Music Review: Continuum - John Mayer - Page 3

There's more soul and vintage R&B infused in Mayer's sound on Continuum than I expected to find, a fact that quickly elevated the shimmering "Slow Dancing In A Burning Room" to favorite track status, beyond that studio version of "Gravity," which pales slightly in studio form compared to the live version found on Try! that hooked me. And then there's that note-for-note perfect reading of Jimi Hendrix's "Bold As Love" . . .

The album is certainly aimed at the mainstream, and, aside from a few tracks, wisely (for the mainstream, that is) steers clear of the blues that were Try!'s centerpieces. It's unfortunate, in a way, that these tracks are so much more mannered and manicured than they needed to be - that he chose to do something subtle and romantic, where the smoother approach may have worked out better for the majority of his listeners, is understandable, but I wonder how many more are out there like me who may have had reservations that might have been cast aside with a more muscular sound. Mayer could do something raw and really powerful like he did with Try! if he felt like it - but now that I've given in and opened my ears, I've come to accept the music for what it simply is now, and I finally accept that I really just plain enjoy the hell out of Continuum as-is.

Article Author: Tom Johnson

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