Heavier Things

John Mayer

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 9, 2003)
• Original Release Date: September 9, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000ALSDR
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (629 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,224 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
John Mayer's big-label debut was a multiplatinum breakthrough success whose sensual anthem "Your Body Is a Wonderland" scored him an unlikely Grammy for Best Pop Vocal. That out-of-the-box succes--and more than a few critics grousing that Mayer's muse was cloned from Dave Matthews--primed him for the typical sophomore slump. Instead, Mayer delivers an album whose tone and title suggests a gentle, tongue-in-cheek rebuke to his naysayers. Propelled by the subtle ambitions of an expanded pop-jazz framework (largely courtesy of Sheryl Crow/No Doubt/Jellyfish producer Jack Joseph Puig), Mayer's breathy vocal tack now suggests a detached, conflicted, and significantly less precious incarnation of Michael Franks. But, the way he weds fluid pop hooks to lyrical concerns whose self-obsessions are undercut by telling dollops of self-deprecation from the my-spirit's-too-big/smart-for-my-body laments of "Clarity," the upbeat single "Bigger Than My Body," and the bluesy plea "Come Back to Bed" to the cautionary, melodically-rich "Daughters" and even the antimaterialist agitprop of "Something's Missing should clearly draw in listeners." --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 99 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed it more than his debut album, January 18, 2004

By	Manny Hernandez "Author of Ning For Dummies" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

John Mayer is bound to stir up discussion, it seems, no matter what he does. Whether he sounds too close to Dave Matthews or whether (like here) he distances himself a bit from that sound. Whether he works on the guitar more (as in his debut) or whether he puts in more electronic elements distorting the original sound. In any case, controversy drags attention to him and it is one thing he deserves.

His sound in this album is strengthened by a solid band (among others, to be found is Matt Chamberlain who's played drums for the likes of Tori Amos and Brad Meldhau) and though the lyrics might not be the deepest he's written, the album as a whole has a more original and mature feel than his debut album, which did happen to sound like a Dave Matthews ripoff more than once. Due to its variety of tempos and rhythms included in this work and the somewhat "heavier" electronic component (interestingly enough a little song tempo chart by sequence is included in the booklet!) it remindes of Clapton's 'Pilgrim' at times, such as the case with "Come Back to Bed". It is no coincidence, therefore, that he shared the Holiday Blues Revue ay NYC this past December alongside blues legends Buddy Guy and Double Trouble (the formed band of the late Stevie Ray Vaughn).

All in all, a step in the right direction, an evolution from his first album and most definitely a young artist to keep a close eye on: if he doesn't steer away from his current path, he's bound to becoming a musical legend of our times.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended Listening: Heavier Things, January 17, 2004

By	Aaron Blight (Westminster, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews

Heavier Things is my first John Mayer album. I bought this album because I loved the singles "Your Body Is A Wonderland," off his debut album, and the big recent hit off this release, "Bigger Than My Body."

Heavier Things seems to follow the melodic, sleek, catchy feel of these two hit singles. Mayer's breathy vocals are uniquely appealing but also deliver effectively in slower tempo tunes. More importantly, the depth of John Mayer's musical talent is evident on this album - he's a compelling songwriter with remarkably attuned pop sensibilities; he plays his own guitar; AND he can sing. Such a combination of talent gives Mayer the enduring appeal that will likely allow him to obtain and retain devoted fans for years to come. Yes, Mayer stormed the music scene with his debut album, but if he continues to write songs like these, he'll never be some Johnny-Come-Lately.

I find the hit "Bigger Than My Body" to be a spiraling, upward ascent that is impossible to resist. While that track is well-known from all its radio play, it is only the beginning of the great tunes on this album. "Clarity" is an enticing opening track, delivered poignantly mid-tempo with the wonderful backing of a trumpet. "Something's Missing" and "New Deep" are slower and introspective but sung in Mayer's typically earnest manner. "Come Back to Bed" bears a bluesy, jazzy feel, after which Mayer picks up the tempo and spirit with "Home Life," a smooth song laced with perfectly placed keyboards. "Split Screen Sadness" is another melancholy but magnetically delivered song. Next, "Daughters" is an acoustic, quaint tune with a straightforward, honest message revealing some of Mayer's obvious male sensitivities. "Only Heart" again picks up the pace and sounds like one of Mayer's big radio hits. The closing track, "Wheel," is one of my very favorites on the album, containing thoughtful lyrics and a beautiful pause of a chorus.

I also have to mention that Heavier Things gets my vote for the BEST LINER NOTES I've ever seen in an album! If you don't believe me, check them out - they're filled with charts and graphs including interesting tidbits of information about the songs on the album. Totally cool!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heavier, Yet Softer Things, January 30, 2007

By	Luke Anthony (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

John Mayer blazed into the hearts of teenage girls, and even twenty-somethings, and, well... ok, everyone's hearts with his debut album, and it was a great album. It still is. I can put it in everyday and listen to it and never get tired of it. It is edgy, fun, pop-driven at times, hook-laden, and relaxing even. When I heard he was releasing his second studio album so soon after his studio debut made such a splash, I thought surely it would not be able to match the pure gratification of his "Room for Squares." It came out. I was at the store waiting for the doors to open so I could listen to the new tunes on my way to one of my senior music classes in college. "Drumbeat." Alright. "Piano motif." Nice. "Drumbeat." Cool. "Piano Mo-!" What?! Piano? John Mayer? Huh? What a softer edge he went with on the opening track of "Heavier Things," as opposed to his opening on "Room for Squares" which brought out an edgier John. With this opening track, he has set a tone for his highly anticipated Sophomore Album, and I was not sure how I felt about it. However, the more I listened to the album, the more I realized that the title referred to what he was dealing with after having a multi-platinum grammy award winning debut album was. Following that presents... well... some heavier things. That is not to say that this album does not present some heavy subject. "New Deep" my be one of the most playful songs on here. The sarcasm he writes into the lyrics is palpable: "Numb is the New Deep/Tired of the old me/over the analyzing..." What a line! And in today's world? It speaks to anyone who knows anyone. We all know these kind of people, and we are subject to this numbness at times as well. Tender moments always have their place in Mayer's music. "Come Back to Bed," "Homelife," and "Split-Screen Sadness" are among the best ballades written in the Pop Genre. In "Homelife" he sings possibly the most poignant lyric on any album out there today: "I can tell you this much/I will marry just once/And if it doesn't work out/Give her half of my stuff/It's fine with me/We said eternity." How nice to hear that from some one in the entertainment industry. You may call him naive, but I agree with him. He brings us on an emotional journey with "Daughters" that is a bit more pop-driven than I prefer from Mayer, but nonetheless, it is a good song and has an even better message. He leaves us with "Wheel," a song about giving out love to everyone, and how it will return one day to you. "I believe that my life's gonna see/The love I give/ Returned to me." He's outdone himself. This made me see that he would just keep getting better and better with time.