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intereact!John Mayer
Retail Price (not our price): $13.98
Release Date: 2001-09-18
Manufacturer: Sony
Format: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Track List
Now here, for your listening pleasure, the tracks...
| Disc 1 |
Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
1) Amazon.com
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 artiste awake at night. Between his Dave Matthews-wannabe vocals and the accomplished but bland lite 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. And instead of whining about a discarded lunch box ("83"), dude, learn to brown-bag it the way the rest of us did. --Rickey Wright
Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5
1) Great Record! (Ignore Rickey Wright) [Rating: 4 out of 5]
Usually I can't be bothered to log into my account here at Amazon and write a review, but here's why I am today:1. I really like John Mayer (especially because I'm a fan of Stevie Ray Vaughan).2. The featured critic on Amazon's site missed the target and hit the dirt.This is a solid, durable record. The guitar work is good, and the production is good. It has stood up to time since its release in 2001 (seven years ago), and it's complex enough to have not made my ears weary of it.To address Rickey Wright's critique (if it can be called that, with its personal editorializations), John Mayer's lyrics are reflective, humorous, and wistful, and they are more intelligent than most pop you're going to hear on the radio. They are obviously snapshots of his life, at that time. Being a fellow songwriter, I can appreciate that. Rickey Wright says, "instead of whining about a discarded lunch box ("83"), dude, learn to brown-bag it the way the rest of us did." I'm not sure what chip RW is carrying around on his or her shoulder, but I don't interpret the lyrics as whining. In the context of the song, Mayer is reflecting on how his life has changed since he was a child. Sure, it's not one of the deepest songs on the album, but there is some truth in there, and that's what makes this whole record solid. Look past the veneer and pop hooks (which are almost essential to being a successful artist these days), and you'll find nuggets that make you think or feel or remember. (Or don't look past the surface, and just enjoy a fine recording.)Again, this was a snapshot in time, and it's what John Mayer had to say. That's what songwriting is about. If you're going to bring your baggage into it, that's what you're going to hear. If you listen with an open mind, you might hear more than the song is saying on the surface.-rP.S. John Mayer is obviously influenced by Stevie Ray Vaughan. It's in his voice and his guitar licks, and it's so nice to hear Stevie's influence still ringing through today. If you want something more dedicated to the blues, check out Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble.Kudos to you, John Mayer, and God bless ya, Stevie.2) 3x5=83 On St. Patrick's Day [Rating: 5 out of 5]
For most great artists, the debut is a monkey you can't get off your back. It's not that it's a bad album, just not up to the standards of their later and greater work. John Mayer himself considers this album and Heavier Things more of a mix-tape, a time in his career when he had to break out and say look at me, here's my best. There's no clear theme, just the best of what he had at the time. He also looks back on his early work as too much him, not about the music, a time where he just sang constantly, and wouldn't let the music speak for itself. The change is most evident in "83," a song about the joy of childhood and a longing to go back to that time. An excellent theme that everybody has felt, and he brings it out amazingly well. However, if he had written the song today, it would have been even better. So the last minute or so when he longs for his lunchbox would probably be axed in favor of the music itself.So taking the album as/is, and not comparing it to his later work, the album is an amazing little pop album. Another interesting this is the lack of electric guitar, and heavy use of acoustic instead. This is evident in the opening part of "No Such Thing," which is great opener to the album, and to an amazing career. Electric guitar still pops up in songs like "Neon" "Love Song For No One" and "Back To You." Wonderland also has an amazing electric solo in the middle of it."My Stupid Mouth" has the simplistic theme of talking too much, and getting yourself in trouble. Pretty simple, but still a good song. What's most surprising is that the theme carries into "Your Body Is A Wonderland" when Mayer sings, "I'm never speaking again." Which is what he says in the previous song. From just hearing the song on the radio, you'd never know this, but when you listen to the album, you pick up on the mastery of Mayer's work.With all of this amazing music, it's hard to pick favorites, but two tracks stand out on a whole other level from the rest of the songs. "St. Patrick's Day" is an amazing song that has a mood beaming with love and hope. The song is an instant classic, and could fit right into a hundred movies. "Why Georgia" on the other hand is on a whole different level because of its lyrics. A song about the quarter-life crisis is both as relevant as it is good. And when the chorus arrives, something unexplainable happens. Is it genius? Maybe... Mayer has also said he loves playing the song, because it's then he knows he's not the only one asking these questions, when you have a whole crowd full of people singing, "Am I living it right?" There's something there, and this album relates to people on a whole other level.Overall, while not as impressive as Continuum, it's still an amazing album, and the start of the best artist of our time. An instant classic that's great on so many levels, it's hard to count. Mayer does not deserve the title of a "Dave Matthews Clone," that's a downright insult to the amazing genius that takes place on this album.3) Still not tired of it. [Rating: 5 out of 5]
I still love the Room for Squares album, even after listening to it frequently the first summer I purchased it, four (or was it five?) years ago. The songs resonate with me in a way that keeps them fresh and alive, and makes me keep coming back for more. His catchy hooks are infectious; well written musically and lyrically. John Mayer is a good singer, songwriter, and player. If you've just discovered and enjoyed his more recent works, you will love this one.4) This is a great and I mean great folk-rock CD! [Rating: 5 out of 5]
John Mayer never really ceases to amaze me but there is something about this album that speaks to me. Maybe it's because it's really relate-able.My Georgia, Neon, Your Body Is A Wonderland, St. Patrick's Day and City Love are all great songs but John really shines when he tells a story in 83 and 3x5. And No Such Thing is still one of my all-time favorite John Mayer songs. It's one of his few upbeat numbers.I don't rate a 5 to many products here, but this one deserves it. It was really good when I first heard it ever, then I played it after some time and didn't like it as much. But then I bought it again (don't know what happened to the original) and fell in love with it all over again.Highly recommended.5) THIS DUDE IS GREAT!!!! [Rating: 5 out of 5]
I love his song "No Such Thing" because its upbeat and keeps your head bobbing. This guy makes me want to scream on top of my lungs!!!!