First posted on Mark Is Cranky:
I rock so poorly.
Uhmm...my love, and my skill, is being smooth.
So begins Liane Hansen's interview with pop singer-songwriter John Mayer.
You might think that this is yet another attempt to get Mayer-haters forehead veins to throb extra hard this morning. It's not. If you haven't been paying attention (or maybe have a life, and are unconcerned with such things) there's been a little back 'n forth going on concerning Mayer. It all started with Blogcritics own DJ Radiohead's excellent tribute podcast to the late Elliott Smith. I made the mistake of admitting that I don't 'get' Smith and would instead prefer to listen to John Mayer.
Hoooboy, much snarling ensued. Then the One Big Happy podcast tosses a small can 'o gas onto the fire. Please, somebody reach for the fire extinguisher!
Does it have to be this way? Heck, I don't know. Why we like or dislike things is a fairly mysterious process. I tend to have emotional reactions to music. I hear it, my cells all start pulling in one (or another) direction and I immediately know. Just this morning I switched on the Sirius and tuned in to the all-Springsteen channel "The Bridge". They played his live version of Jimmy Cliff's "Trapped". For whatever reason, the chorus of that song just gets to me. I literally well up as the chorus swells. Why?
I have no idea.
So I've listened to the Elliott Smith tribute five times. I can sense the author's passion for the music...music that just does not speak to me. One thing I can say about it is that I tend to not respond to male voices that are soft, whispy and (supposedly) melancholy. I say 'supposedly' because my emotional reaction to the texture of the voice is to draw away and completely miss the emotion that I take it is supposed to be there. Obviously, it's just me because just two days ago, I listened to Petra Haden and Bill Frisell. The first tune "Satellite" really caught my ear. Yea, it was written by Elliott Smith.
The irony of the Mayer interview is that he goes on to say that because he's not a good rocker he couldn't ever see releasing a record like that. I don't know what that Mayer Trio record is going to sound like but from what I've read it's a move (or an attempted move) away from 'smooth'.
So did I have an emotional reaction to the music on this record. Sure I did. I immediately liked the way Mayer layered electric arpeggios on top of the acoustic guitar strumming. I was a little surprised at this because I'd read so much negative bluster about the guy. So much that I figured that there was nothing there. Yet I bought the album because I liked the vibe of "Neon" (the main riff remined me of a pop version of jazz bass-torturer Charlie Hunter) and Mayer's unpretentious attitude in that interview. That was enough for me.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - DJRadiohead
They say that music calms even the savage beast. So does good writing. This savage beast is calmed.
This is really a terrific piece of writing (and not just the parts where you say nice things about me and my podcast).
You are of course correct in that we all vibe to different things and the reasons for it are mysterious. I think your 'reasoning' for why you respond to one thing and not another makes a lot of sense. I tried listening to the interview... my Real Player at work wouldn't do it. I'll try it later.
In the end... "there's only you and me and we just disagree." Very good piece.
2 - Mark Saleski
thank you sir.
3 - Eric Olsen
Mark, Mark Mark, so nice to return and see your essentially Markyness remains securely intact!
Like DJR above, I really enjoyed the smooth ride of your thoughts and words, but I also happen to agree with your conclusions: yea Mayer, generally nay Smith.
I think Mayer is one of those talents who will follow his muse and continue to surprise. I have now heard some remarkable and tough blues-rock guitar out of him that wasn't even hinted at on Room For Squares or Heavier Things.
The setting I like Smith best in was his punk band Heatmiser where the fey introspection was balanced with roaring guitars and storming tempos.
4 - Phillip Winn
We just disagree because DJ is clearly off his rocker, but yeah.
Great writeup. I'll admit I can't quite explain why I like Mayer, but I do. And hearing him play live, well, when he lets loose and plays the blues, it's good stuff.
5 - Mark Saleski
and see your essentially Markyness remains securely intact!
i would like to state for the record that only eric olsen and my friend gene's daughter savanah are allowed to address me as 'marky'.
6 - Eric Olsen
And I was careful about that: didn't directly call you "Marky," just referred to your Marky-ness
7 - DJRadiohead
I tried to be nice. I really did. Look at comment #1. I TRIED.
Why, Georgia, Why do they taunt me? They mock us in Topeka, Captain. They do not respect our authori-tah.
I want to run through the halls of my high school. I want to scream at the top of my lungs.
What do I want to scream? You're killing me. Each and every one of you is twisting the knife in just a little deeper.
"I'll fake it through the day with some help from Johnny Walker Red,
Send the poisoned rain down the drain to put bad thoughts in my head..."
Of course it now occurs to me... I made a crucial mistake making this about Mayer VS Smith. As I am on record, it's not a contest for me (apparently not for any of you either so touche!). Mayer is inadequate in his own rite regardless the artistic merit of any number of other superior artists.
Just know... I will make my war against you all. I'm gonna fight them off. A Seven Nation Army couldn't hold me back... oh, sorry... that's Al and Monkey's thread.
8 - Mark Saleski
heh! and our own mr. barger has on his website the sentence "sacred cows make the tastiest burgers".
which somehow applies here, mr. smith being the sacred cow of indie-dom.
9 - Eric Olsen
it all depends on which seven nations!
I can see a fine songwriter in there, but Smith desultory mopiness really fucks with my chi
10 - Phillip Winn
Oh, so you're quoting lyrics now? I don't know if you want to start that.
Besides, it's three on one right here, which is hardly sporting. And then let's compare album sales and realize that you don't really want legions of Mayer-heads to descend and start questioning your masculinity and right to exist on the same earth with their beloved Johnny.
It goes without saying that nearly all of these people will be teenaged girls, but then there's my wife, too, and she's... er... not a teenager.
11 - DJRadiohead
I'm fat enough to be seven nations in one day.
Smith's incredible vocals and vocal arrangements as well as his gift as a musician and arranger gives me the option of enjoying his music on an 'ear candy' level as well as on the more detailed level where petty things such as lyrics are involved. I think this is most true of his later albums when he started to employ more instruments and also use of strings, etc.
Smith may be guilty of being a little monochromatic in mood. I get the same thing from Reznor's tortured soul bit or Robert Smith's mopiness (just off the top of my head). Again, this is where the different styles Smith employs musically really helps me. I don't feel like one of his albums is one giant downer because there are happy melodies disguising the hurt in the lyrics.
12 - Mark Saleski
and that's where we'll have to agree to disagree.
where you hear incredible vocals, i hear incredible monochomaticism. to use our parents' language, it all sounds the same to me.
13 - DJRadiohead
Phillip, any man who refers to candy lips and a bubblegum tongue ought not even try questioning anyone's masculinity. Let them question me. I got something for all the ladies (please, please let the wife to whom I am married not read this thread!).
Elliott might have a clumsy turn of phrase here and there but I am VERY comfortable putting Smith's lyrics on the table versus Mayer's.
Anyone dense enough to suggest to me commercial success and artistic merit are linked (which would in all likelihood be the aforementioned teenage girls) will find they need more than a 3-1 ratio to take me on. I was a MasterDebator!
My armies will be unleashed! Let them come. They will be smote! It's a Friday. I am going to Tuscaloosa to see my undefeated Tide vanquish the first of two Tiger teams to the South. My vengeance shalt be fierce and I am mighty.
Just keep the wife to whom I am married and Herself off this thread and I should be fine. =)
14 - DJRadiohead
And fair enough, Mark (y), although I think Mayer's prepubescent Dave Matthews vocal style lacks some substance and variety. I think his voice will really get exposed on his attempt at blues. Maybe he's enough of a guitarist to mask what I believe will be tremendous vocal shortcomings.
One of the areas Elliott's voice really got it done for me was when he would overdub himself and create the lush harmonies. The (forgive me) Beatlesesque-ness of those harmonies really nailed it for me. I think the two songs from "XO" ("Tomorrow Tomorrow" and "Sweet Adeline" are the best examples I included on the podcast). There are some songs, ones I didn't play, where his voice could get too wispy for me so I can understand your feelings there. On balance (obviously) I drank the Kool-Aid a long time ago where Elliott is concerned.
15 - Mark Saleski
yes, i heard that in those songs...though at the time what i thought to myself was "hmmm, sounds like when John Lennon sang 'I'm So Tired'...i'd rather listen to Lennon"
16 - Phillip Winn
I don't know how to track down your wife, but I'm gonna point my wife to this very page later today. :-P
Bah to the suggestion of a link between artistic merit and commercial success. My point there was just that you're biting off more than you can chew. These people, they won't see reason!
As far as candy lips and bubblegum tongues go, are you suggesting that your wife isn't sweet like honey, making you feel funny?
I've gotta find an email somewhere...
17 - DJRadiohead
Phillip, I didn't think you were making that argument. Biting off more than I can chew? I'm not afraid. Besides, you saw how I handled that Bon Jovi board! =)
Mark: A lot of people feel similarly when they hear an artist wear influences on their sleeves. I can understand it. Obviously it's just not going to happen with you and Elliott but you have given it a more than fair chance having listened to the podcast so many times. As I type this I am thinking of a lot of great songs I didn't play in the cast that would "surely" convert you. Sometimes, you just have to know when to let go. I have tried letting Elliott and Mayer go. But just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in.
18 - Eric Olsen
leather and lace, magnet and steel, you picked a fine to leave me you bitch
19 - DJRadiohead
you picked a fine time to leave me Lucille with 99 hungry children and a cop in the field... wait, I know I missed something here.
20 - Eric Olsen
back before Kenny was distracted by chicken
21 - Guppusmaximus
Well Done Mark... But, ofcourse I always have an opinion :)
"Why we like or dislike things is a fairly mysterious process...."
Not really. For music it comes down to wether you actually play an instrument or just enjoy listening to music. For the musicians... It's an educated ear that provides an insight on how the artist is performing the piece, so there will be an underlying structure that is creating the emotional connection. Understanding that alot of the artists are in fact mediocre in their ability to communicate that emotion or choosing to take shortcuts in their playing style is why I(Perhaps some people too) don't like mainstream artists.
22 - Guppusmaximus
..... As for John Mayer.... He's just a F*cking hack...:)
23 - Eric Olsen
yes, but what about the mainstream artists, who clearly have the musical acumen of which you speak, liking themselves?
24 - Mark Saleski
Understanding that alot of the artists are in fact mediocre in their ability to communicate that emotion or choosing to take shortcuts in their playing style is why I(Perhaps some people too) don't like mainstream artists.
nice conjecture.
i have played guitar for twenty years and studied jazz improvization for five or six of those years.
i know how music is constructed.
when i listen to music, i do NOT think technically.
25 - Eric Olsen
and if this were universally the case, then the most complicated music would always be the "best"