As a child, I remember dreading 2½ hour-long car rides to relatives in Massachusetts. I also remember John Mayer always be playing in the CD player constantly. Me, I was never fond of him. His voice was just too shy and nasally. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying he had a bad voice, but it just didn’t have any excitement. Then I heard that he was forming a new band called John Mayer Trio. My first reaction was ‘Ugh! More John Mayer?’ My mother, being a John Mayer fanatic, really wanted this album for Christmas. So, of course, I had to buy it. So I did and she played it on one of those dreaded car rides and I must say I was in shock. Such spectacular guitar licks and rhythm coming form John Mayer? It was a very pleasant surprise.
I’ve never heard this much energy from John Mayer. One thing that was a shock to me was his vocals. It wasn’t the shy and whisper like voice that I heard earlier in his career. He actually had strong, bluesy vocals but still keeping his somewhat lovely quality that he had. In the song
Wait Until Tomorrow he has a whaling chorus, once sung by Jimi Hendrix himself, and shows no sign of timidity at all. Another example is
Good Love Is On the Way. He doesn’t fail making this just as soulful as B.B. King at his prime. Even though he steps up his vocals doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have that shy somewhat beautiful voice.
Another Shade Of Green completely shows his lovely earlier voice. Also In the song
Daughters which he has already done solo, he sounds like he will stick with his timid vocals but then there is a climactic explosion and it really takes the song to a new level. He shows both sides of his admirable voice.
In a blues band, a great guitarist is absolutely vital. I must say that the biggest shock in this is John’s guitar. He can really go up and down that fret board. There isn’t one song were he doesn’t show extravagant guitar work. He mostly shines on his intros. I was surprised as soon as I heard the first intro on
Who Did You Think I Was. It portraits what he does throughout the entire album, just being upbeat and full or energy. Another great example is
Out of My Mind where he shows very relaxing, slow and swinging bluesy guitar riffs almost mimicking the styles of Jimmy Page and Muddy Waters. He also has no trouble at all singing while playing guitar. He even speaks to the crowd very casually as if someone else was playing guitar. I was mostly in amazement with all of his short and sweet blues drenched solos and licks. Though they can be a bit too short, they don’t hold back on any talent at all.
The rhythm section does a great job backing John’s talent. Steve Jordan always seems to come up with some great beats to play his drums to and Pino always has a reliable bass doing there job and not failing to make this album that much better. Such chemistry helps immensely make this band great. This really shines in the brilliant cover of
I Got a Woman. This starts off with a catchy drumbeat and a driving bassline and then you hear ‘She gives me money!’ and the crowed goes wild. I must say that this track is the most enjoyable song on here. Ray would be proud. John picked some great musicians to make this music so complementary.
This album really brings back the days of the blues and does it great. This album really came right in time in my life seeing how I got my first guitar a couple months before I got this album. This really inspired me more to get into the blues. They have so much talent and I hope to see these guys together for a very long time.
Pros:
A pleasant surprise
It’s the blues
I Got a Woman
Cons:
If you don’t like blues then you will hate this album
Solos are a little bet too short
Recommended tracks:
Who Did You Think I Was
Good Love Is On the Way
Out of My Mind
I Got A Woman
4/5
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