John Mayer - Room for Squares

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Free Music Notes for Room for Squares

Free Music Review: A Musical Journey of Hope and Contemplation
Hit: 5 Stars

1) No Such Thing: The token anthem about independence and high school oppression (the new, young stars of the film and music industry, often referred to as "Young Hollywood," are fond of these spoken/sung discourses) comes off a LOT better than most of these songs do. Sure, it's a pretty common theme, but Mayer reworks it well, adding a sort of winking charm often lacking in these types of high-school-graduation anthems. He actually seems amused about the whole experience, rather than angry or disenchanted. In the world of Blink-182 and Sum 41 and whatnot, this Nice Guy attitude is nice.

2) Why Georgia: This is a mellow, contemplative piece. Mayer shows off his skills on the guitar, and his smooth, clear voice shines on the intelligent, probing lyrics. This guy clearly has a lot on his mind--and he expresses himself well.

3) My Stupid Mouth: Mayer does a delicate balancing act here; at times, he seems like a frustrated, earnest young man who can't understand why he can't seem to ever say the right thing at the right time; at other times, he seems to be employing his sly charm ("I played a quick game of chess with the salt and pepper shakers"). No matter what age, listeners will relate to his frustrations with his faults and limitations.

4) Your Body Is A Wonderland: This is a mellow love song that shows off Mayer's amazingly large capacity for sweetness. His voice and lyrics are tender, and this song provides a nice touch to his genuinely sweet album.

5) Neon: One of the album's standout tracks, Mayer shines once again on this tale of a young man forced to watch as his girlfriend self-destructs in a landscape of partying and failed escapism. Mayer's guitar work is worth more than an appreciative nod, and the lyrics display both an integrity of character and a vulnerability listeners will find appealing.

6) City Love: This song can be described with the word "cool." Mayer plays it smooth here, with witty lyrics and great instrumentals that give the piece an extremely tender feeling. Once again, we're shown just how sweet this guy can be. This is not one of the best tracks, but some people will appreciate it, and Mayer's "quirky charm works its magic once again."

7) 83: This is a sweet, relaxed song about wanting to be six years old again. It's got a cute premise, made even more charming by the fact that Mayer uses long phrases and an adult vocabulary to describe the feeling of being a child. His fond recollections of his family, as well as his "off-screen narrative" of how he felt when he was six, add a nice touch to this playful ditty.

8) 3x5: The instrumental track of this song is gorgeous--jazzy, catchy, and matching the lyrics perfectly. Mayer's voice is relaxed, as if he is actually speaking directly to you, or as if he is really writing a letter to you. His words perfectly describe a journey filled with beautiful sights and revelations of the soul--and that's what Mayer's all about. This could probably be described as the quintessential Mayer song.

9) Love Song For No One: I like this song. I really do. Some people thought it was too "conventional," but I find it a witty rework of the traditional "looking-for-love" theme. Mayer speaks words that ring true to so many people: "I'm tired of being alone/So hurry up and get here." The instrumentalists on this track (including Mayer) tear up the excellent, instantly recognizable melody, and I mean that in a good way (of course). This is probably one of my favorite tracks.

10) Back To You: Again, the instrumentalists shine here, and so do Mayer's vocals. He provides the smoky emotion needed to make this a really touching song to a love he still carries a torch for. Carrying torches is a human pastime, and Mayer manages to express his anguish and longing in a way listeners can instantly relate to.

11) Great Indoors: This song actually seems a little TOO quirky for my taste. It talks about the wonders one can find around your own house, a la "Amelie." It seems like something from a Disney Channel movie-of-the-month, and somewhat crosses the line between childish charm and complete overhaul. Not one of my favorites, but I can overlook it.

12) Not Myself: This is a smoky little number that asks, "Would you want me when I'm not myself/Wait it out while I am someone else?" People will be able to relate to the idea of sometimes coming out of character and wondering whether or not their "better halves" will be able to deal with that. (This is getting to be a little boring: I must say, once again, that the instrumentals and vocals rock. While it seems a little redundant to keep saying the same thing over and over, it's not a problem I often have, so I'll keep quiet ;) and appreciate the artistry.)

13) Mayer skips the 13th track, probably as an allusion to the old superstition. At first, it was a little disconcerting, but now I realize it's just another little quirky touch, one of the many that Mayer adds to his album. It's sweet, in a way, to see those personal touches that are so severely lacking from most pop albums.

14) St. Patrick's Day: This is an excellent song, an emotional and melodic way to close the album. I haven't listened it to it that often (because my CD player gets stuck on the blank 13th track quite often), but I do enjoy it.

All in all, this is one of the best CDs I've ever bought. I'm a harsh musical critic in general, but this CD received glowing reviews basically across the board.
Run, not walk, to buy this album!

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