I was very excited last week to hear from John Mayer, in the form of both a new single and details about his next album, Sob Rock, due in July. Mayer’s last full-length album, The Search for Everything, dropped in early 2017, making this the longest draught between releases in his career.

Mayer did trickle out a few singles over the past four years, and it turns out all of them will be on this album. That’s a bit disappointing, as I’d prefer a whole batch of new songs. But I’ll take what I can get.

As you can tell by the deliberately dated album cover (love that familiar “nice price” sticker!), Sob Rock owes a big debt to the soft rock sound of the 80s.

New single ‘Last Train Home’ makes that connection clear, with Toto members Lenny Castro and Greg Phillinganes on drums and keyboards, respectively. Indeed, the song sounds like it could sit on an album alongside that band’s ‘Rosanna’ or ‘Africa.’ If Sob Rock is John Mayer’s yacht rock album, color me excited as hell!

‘Last Train Home’ is almost too radio-friendly. Clocking in at three minutes, and not even bothering with a bridge, it’s over before it begins. Mayer even fades out on his own guitar solo, while featured guest Maren Morris offers up backing vocals. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear a longer version on the finished album.

Whatever he serves up, I’m confident I’ll be happy with the results. Through seven previous albums, Mayer hasn’t taken a serious misstep yet.