Joe Cole Posted June 30, 2004 Share Posted June 30, 2004 I had been debating buying this cd for a while. I thought it was Dave Matthews-lite. Then i picked up the cd and saw a name on the back, Jack Joseph Puig. That was the kicker, anything this guy touches seems to speak to me (i.e. Jellyfish, Sheyl Crow). The openning tune "Clarity" just floored me. The slightly off time snare on the opening loop, the horns, the arrangement as a whole...nice stuff. What do you guys think? There is no substitute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I I mjrn Posted June 30, 2004 Share Posted June 30, 2004 My comments are a bit sidereal but I agree Mayer seems aimed toward a poppier version of the Matthews style. However his guitar abilities, especially combined with his simultaneous vocals, are undeniably well-developed & over-ride the commercialism I percieved at first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmstudio99 Posted July 1, 2004 Share Posted July 1, 2004 I actually preferred the production of John Alagia on Mayer's first album. In a big way. I was sorely disappointed to see that Alagia didn't do the second album. I thought it sounded terrible compared to the first record. (And Alagia's other credits: Josh Kelley For The Ride Home and Jason Mraz's debut.) Gila Monster Studio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offramp Posted July 1, 2004 Share Posted July 1, 2004 I see nothing similar in Matthews and Mayer. I never have, and I don't understand why some poeple do. Never will. I love JJP's work, especially on any Jellyfish release. In this case, however, I would have really preferred Alagia's work. The first album sounds wonderful; this one distorts. I've upped my standards; now, up yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jotown Posted July 1, 2004 Share Posted July 1, 2004 Originally posted by offramp: I see nothing similar in Matthews and Mayer. I never have, and I don't understand why some poeple do. Never will.I agree. Other than the fact that they are both white/male/singer/songwriters, who play guitar, there is no real similarity in their vocal, guitar, or songwriting styles. I think they are both very talented. I like some of Mayers songs, but I am not that crazy about either of his CD's as a whole. That being said; he is the real deal. I saw him on Carson Daly last week doing a solo tune on electric guitar, with a looping pedal. I never realized how well he plays lead guitar, especially in the blues vein. He has been touring with BB King, and Clapton, so somebody obviously thinks he is pretty good. Jotown:) "It's all good: Except when it's Great" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I I mjrn Posted July 2, 2004 Share Posted July 2, 2004 Originally posted by offramp: I see nothing similar in Matthews and Mayer. I never have, and I don't understand why some poeple do. Never will. Despite the fact that many others do? I don't expect to demonstrate their similarities if you refuse to see them; perhaps you're a fan of one or the other & resent the connection; perhaps something else...not everyone sees/hears the same. Aerosmith fans may not think they're like the Rolling Stones. Here's some qualities to consider: Quirky but overall folk-pop style songs highlighted on umptempo tunes by driving, off-kilter rhythm guitar syncopations with psuedo-jazzy altered chord voicings & delivered via slighty husky vocals crooned, as often as not, right right into the mic rather than in a big, open voice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offramp Posted July 2, 2004 Share Posted July 2, 2004 Yes, despite the fact that many others do. I think it's because of the general approach to pigeonholing and categorizing that has gone on in the American culture over the past 40 or so years that a large portion of the populace rely on quick-handed categorization without in-depth discovery. By sheer coincidence, i'm listening to "Bigger Than..." on iTunes right at this moment. Matthews would be hard-pressed to pull off a groove like this; they spent their formative years being busybody showoffs, and Mayer seems to be clearly rooted in straight-ahead rock as well as jazz. Matthews sounds like Fazzie Bear taking a painful, hard shit. Mayer sounds like a smooth-talking somesuch, sometimes to his detriment, but if you listen carefully, that's pretty much the limit of his voice...so he is what he is. I don't like everything Mayer does--I always skip over "Wonderland", for example--but the quality of songwriting is more clever, production values are a little more raw, and he works with within his limitations. Similarities? White, guitarists, record contracts. Fini. I've upped my standards; now, up yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ren. Posted July 3, 2004 Share Posted July 3, 2004 Originally posted by Joe Cole: What do you guys think?An 'Oldie' but a Goodie! Who Put The ' M ' In MySpace? don\'t_click | day_job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernest828 Posted July 3, 2004 Share Posted July 3, 2004 I can`t say I`m a Mayer fan but last year my sister won tix to see him at a private party and the guy can play guitar. He writes above average and hes got a decent voice. I would say hes got a nice career but I don`t see him getting near the DMB status. Ernest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offramp Posted July 4, 2004 Share Posted July 4, 2004 which is a good thing, as DMB status seems to simply be a combination of record company hype and untethered Deadheads looking for a new 'groove'. Man. I can't help but wonder if the marketing machine hadn't been filled with premium gas on DMB, just how far they'd've gotten. Really..."Ants Marching"? Yeah, that's a club groove. I've upped my standards; now, up yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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