The thing is, Mayer the man is just that. Shy and conflicted once but now a feisty 32-year-old at war with the tabloids, he's still just a man. But Mayer the intense performer possesses several distinct musical personalities, and that's where his true appeal lies.
There is the quirky, introverted dude who just wants to pluck on his acoustic guitar and sing songs about girls. There's the accomplished blues player who shreds with authority and attitude. And there's the bandleader who morphs the Jeckyll and Hyde of above and tosses a touch more grit into his smart -- albeit sugary -- pop.
On Mayer's latest, "Battle Studies," diehard fans will get the new Mayer album they expected and will probably enjoy, but casual, mainstream followers might feel that if the Grammy-winning singer had applied himself and stretched his craft a little more, he could have scored an all-out winner.
"Studies" lacks the maturity of 2006's "Continuum" and displays little of the innocence that made his 2001 debut "Room for Squares" so irresistible. Since we're dealing with an artist who has obviously grown both musically and chronologically, to suggest he ought to be able to reproduce the innocence is unfair.
That said, "Studies" just feels flat in too many places to earn a solid thumbs up.
If you think about it, it's amusingly appropriate that Mayer's debut had the word "squares" in its title. Mayer's career trajectory has been a little like the "Star Trek" film franchise: Loyal Trekkers will tell you the even-numbered films tend to be superior.
Mayer's catalog is smaller, so the same rules obviously can't apply here. But goad even Mayer's staunchest bodyguard into admitting every album isn't a masterpiece through and through, you'll win that argument every time.
"Studies'" biggest problem is that it doesn't have enough spunk. There's plenty of good tunes, but everything feels sullen, tentative and a little empty.
The album's best track is unquestionably its charming lead single, "Who Says." It's the kind of funny, shuffling little folk pop ditty that best suits Mayer's laid-back style when it comes to his songwriting sensibilities.
"Half of My Heart," a duet with country superstar Taylor Swift, also carries itself with the same amiable and breezy demeanor that makes "Who Says" tick, so there's another winner there. And the ambient groove, xylophones and breathy vocals on tracks like "Assassin " also pay dividends.
"Heartbreak Warfare" sounds more than a little too much like U2 smash "With or Without You," but it's a semi-enjoyably moody way to kick things off. And while "Perfectly Loney" is par for the course lyrically, it's stuffy and arid and doesn't add any edge.
The album's weakest points come in the form of "All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye," which is plodding and overwrought, and the piano-driven closer "Friends, Lovers or Nothing." It's definitely a Mayer tune, but it's a rather bland Mayer tune.
The lowest point is an ill-advised cover of Delta bluesman Robert Johnson's "Crossroads," a song made famous by one Mr. Eric Clapton, English guitar god extraordinaire.
Now, Mayer has proven that he has a flair for covers with his stellar live version Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'." But this "Crossroads" sounds like it's been wrung through the ceiling speakers at Starbucks one too many times. It's blues for guys and dolls who adore J. Crew and Frappuccino on Sunday afternoons.
Not good.
But once you get by "Crossroads," "Studies" climbs again with a flourish on the friendly "War of My Life," the delicate "Do You Know Me," which boasts Mayer's flair for finger pickin', and the dreamy "Edge of Desire," which strolls along like a morning walk through the park but adds spice in the lyrics department.
"Battle Studies" is by no means a bad album. It's just not a great John Mayer album.
But not to worry. If Mayer's career path continues to "Trek" along like a certain sci-fi film collection mentioned above, his next platter is guaranteed to phase in a little more punch.
The ABC12 Listening Room staff: James Chesna, editor-in-chief; Josh Daunt, managing editor, photographer; Beth McEnroe, staff writer, photographer; Gwen Mikolajczak, staff writer; Eric Fletcher, chief photographer; Randy Cox, photographer; Chris Carr, photographer; Jessica Reid, contributing photographer; LeeAlan Weddel, contributing editor, writer; Shawn Light, contributing writer; Robin Chan, contributing writer.
