Song of the Day #3,245: ‘Hell Yes’ – Beck vs. John Mayer

Our next Montauk Madness matchup pits somebody it’s very cool to like against somebody it’s very uncool to like. Beck, meet John Mayer.

I’m a big fan of both of these guys, so I’ll try to keep the hipness factor out of my vote. I realize that appreciating John Mayer is not great for my street cred, but I think anybody who dismisses his musical chops or his songwriting ability is mistaken. Sure, the guy can be a smug prick and some of his songs veer too close to maudlin, but so many more are spot-on.

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Song of the Day #3,214: ‘Vultures’ – John Mayer

John Mayer has a knack for making me like genres I don’t usually dig.

Take ‘Vultures,’ a song from Mayer’s excellent 2006 album (Continuum), which sounds like a lost Steely Dan track.

I hate Steely Dan. OK, that’s a bit strong, but I definitely don’t like them. And yet I love ‘Vultures,’ and the rest of Continuum, which has the same general vibe.

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Song of the Day #2,308: ‘In Repair’ – John Mayer

continuumI don’t know where John Mayer will end up when the history of pop music in the 21st century is written.

Will he be remembered more for his frat-boy antics and failed relationships or for his guitar chops that regularly put him onstage alongside idols such as B.B. King and Eric Clapton — legends who nod to his musical skills as very much in league with their own.

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Song of the Day #1,889: ‘On the Way Home’ – John Mayer

john_mayer_paradise_valleyJohn Mayer’s sixth studio album, Paradise Valley picks up where last year’s Born and Raised left off, and that’s a very good thing.

Mayer has settled into a country folk groove that suits him perfectly. His delicate guitar work and pretty melodies are tailor made for this back porch acoustic vibe. And he’s writing some of the best songs of his career.

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