Product Description

Somewhere around the turn of the 21st century, guys like David Gray (who'd already been labouring in obscurity for quite a while) and Five For Fighting made it hip (and profitable) to be a sensitive singer-songwriter for the first time since the '70s. Along those lines, John Mayer appeals to the kind of youngsters who are embarrassed by their parents' Dan Fogelberg collection but equally turned off by vociferous gangstas and misanthropic heavy rockers. ROOM FOR SQUARES (whose very title, not to mention Mayer's studied regular-guy cover pose, bespeaks the revenge of the nerds) accordingly trades in acoustic guitar-based folk-rock tempered with just enough 21st-century freshness to keep its practitioner in the Billboard charts (and his listeners' hearts). That's not to say Mayer's music is calculated; he's got a real feel for melody and a distinctive lyrical style. He also managed to be in the right place at the right time, and that's the key to any pop success.

Track Listing

1. No Such Thing
2. Why Georgia
3. My Stupid Mouth
4. Your Body Is A Wonderland
5. Neon
6. City Love
7. 83
8. 3x5
9. Love Song For No One
10. Back To You
11. Great Indoors
12. Not Myself
13. St. Patrick's Day

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2089 in Music
• Released on: 2002-10-28
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Singer-songwriter John Mayer fills his debut, Room for Squares, with pep talks to and advertisements for himself. Even when questioning his young life, Mayer's doubts come off glib; not one second of "Why Georgia" convinces that "the stirring in my soul" keeps the artist awake at night. Between his Dave Matthews-wannabe vocals and the accomplished but bland light rock of his band, he could be just as easily offering tunes for hire to a coming-of-age network series as making a stand for himself and his worldview. The premise of "City Love"--that Mayer couldn't find his way around Manhattan until finding a girlfriend to root him to the place--is nice but not edifying. "My Stupid Mouth" is similarly fuzzy; letting us in on just what he said to alienate a dinner partner would've gone a long way toward fleshing out the song's pat self-deprecation. Ultimately, Mayer comes off less like a commiserating friend than a blabbermouth who's forever forgetting there's someone else in the room. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

david gray lite
I bought this having stumbled across a john mayer cover of kid a that i thought was brilliant. That and the reviews on here encouraged me however I the album i have just listened to bears no resemblance to what has been described.

If you like your music so bland you forget its playing then this is the album for you. He may have progressed with his later stuff but this is truly awful, save your money.

Music Lover
It will take something truly phenomenal by someone truly phenomenal to usurp this as the greatest album I've ever come across. It is wonderful in every sense. I can only recommend (very strongly) that you buy it.

His voice is a wonderland
Not many male artists can earn the adjectival praise "beautiful" for their voice, but it is a fitting adjective for this American solo artist. His soothing tones are akin to a male Norah Jones, but not only this, Mr Mayer is a very talented musician. His ability with the guitar and his voice are equal in their musical height.

John Mayer has been described as having a "gift for melody" and this is exquisitly demonstrated by tracks such as his hit single, "Your Body is a Wonderland" and the guitar showpiece that is "Why Georgia". However the single aspect to Mayer's music I find the most inspirational is his masterful lyrics. For me, as a shameful self-confessed romantic, the lyrics for "Your Body is a Wonderland" are indescribably beautiful. Thus, I would assert it would be a crime for you not to at least listen to this album!

I apologise if this praise seems over-emphatic and exaggerated, but every once in a while you will find an artist that takes your breath away and truly inspires, and for me, John Mayer is all the above. I hope he can be your artist too!