OPINION

OBH #017: "John-Boy Mayer"

Written by Phillip Winn
Published November 10, 2005

[23:08, 5.3MB, MP3] Recorded 2005/11/09

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Complete schedule of the show:
00:00 Welcome to One Big Happy Podcast #017, "John-Boy Mayer"
00:05 ♩ "Opera Singer" by Cake from Comfort Eagle
00:30 Meet the Family: The proper way to eat chocolate-covered cherries, plus the raging debate on how to pronounce John Mayer's name. Is it Mayer, or Mayer?
05:42 ♩ "Animal" by Phil Keaggy from 220
05:58 Artist Review: About John Mayer, the good, the bad, and the kinda cute. With a shout-out to Pam Avoledo
19:15 ♩ "Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)" by Scatman John from The Best of Scatman John
19:20 Wrap-up: Is it Christmas already?
22:42 ♩ "Take Back the Beat" by Church of Rhythm from Church of Rhythm
23:08 End of podcast

As the short durations probably make clear, the listed songs are excerpted very briefly.

Dedicated to DJRadiohead, it's the John Mayer show!

In fact, DJRadiohead provides a contrasting viewpoint on Mayer in his recent review of Buddy Guy's Bring 'Em In.

It is a measure of how I've been feeling that I consistently referred to the date as November 8 throughout the show, when in fact it was November 9! Oddly, I did all of the math correctly, counting the days until Thanksgiving and Christmas, but all from the wrong starting point.

Show archives are available at the official home of One Big Happy Podcast

Phillip Winn is the Chief Geek for BC Magazine, and a blogger since 1995. He may currently be found and followed on Twitter.
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OBH #017: "John-Boy Mayer"
Published: November 10, 2005
Type: Opinion
Section: Culture
Filed Under: Culture: Podcast
Part of a feature: One Big Happy
Writer: Phillip Winn
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Comments

#1 — November 10, 2005 @ 10:19AM — Phillip Winn [URL]

Let the debate between DJRadiohead and Mark Saleski begin... now!

#2 — November 10, 2005 @ 10:21AM — DJRadiohead [URL]

You warned me that it was coming...

You are a rabble rouser, Phillip Winn. You rouse rabbles!



Downloading...

#3 — November 10, 2005 @ 11:08AM — DJRadiohead [URL]

There IS someone who does a worse Irish accent than I. Phillip... brother... that was completely terrible. I LOVE it.

#4 — November 10, 2005 @ 11:19AM — DJRadiohead [URL]

What straight man reads Cosmo? Phillip! Rock! Gold, sir!

#5 — November 10, 2005 @ 11:25AM — DJRadiohead [URL]

His vocal on "Dreams to Remember" on the Buddy Guy CD is wretched.

I don't care if he can play guitar. Yngwie Malmsteen can play the guitar but I don't want to hear it!

I never said I could write something better. I just said the song was obvious and I mean obvious in a bad way. In fact, I meant obvious in a very bad way.

It's one thing to write a song that expresses universal themes that connect humanity. It's another thing to write an obvious, insipid makeout song for 12-year olds.

Oh... and the bit about Herself and the sex talk/filthy mouth is comedic gold. What you should do, see, on a future episode right at the end of the cast before you do the Church of Rhythm is have Herself just let loose a blue streak. Don't tease it or even warn us it's coming. I think I would laugh for a month.

Great episode, guys. I loved the hell out of it. This supplants "Lottery" as my favorite.

#6 — November 10, 2005 @ 11:56AM — Phillip Winn [URL]

Wow, thanks for all the kind comments, DJ!

You know, I almost accidentally said your real first name during the podcast. I had to listen to it carefully before publishing it to make sure I hadn't, in fact. :-)

My Irish accent is normally a lot better, though still not great. I'll try again, in a better tribute to The Duke.

Anyway, I think I disagree with you on John Mayer overall. Yeah, I've got complaints. I've definitely gone back and forth with Herself a number of times on JM's lack of maturity, his shallowness as Pam Avoledo points out. But in the end I think he is a talented songwriter, musician, and singer. Does he sound like Buddy Guy? No. And I haven't actually heard that song yet. But I've got the B.B. King and Herbie Hancock albums, and I enjoy his tracks on those.

Which reminds me that I should drop in links to those three albums, plus a link to Pam's article.

Thanks!

#7 — November 10, 2005 @ 12:02PM — DJRadiohead [URL]

You could also drop in a link to my Blogcritics review of the Buddy Guy album (hell yeah I want a shameless plug!).

I think Mayer might be a terrific guitarist (I have heard he is but have only heard the pop crap). I think as a songwriter he blows. The halls of the high school/daughters/make out songs just didn't get it done for me. And singing? Cheap Dave Matthews. But... I think the important thing to consider is that Herself is a fan meaning you, me, and Saleski should all just shut up.

Great cast.

#8 — November 10, 2005 @ 12:06PM — Phillip Winn [URL]

To be sure, Wonderland and Daughters are about my least favorite songs of his, so I'm decidedly against the pop stuff. But do yourself a favor and check out the upcoming John Mayer Trio album. I haven't heard any of it, but I'm betting he'll actually play a bit on it, so that'll be a treat.

And you're right: my acceptance of John Mayer probably has a good bit to do with my wife's adoration of the boy. :-)

I'll pop in a link to your review, to be sure. Thanks for the reminder.

#9 — November 10, 2005 @ 12:11PM — Mark Saleski [URL]

ok, i have no comment yet.

just got in (from boring morning meeting at our other office...you don't need the details as you will become sleepy and fall down).

things won't free up for a coupla hours, but then i'll download.

pwinn, sounds like you're a trouble maker.

but i think we already knew that.

#10 — November 10, 2005 @ 14:49PM — Aaron, Duke De Mondo [URL]

haha! hells fire! that's the best impression of me i ever heard!!! you do a better me than i do! aw man, i'm honoured as all hell to get a mention in the OBH! and it's nice to finally know who the hell this Mayer cat is. oh, and the Mondo Podcast 14 is half-recorded, in answer to the semi-question raised in this instalment.

I gotta hear me that accent again...

#11 — November 10, 2005 @ 15:04PM — Mark Saleski [URL]

i heard the same fresh air segment that pwinn heard, and that's what got me interested in Mayer.

whether he's a 'good' songwriter of not we can argue until dj radiohead is blue in the face.

what's without dispute is that he thinks long & hard about how the musical bits of his songs interract.

ps. next episode MUST be the herself sex blog. if not, we'll boycott!!!! ;-)

#12 — November 10, 2005 @ 15:13PM — Phillip Winn [URL]

Okat, Duke, I promise I'll try to do an *actual* impression of you, instead of this last-second half drunken-scotsman, half Australian nonsense I throw out on this show. And yeah, I'd really like to hear another show from you soon!

#13 — November 10, 2005 @ 15:15PM — Phillip Winn [URL]

Mark, it's a small world. My wife actually didn't know anything about Mayer until I came home after hearing that interview and started googling for the guy. After a week or two, I bought his two albums and later the concert CD and DVD (separately). So she's a fan, but it's my fault.

Herself doesn't work well under pressure, so I'll hope she doesn't see your demand. Then it might actually happen.

We'd have to warn certain people from our respective families not to listen, of course. :-)

#14 — November 10, 2005 @ 15:17PM — DJRadiohead [URL]

How's this for a twist... rather than pummelling Saleski for his musical crimes I am going to join with him in agreeing with him on his demands for next episode. ;)

You know what? Why does it have to be either or? Saleski... he thinks long and hard about how his musical bits interact? How does he do that? Listen to a Dave Matthews Band CD to figure out how to blend Dave's voice with an acoustic guitar?

Wow. Demands for a Herself sexblog and a slap at Saleski. Plus a shoutout on the OBH #17. I am feeling genuine contentment.

#15 — November 10, 2005 @ 15:22PM — Mark Saleski [URL]

How does he do that? Listen to a Dave Matthews Band CD to figure out how to blend Dave's voice with an acoustic guitar?

did you listen to the interview on fresh air?

musical crimes my ass.

#16 — November 10, 2005 @ 15:41PM — Temple Stark [URL]

john mayer = musical crimes + my ass

Is that more what you meant?

#17 — November 10, 2005 @ 15:43PM — Phillip Winn [URL]

Hahaha! Though I'm with Mark on this one, I can appreciate comment #16, for sure. :-)

#18 — November 10, 2005 @ 16:03PM — DJRadiohead

I didn't hear the interview. Just "Room for Squares" and that damn daughter song. I don't care what he says he does. I've heard the music! That was more than enough for me. But if someone posts the link to the interview (if it's still available out there) I will queue it up and listen.

#19 — November 10, 2005 @ 16:12PM — Mark Saleski [URL]

i would, but i'm listening to Elliott Smith at the moment.

#20 — November 10, 2005 @ 16:13PM — DJRadiohead

OK, and one last thing and then I, too, will shut up about John Mayer... the name of this trio album: Try. How fucking pretentious is that? I don't know. Maybe no one else thinks it is. Maybe it's just that I don't like the guy. Anyway, when I saw that I laughed on account of it's a pop tart boy trying his hand at blues and he named the album Try.

I am so sure I am the only one finding that amusing. I'll stop now. Seriously. I will.

#21 — November 10, 2005 @ 16:16PM — Mark Saleski [URL]

i wasn't kidding. i AM listening to Elliott Smith.

#22 — November 11, 2005 @ 23:18PM — nugget

speaking of bad music. radiohead????

#23 — November 11, 2005 @ 23:19PM — nugget

elliot smith is good. how do you stab yourself in the heart? really?

#24 — November 11, 2005 @ 23:29PM — Phillip Winn [URL]

Funny you should mention RadioHead, nugget. I was planning a podcast centered around Radiohead's marvelous music in the next month or two. :-)

#25 — November 12, 2005 @ 15:32PM — Pam Avoledo [URL]

Thanks for the shout-out! Not to worry about the last name, though.

The best Halloween candy, though?: The Russell Stover orange marshmallow pumpkins. Those things go fast.

#26 — March 22, 2006 @ 17:03PM — Matthew T. Sussman [URL]

Those who heard DJRadiohead and Saleski in the latest segment on BC radio were told to search for Phillip's impression of The Duke on one of his podcasts.

Sweet lord, that's the last time I ever, ever, EVER listen to any Blogcritics podcasts at work.

But if you want advice on how to muffle your own laughter, do this:

(1) Breathe deeply.

(2) Go to the bathroom. (Although it may be worse for your persona to be giggling while at the urinal)

(3) Go to your car, and just let it all out.

I'm just glad I listened to this at the end of the day, or for sure I would have accomplished nothing at work.

There wers so many comic elements to that impersonation that fired on all comedic cylinders. Perhaps the best reason was that it was done so extemporaneously yet so out of place from the theme of the discussion that it had to be surgically implanted in there by a God who loves us all.

Thank you for that. Nothing in the world could make this a bad day after that.

#27 — March 22, 2006 @ 17:26PM — DJRadiohead [URL]

Comedic gold, it was.

#28 — March 22, 2006 @ 17:46PM — Phillip Winn [URL]

Man, now I'm gonna have to listen to this one myself. I *really* need to get back into this.

Here's a lazyweb request: I want a "soundboard" for the Mac. I'm talking about those pieces of software (web pages, sometimes) with a bunch of "buttons" on them, and each button you click plays a different sound. Usually a clip from a movie, like Napoleon Dynamite. In my case, I want to be able to assign different sounds to the buttons myself.

If I could get such a soundboard, I think I might resurrect the podcast. I'd work on a much better impression of The Duke, that's for sure!

#29 — March 22, 2006 @ 19:28PM — Matthew T. Sussman [URL]

Shouldn't be too hard if you knew Flash.

Those last four words there are the kicker, though.

#30 — March 22, 2006 @ 23:28PM — Phillip Winn [URL]

I just listened to that episode from beginning to end, and now I *must* restart the podcast.

I have no idea what I was thinking with that impression of The Duke, though. Wack!

Maybe I'll download a trial version of Flash 8 and see if I can slap something together.

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