John Mayer is one of those artists who is too talented to be as successful as he is. He’s young and brash, he dates hot women, his albums go multi-platinum, his videos are always on… this is the kind of guy who is supposed to be all flash and no substance. Easy to dismiss as a symptom of what’s wrong with America.
But when you actually listen to his albums, it becomes pretty clear pretty fast that he’s among the most talented songwriters and musicians working today. I hear a lot of Sting and Eric Clapton influences in his work, but I much prefer him to either of those great artists.
Over the course of three albums (not including live releases, of which he has a few) Mayer’s songwriting chops have grown in both depth and breadth, with his third album, Continuum, representing his most mature and nuanced work yet. He’s always had a knack for a great melody and a great lick, but on Continuum he proves a master of mood as well.
He also does something that almost nobody else in my collection can pull off — get me to listen to guitar solos. I’m the farthest thing from a jam band fan, but I can listen to Mayer play the electric guitar all day. I think that’s because he always makes sure the instrument serves the song.
This song is among my favorites on the album. It hits an irresistible groove right out of the gate, floating on a bed of keyboards, bass and drums. I love how the horns peek in here and there starting with the second chorus, and the little guitar solo that kicks in right after that.
I read an interview with Mayer in which he said that he likes to introduce some new element into his songs every 30 seconds or so in order to continuously engage the listener. I find this song to be a perfect example of the theory at work.
Meet Me In Montauk 
I like Mayer, but can’t say I love him. His music is generally accessible, goes down easy. His lyrics don’t do much for me–they seem a bit simple and obvious. I don’t put him in the same league talent-wise as Sting, whose music is far more comlex. This song, for example, is a product of great mood and production–but, if you break it down musically–it has about 4 chords in the whole thing. I’m not saying a 3 to 4 chord song is bad (see Twist and Shout). But, over time, it just isn’t a song that will hold my interest. I see Mayer as a descendent of Steely Dan, Robert Cray and the Dave Matthews Band, but I find those artists have more diverse and interesting sounds. Mayer is perfect MOR Love 94 background music, but I will be curious to see if he holds your attention over the next 5-10 years. I suspect your interest will fade much as it did for DMB and Sting.
You much prefer him to Sting? To Sting?! Wow. Why? I’ve not listened to enough Mayer to make a confident assessment of him as an artist, but, based on his hits and a song such as this one (which you call a favorite and representative of his best work), I hear nothing that puts him on the same plane as Sting, whose “Fortress around my Heart,” “Moon over Bourbon Street,” and “Mad about You” are just a few of the songs that make him a master songwriter and musician.
Oh well, that’s why you have your list and I have mine. Guess there are plenty of others like you, since he does sell plenty of albums (though, based on that video of a collection of shots of Mayer in all of his dreaminess, I imagine he sells many of them to girls who daydream they’ll be the next in his long line of romantic conquests).
I love much of Sting’s work, including the excellent songs you mentioned, but I find much of it pretentious (even without a twang 🙂 ). I do like the jazzy elements he brings in, but overall I don’t find myself reaching for his albums nearly as much as I do Mayer’s.
As for DMB, I love two or three of their albums but the rest never engaged me at all. Perhaps Mayer will follow suit, so we’ll have to see. But for now, he is a perfect example of the kind of solid pop songwriting that I’m really drawn to (see also: Josh Rouse, Jakob Dylan, Michael Penn and even Ben Folds).
And he’s different in that he introduces those Clapton guitar-god elements that I’m not normally fond of, and does so in a way that elevates his music in my eyes (and ears).
By the way, I must admit that I do find myself thinking the sort of “he’s everything that’s wrong with America” sentiment when I see him spashed on the cover of the tabloids and filling the screen of the TMZ’s of the world. He probably shouldn’t be faulted for those exploits (or the paparazzi’s insistence of characterizing his life as a series of exploits), but what you call pretentious in Sting has always come across to me as serious – as in, he takes his music seriously. The artists Sting has worked with over the years (such as Branford Marsalis), his passion for causes I admire, and, yes, probably his long marriage to Trudie (tantric sex and all), have always kept him in the spotlight for the right reasons, which likely does affect my perception of him and, maybe, his music.
But I think it’s just that “Mad about You” is a far superior song to anything Mayer has done 😉
I think it’s a bit of Sean Penn syndrome, where the artist’s public life turns you against him/her on a visceral level, entirely apart from their work. Many people feel the same way about Woody Allen, though I’ve never been in that group.
But I’m not calling Sting’s public life pretentious… I’m calling his music pretentious. Or some of it, anyway.
To me, this all goes back to Clay’s love of the new and, comversely, the undue criticism of the old. Mayer has, what, 3 albums? Sting, when you include the Police, has a 30 year career with around 20 albums. Are some of the albums lesser? Sure. Are there some songs that are clunkers? Sure. Same could be said of ANY artist with a 30 year career. But I challenge you to take your 10 favorite Sting songs and put them against Mayer’s 10 best and tell me that Mayer is better. I find that notion to be, quite frankly, comical.
And what song of Sting’s do you find pretentious? I admit that I am not a big fan of extended jam sessions, but, ironically, in his far shorter career, Mayer has become known as a jam session guy himself.
And maybe I haven’t hearf enough of Mayer’s guitar solos, but I have yet to hear one that is to technically impressive or unique so as to put him in the same universe as Clapton
Sting is to Sean Penn, as John Mayer is to Orlando Bloom
Looking at my collection, I have three Sting albums and three John Mayer albums.
I used to have Dream of the Blue Turtles but I sold it back. I also sold back Brand New Day and Mercury Falling… and I never bought Sacred Heart because the reviews were pretty bad, not to mention his album of songs played on the lute (yes, the lute!).
Yes, he has some great songs, but I rarely listen to his music and I will not rush out to purchase anything else he releases. On the other hand, I very much anticipate John Mayer’s next release.
Is it because he’s “new?” Sure, that plays a part… “new” artists who have yet to fail are more exciting than established artists who have put out a long line of shit albums (regardless of what they did in their past). Would you disagree with that? On the other hand, established artists who still “have it” — Bob Dylan, Lyle Lovett, Elvis Costello, Aimee Mann, Lucinda Williams, etc. — excite me as much now as ever. I was first in line to pick up Bob Dylan’s album two weeks ago.
As for their best songs: I don’t think Mayer has done anything as great as ‘Mad About You,’ which I consider Sting’s best song. But my favorite Mayer songs appeal to me about as much as my favorite Sting songs, and I’d much rather listen to Mayer’s full albums than Sting’s, which I find very uneven. And I listen to full albums about 95% of the time.
Well, look, to each their own. I just don’t find Mayer’s work all that interesting musically or lyrically. Sure, it’s pleasant enough to listen to, but I need more than that to hold my interest ultimately.
Your analysis of Sting leaves out his work with the Police. Do you not own a police album? Do you not like songs like Roxanne, Don’t Stand So Close to Me, Every Breath YOu Take (admittedly overplayed, but still…), Message in a Bottle, Every Little Thing She Does s Magic, Wrapped Around Your Finger, Murder by Numbers??? To me, if Sting had never gone solo, those songs would put him head and shoulders above Mayer. But then he goes on to make Blue Turtles, which, while not a perfect album, contains songs like Russians, Children’s Crusade, Moon OVer Bourban Street and Fortress Around Your Heart. Hard to imagine selling that album back with those songs on it!
Then he goes on to make Nothing Like the Sun which I think was his peak and was simply masterful. With the possible exception of the redundant hit We’ll Be Together, that album is solid from beginning to end –Be Still My Beating Heart, Englishman in New York, , Fragile, Rock Steady, Sister Moon, are all standouts.
Then he releases Soul Cages, another great album, with your favorite Mad About You. He then puts out Ten Summoner’s Tails with the wonderful Fields of Gold, It’s Probably Me, and Shape of My Heart. Now I agree, his work after that has not been as impressive, but on his work from 1978 through at least the mid 90’s– the man is not in the same league as Mayer.
You could have stopped with your first line… “to each their own.” But the rest of your post seems to suggest there is some objective measure here.
I appreciate that you love Sting, and I like him quite a bit myself. I just happen to like Mayer better.
Neither is close to being among my very favorite artists, though, so I don’t see any reason to hash this one out any more.
On a totally superficial note (since it looks like just about every artistic argument has been made), I CANNOT even look at John Mayer when he sings. Period! Sting, on the other hand, is perfectly lovely to watch and doesn’t have to contort his face while he sings in order to get the lyrics out. 🙂
You go, Kerrie! 🙂
Yes, we can all agree that Mayer has a face worthy of a Halloween mask when performing. 🙂
You sold back Dream of the Blue Turtles? I have no response for that.
Ditto Amy’s last comment. That’s one of my favorites of his.
I think Sting aways looks vaguely constipated.
It’s all that tantric sex.