 Recommended Listening: Heavier Things |
| Review Date: January 17, 2004 |
| Reviewer: Aaron Blight, Westminster, Maryland United States |
| Heavier Things is my first John Mayer album. I bought this album because I loved the singles "Your Body Is A Wonderland," off his debut album, and the big recent hit off this release, "Bigger Than My Body." Heavier Things seems to follow the melodic, sleek, catchy feel of these two hit singles. Mayer's breathy vocals are uniquely appealing but also deliver effectively in slower tempo tunes. More importantly, the depth of John Mayer's musical talent is evident on this album - he's a compelling songwriter with remarkably attuned pop sensibilities; he plays his own guitar; AND he can sing. Such a combination of talent gives Mayer the enduring appeal that will likely allow him to obtain and retain devoted fans for years to come. Yes, Mayer stormed the music scene with his debut album, but if he continues to write songs like these, he'll never be some Johnny-Come-Lately. I find the hit "Bigger Than My Body" to be a spiraling, upward ascent that is impossible to resist. While that track is well-known from all its radio play, it is only the beginning of the great tunes on this album. "Clarity" is an enticing opening track, delivered poignantly mid-tempo with the wonderful backing of a trumpet. "Something's Missing" and "New Deep" are slower and introspective but sung in Mayer's typically earnest manner. "Come Back to Bed" bears a bluesy, jazzy feel, after which Mayer picks up the tempo and spirit with "Home Life," a smooth song laced with perfectly placed keyboards. "Split Screen Sadness" is another melancholy but magnetically delivered song. Next, "Daughters" is an acoustic, quaint tune with a straightforward, honest message revealing some of Mayer's obvious male sensitivities. "Only Heart" again picks up the pace and sounds like one of Mayer's big radio hits. The closing track, "Wheel," is one of my very favorites on the album, containing thoughtful lyrics and a beautiful pause of a chorus. I also have to mention that Heavier Things gets my vote for the BEST LINER NOTES I've ever seen in an album! If you don't believe me, check them out - they're filled with charts and graphs including interesting tidbits of information about the songs on the album. Totally cool! |
Heavier, Yet Softer Things
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| Review Date: January 30, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Luke Anthony, San Francisco, CA |
| John Mayer blazed into the hearts of teenage girls, and even twenty-somethings, and, well... ok, everyone's hearts with his debut album, and it was a great album. It still is. I can put it in everyday and listen to it and never get tired of it. It is edgy, fun, pop-driven at times, hook-laden, and relaxing even. When I heard he was releasing his second studio album so soon after his studio debut made such a splash, I thought surely it would not be able to match the pure gratification of his "Room for Squares." It came out. I was at the store waiting for the doors to open so I could listen to the new tunes on my way to one of my senior music classes in college. "Drumbeat." Alright. "Piano motif." Nice. "Drumbeat." Cool. "Piano Mo-!" What?! Piano? John Mayer? Huh? What a softer edge he went with on the opening track of "Heavier Things," as opposed to his opening on "Room for Squares" which brought out an edgier John. With this opening track, he has set a tone for his highly anticipated Sophomore Album, and I was not sure how I felt about it. However, the more I listened to the album, the more I realized that the title referred to what he was dealing with after having a multi-platinum grammy award winning debut album was. Following that presents... well... some heavier things. That is not to say that this album does not present some heavy subject. "New Deep" my be one of the most playful songs on here. The sarcasm he writes into the lyrics is palpable: "Numb is the New Deep/Tired of the old me/over the analyzing..." What a line! And in today's world? It speaks to anyone who knows anyone. We all know these kind of people, and we are subject to this numbness at times as well. Tender moments always have their place in Mayer's music. "Come Back to Bed," "Homelife," and "Split-Screen Sadness" are among the best ballades written in the Pop Genre. In "Homelife" he sings possibly the most poignant lyric on any album out there today: "I can tell you this much/I will marry just once/And if it doesn't work out/Give her half of my stuff/It's fine with me/We said eternity." How nice to hear that from some one in the entertainment industry. You may call him naive, but I agree with him. He brings us on an emotional journey with "Daughters" that is a bit more pop-driven than I prefer from Mayer, but nonetheless, it is a good song and has an even better message. He leaves us with "Wheel," a song about giving out love to everyone, and how it will return one day to you. "I believe that my life's gonna see/The love I give/ Returned to me." He's outdone himself. This made me see that he would just keep getting better and better with time. |
catchy riffs, thoughtful lyrics
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| Review Date: September 13, 2004 |
| Reviewer: D. Mclean, washington, dc |
| a more mature, thoughtful album than "room for squares." Mayer is entering adulthood and trying to put behind the metaphysical musings that many people go through in their early 20s. i'm in my 30s and found "squares" a little too cute, aimed at the teen crowd. "heavier things" has depth and reveals a sharp intellect at work behind the guitar riffs. it's been in my car CD player for a month, and lyrics from it bounce around my head at odd times throughout the day. best songs, IMO, are "clarity," "new deep" and "something's missing" with it's checklist of items as it trails off. very catchy. |
the best musician to emerge so far this young decade
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| Review Date: November 10, 2004 |
| Reviewer: C. M. Brewer, Iowa City |
First of all, John Mayer is NOT trying to be someone else...He's defining himself, and he moves towards doing so in leaps and bounds on Heavier Things.
For some reason, a number of reviewers here do not seem to have an understanding of John or his music. In fact, one reviewer thought that by Heavier Things, John was creating a heavy metal album. Seriously man, what the f*ck?
Many people feel as though this album was rushed. This is true, but the implications of that approach are not nearly as significant as many believe. Mayer wrote a few of the songs on Heavier Things while on the road during a relentless touring schedule lasting nearly the entirety of the break between albums, or two years. They were road tested and approved by his most dedicated fans. The remainder of the songs were crafted in what little downtime Mayer enjoyed, out of his self-described "psychological hypochondria" and tendency to panic about even the smallest things in his life. This mechanism leads to a number of inquisitive, insightful, and pensive songs about things with which most people are concerned in life. The interior, heavier things.
Heavier Things is a very solid album and had just the right amount of time put into it. Mayer has shyed away from the radio-friendly pop of "No Such Thing" and "Your Body is a Wonderland" in favor of getting back to his true influences, like Clapton, Vaughan, and the Police. The album's best two tracks begin the journey (Clarity) and wrap it up (Wheel).
Clarity *****
Bigger Than My Body *****
Something's Missing *****
New Deep *****
Come Back to Bed *****
Home Life ****
Split Screen Sadness *****
Daughters *****
Only Heart ****
Wheel *****
For what it is, Heavier Things is a remarkable sophomore release (not counting the Inside Wants Out EP). Between this album and most recently his summer tour, it is increasingly apparent that Mayer is intent on moving in the musical direction that he has always wanted to pursue. Anyone in doubt of Mayer's abilities as a songwriter will surely be in for a most pleasant surprise, as he has returned to the studio and what he calls "the lab" to begin working on his third full-length record. Progressing more quickly than anyone in recent memory, Mayer is undoubtedly now at a level all by himself and can only continue his ascension to even greater heights. |
Just as good as the first one
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| Review Date: October 2, 2003 |
| Reviewer: , |
| At first I thought this cd lacked something. I didn't feel it was as good as the first one, but after a couple of minutes into it I started loving it. I am glad it is different from his first one. I loved his first one greatly, but why get repetitive with music when there are so many different things to experiment. I personally love this cd. I think it stands out more than his first one. I also feel that the songs from "Heavier Things" are more catchy than those from "Room for Squares". Although, not all the songs are catchy. Some, like "Daughters" I could easily live without. Some, like "Clarity" and "Homelife" I could sing all day. They're more upbeat and pleasent (which is how most songs on this cd are). I feel it is a great investment for any John Mayer fan or even for those who aren't big fans. If you like John Mayer I would also truly recommend Maroon 5, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Josh Kelley, and Vertical Horizon. They're all fantastic as well. |
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