline, "I don't really know if I should get this" Mayer fan, rest assured you won't be disappointed. It's no mistake that he was able to convince Guys like Graham Nash and David Crosby to record with him here. They know as well as guys like Clapton know that John is the real deal. This is definitely one of those albums you want to have a physical copy of because it is that good. A huge improvement over Battle Studies and a worthy contender to Continuum. I'll be listening to this for years to come and defining pieces of my life on the songs therein. That's the true sign of a classic.
5 Stars.
45 of 48 people found the following review helpful
By D. Briscoe
Format:Audio CD
I was sure that I wasn't going to like this CD upon first listen.
Boy was I ever wrong. John Mayer is a musical genius with a very deep
soul. I'm 62yrs old, and I turned all of my six children on to John many years ago.
Born and Raised is a soundtrack for this age and for anyone on a journey to
self-understanding.
God bless you, John Mayer, for sharing your talent and your soul.
Boy was I ever wrong. John Mayer is a musical genius with a very deep
soul. I'm 62yrs old, and I turned all of my six children on to John many years ago.
Born and Raised is a soundtrack for this age and for anyone on a journey to
self-understanding.
God bless you, John Mayer, for sharing your talent and your soul.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
New direction for John Mayer?
Right off the bat this sounded more California-rock, with easy going rhythms and melodies. Not too much for the guitar lover but not as pop as some of the previous albums.
Published 10 days ago by Roy G. Donaldson
3.0 out of 5 stars
dissappointed
I love love love John Mayer...but this album wasn't the best. It's very depressing...and not enough of his signature guitar.
Published 13 days ago by Jessica Ayala
5.0 out of 5 stars
I'm in love
I have fallen in love with John Mayer's music, but in a backwards kind of way. I am a 52-year old woman and love listening to Sirius Radio's Coffeehouse~~and was loving the... Read more
Published 16 days ago by Rocky Mtn. Horse Gal
5.0 out of 5 stars
Soothing
The songs on this CD are awesome to listen too when you just want to chill and enjoy some well-crafted music. Enjoyed it from beginning to end.
Published 16 days ago by Tom Krucek
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Album
Love John Mayer. One of the only artists where I still REQUIRE buying a physical copy of every cd he puts out.
Published 18 days ago by mnkillam
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Generation and Genre Crossing Album for All Ages
While this doesn't contain a lot of the sugary sweet, mainstream style songs that made John popular (Daughters, Your Body is a Wonderland, et al. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Casey Carter
3.0 out of 5 stars
i miss the old john..
I'm sorry to say this bc I am such a huge john Mayer fan but born and raised failed to meet my expectations...let me just say I have adored everything by john in the past... Read more
Published 26 days ago by colleen
5.0 out of 5 stars
John Mayer redefines himself and his music
I am too intimidated to write a review about this album because I am truly biased when it comes to JM. I absolutely loved this album and it's a must-have for any John Mayer fan.
Published 1 month ago by Chathuranga Neminda
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Music
I thoroughly enjoyed this cd. Identifed with many of his song. Never purchased his music before, but I certainly will in the future.
betty
betty
Published 1 month ago by Betty Ware
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoy his music
Seems he might be getting a perspective on life and heading towards a better direction. I hope he finds what he needs to be happy not what he thinks he needs in life. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Michele Freeman
