Counting down my favorite songs from the new John Mayer album, Sob Rock…
#1. ‘Wild Blue’
My favorite song on Sob Rock by a country mile, ‘Wild Blue’ is also one of the best tracks Mayer has ever recorded, period.
Mayer touches on a bunch of early 80s influences on this album, and on this song it’s Dire Straits’ turn. Somewhere Mark Knopfler is doffing his cap to acknowledge the fabulous groove and sublime guitar work on ‘Wild Blue.’
Lyrically, it’s another sad one (really, the album is ten for ten by that measure), though this track finds some meaning in the heartbreak. “I found myself when I lost you,” Mayer sings, and “you’ll never know the unlikely beauty in letting you go.”
It’s ultimately a hopeful message, which is a running theme on this album. These songs are about the silver linings on the dark clouds, and they’re dressed up in a nostalgic sheen that feels far more sincere than ironic.
Never seen the sun before
Laying on the ocean floor
Walking through the wilderness
And living off the loneliness, oh
[Chorus]
Wild blue deeper than I ever knew
Wild blue on a bed of grey
Oh baby, what a wild blue
I found myself when I lost you
[Verse 2]
Yeah, yeah
All the tears I meant to cry
Dance across the evenin’ sky
And in my sorrow, I can see
That missing you belongs to me, oh
[Chorus]
Wild blue deeper than I ever knew
Wild blue on a bed of grey
Oh baby, what a wild blue
I found myself when I lost you
[Instrumental Bridge]
[Chorus]
Wild blue deeper than I ever knew
It’s a wild blue since you went away
Oh baby, what a wild blue
I found myself when I lost you
[Outro]
And you’ll never know
The unlikely beauty in letting you go
Meet Me In Montauk 
Daniel predicted this might be your number one track. In addition to Dire Straits, I hear a healthy dose of Steely Dan influence.
I had a funny feeling this was gonna be your #1! This was also the standout track for me among a track list of very strong songs. The Knopfler inspired guitar immediately stood out to me. It’s always compelling to hear Mayer adopt a very specific guitar style for a song whether that be more country inspired on an album like “Born and Raised” or jazz inspired on an album like “Search for Everything”. The 80s inspired guitar throughout this album has been one of my favorite emulations of his so far. This song by far has my favorite guitar work.
It does have the appeal of being recent, but I would agree that this is one of my favorite Mayer songs. I’ll check in with you in a year or so to see if it holds up as much as “If I Ever Get Around to Living” or “I Don’t Trust Myself with Loving You”!
I will say I am a little surprised at the omission of “Shot in the Dark”! I will say that song is most similar to “Til the Right one Comes” and when I saw that song included, I expected this slight. Personally, I would say “Shot in the Dark” is one of my favorites if only for the breakdown after the bridge. I’m a sucker for the way Mayer sings “Casanova”.
I’d rank that one #6, probably. Another gem.