Continuum
(2007) Sony Music
Review by Paula Day
John Mayer is one of those artists that could have rested on his laurels after winning a few Grammy awards. The pop effort “Your Body is a Wonderland” won Mayer the coveted award the first time, yet he didn’t sit idly by and let his success carry him away. He moved into a bluesier sound on his CD Heavier Things, and here, with his latest effort, Continuum, Mayer continues to mature into the blues. He continues to astound with the sheer ability of his guitar playing, some have even called it virtuostic, and his voice, more mellow and controlled in his earlier music, takes on a more mature, worldly sound necessary to sound truly bluesy, as if he’s been around and lived some since we last heard him. Although all of the songs on the CD are strong, the stand out songs are “Waiting on the World to Change” and “Gravity.” “Waiting on the World to Change” is Mayer’s anthem about the apathy plaguing young adults today. With its solid beat and political overtones, it’s a song you could hear on the radio yet it’s still honest enough that it will make you wonder how much you’ve been waiting instead of doing, or it it’s worth doing anything at all. “Gravity” is modern-day blues at its best and Mayer’s guitar playing shines. B.B. King himself couldn’t have done a better job with the mellow, deep grooves. “Dreaming With a Broken Heart” is also a strong effort as its dreamlike intro leads to heartfelt, contemplative vocals.
John Mayer is one of those artists who will only get better. He has already proven himself to be insightful and willing to move forward as an artist. His journey into a more bluesy sound seems more authentic, more him. From the first time I heard Continuum it became one of my favorite CDs and I have been listening to it almost daily, and like any really wonderful CD, every time I listen to it I notice some new nuance in the music that I hadn’t noticed before, so every listen is like being amazed by the CD again for the first time.
Paula Day is a contributor to Blues Valley Review and The Copperfield Review. She lives in Los Angeles, California.