By shelz.

As John Mayer questions, “do you know me at all” on his newly released 4th album Battle Studies, the urban market may be wondering the same. If you stop and ponder for a moment though, you will realize you do.  He laid down the groovy strings on Common’s “Go!” He was the guitarist who brought the riff on “DOA” to life during Hov’s 9/11 show and he was the respectful guy at Michael Jackson’s memorial who had enough deference for the King of Pop to not sing “Human Nature,” instead giving a haunting instrumental presentation of one of MJ’s most celebrated songs.

His calming brand of bluesy pop soft rock has been around for years, primarily keeping the Top 40 crowd busy in between Dave Matthews releases.  However with Battle Studies Mayer takes a more emo and cynical tone when discussing affairs of the heart.  Her body may still be a wonderland, but that’s not enough to ignore the fact that he’s kind of tired of her shit. Yes, the love as a battlefield metaphor is more overdone than swag + hater x 100, but Mayer’s stoic delivery on most of these songs makes you feel like he really doesn’t care about the romantic firefight. So the loud passionate vocals you normally get with these types of releases are replaced with a quiet, morose quality. Maybe it’s too quiet and morose.

The album opens with “Heartbreak Warfare,” a song that brings a very literal viewpoint to this whole military inspired bemoaning of a relationship on the fringe of termination. The song is decidedly U2ish with a bit of classical warm up at the beginning to add gravity to the mess Mayer and his lady are making of their union.  She screams.  He ignores then implores her to lay down her weapon, but no luck. 

Next up on the play list is “All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye.” It’s four and a half minutes of Mayer questioning the point of the make up if you know you’re just going to break up.  The one line chorus/title of the song seems to be on infinite repeat though.  So about two minutes in, you start wishing he would just go ahead and say goodbye to that chick already.  Three minutes in, you’re reaching for the skip button so you can say goodbye to the song. 

We move on to “Half of My Heart.” The song follows suit with the construct as Mayer now wonders why he bothers with this whole love thing when his generous half says yes but his self-absorbed half says no.  Following is “Who Says,” a somewhat amusing ode to the single life.  He prattles off all the great things you can do without a significant other like get high, have casual sex and go to foreign places for no reason.  Sounds fun I guess. Then there is “Perfectly Lonely” which is the companion piece to “Who Says” where he reiterates the previous songs tone suggesting he doesn’t need a broad in his life to be happy. All the while the musical foundation of these songs is just about as quiet and melancholy as the lyrics.

There is a respite from all of this sad and purposely love starved rambling. “Crossroads” is a cover of a cover on which Mayer does get a little beastly on the guitar and reminds you why he is considered one of the most technically astute musicians of the decade.  He tackles one night stands from the perspective of a sniper on the sexy “Assassin.”  Get in.  Do your job.  Get out. However, the plan gets derailed when Mayer runs into a more talented killer. Interesting.  And “Do You Know Me,” a song about hopeful deja vu is absolutely beautiful in its short simplicity.

So is this album worth your time and moolah?  Well, it depends.  This is not an album that you would randomly select to listen to in the ride or while you’re cleaning house.  It’s sad and gloomy and would be best saved for when you’re all in a funk from breaking up with somebody worth being in a funk over.  It’s mood music; a special sonic something to keep on ice til the time is right and the feelings are similar. So if you know the break up is coming and want a worthy soundtrack, John Mayer has the perfect 11 songs for you. If not, skip it.  It’s a buzz kill if you’re in a good mood.

3 out of 5

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