A few weeks ago John Mayer released a 2 CD music recording of a performance that he put at the Nokia Theatre in LA last summer. The concert was for benefit, with ticket sales going to charity. I was jealous personally that I wasn't able to attend, as it was a three set performance. It began with John's acoustic set, with just him playing some selected songs with just him and the guitar. The second set was with John Mayer Trio, where John Mayer teams up with the super talented musicans Steve Jordan and Pino Palladino. The last set is John's full band where he performs tracks with a full set of brass, drums, the whole lot. Once I got a hold of the video and audio for this performance I was blown way by it all. It is a seriously fantastic compilation, whether you're a Mayer fan or not. This has been the most hit playlist on my iPod during my long commute to work and I haven't gotten tired of it at all. There are no new songs, but yet they sound so refreshing. His acoustic set takes me to a relaxing place, while his JMT and Band sets really blows you away.
Whether you were turned off by him when he sang those sappy "Wonderland" songs or hate the way his face contorts when he sings, I would seriously implore you to at least take one listen of this compilation. If anything, he does a great cover of "Free Fallin'", which has just jumped into my lists of songs that I can just lay back and look at the sky. John has progressed so much as a musician, he doesn't have to satisfy the pop requirements and he beats as his own drum. He has began to create his own with the guitar, a style that is distinct like Clapton's slowhand delicacy or Jimi Hendrix's loose riffs. If anything, the lyrics in his songs have really hit me, as they are more than just trash that the radio will like. His lyrics explain a story, a story about his life, a story that you can relate to, relate to your story. Mayer doesn't speak through him, he speaks through his lyrics, his guitar. And this compilation really exemplifies it. Give him a chance, and I'm sure your opinion of him will change. Even if it doesn't make you a fan, its plain to see how he has changed from when he first came out to now.
Here's the video to "Free Fallin'"
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