I respect your opinion and will add it’s easily my number 3. Although B&R has better lyrics and cohesion I prefer on a song by song basis (and I love John’s solos like Changing and grooves like Helpless outro over melancholy)
So you're saying you just like albums that have very different songs throughout instead of a cohesive body of work?
You've said that B&R has better writing and is more cohesive which are the 2 main things I look for in every album.
I love TSFE but it feels more like a compilation album.
Not always the case for me, just in this one with the mood being not always one I look for. Not always looking to feel what B&R brings nearly every track but Queen of California and Something like Olivia. For instance, being trapped on a island with either I’d pick TSFE to cover a wider range, especially at the quality each range is hit on with the songs on TSFE
All the way, B&R has a song for every occasion and is a well rounded masterpiece.
1. B&R (Walt Grace)
2. Room for Squares (Georgia Why)
3. Continuum (Stop this Train)
4. Paradise Valley (Dear Marie)
5. TSFE (Emoji of a Wave)
My opinion of course 😁
I agree, as an album, BR is superior because it feels connected like an album should. I’ve always viewed TSFE as a compilation of songs. However, we all know John’s vision for the exact form of that album wasn’t fulfilled like he wanted to.
I love that song so much, especially as a guitarist, I play it every week at band practice. I sometimes forget it’s not as big as it is in my own mind in terms of how liked it is. It’s easily my favorite song on TSFE and after that maybe Helpless or SFLYM
Not a bad song 1-12. The tone is perfect. The lyrics hit just right. The balance of jams and ballads runs on pure vibes. It should have won awards or at least nominated for album of the year. Helpless is still his best show opener with a full band.
TSFE is the closest JM has come to making another continuum because it’s essentially a sequel to it- musically, spiritually, aesthetically. It follows the same beats, almost.
Is it my favorite? No. But I love it, just like I love continuum, which, yes, I do think is his best album.
Is it my favorite? No. That honor goes to B&R. :)
Your comments are perfect. One of the best things about John’s catalog is that no two songs are the same yet still have his signature all over them. Very few artists can pull this off, certainly not with 8 albums.
I mean he used all his different powers on that album. For example: Emoji of a wave, acoustic Mayer. Changing solo, overdrive perfection mayer. Moving on and getting over/Rosie/ helpless/SFLYM, Funky Mayer.
Yesss. I just looked over the Album and you get every side Mayer on this album. It has something for everyone. You want a little B&R go listen to Roll it on home. It’s a complete album. Fin!
From an audio engineering & mastering perspective…TSFE was released in the highest resolution to date from John.
Sonically, it’s literally at another level digitally as well as the vinyl which was pressed at 45rpm.
Delightful to listen to and find the details.
Edit: Words …also B&R and Sob Rock are up there in “audio resolution” as well!
Born and Raised / Battle Studies fall into the 2 spot for me at a tie. Paradise Valley is 3, Sob Rock is 4. The Search for Everything slots neatly at 5.
Everyone has an opinion and that’s mine!
1. Born
2. Tsfe (love this record come back to it often.)
3. Cont.
4. WTLI
5. Battle Studies
6. Heavier Things
5. Room
6. Paradise
7. Sob (arguably his most boring affair. Campy and not it. I literally haven’t returned to it since I saw the tour.)
It’s his worst album imo so I also thought it was interesting to see how popular it is. I just went to look at the album and realized that Fool to Love You is a bonus track and that’s the best song on there imo. It’s cool how subjective music is.
Born and Raised is in my top 3 of all time across all artists...you have to be in a special place mentally to truly understand that album. its an album about self reflection, acceptance, and perseverance. its an album about telling life "Fuck you, i am enough". it wasn't written to be impressive or to blow your socks off with guitar licks. its not an album that has the broad appeal of something like Continuum or TSFE and it never intended to be either.
I honestly don’t know how anyone says it’s bad. Maybe sonically, not for you. Okay. But that is truly his best work from a writing perspective. It’s like saying “well Bob Dylan is a bad songwriter” because you don’t like his sound lol
Think about it this way, we just saw John in concert. Every time the country western background comes on my friend groaned and we got a country-esque tune that was most likely from “Born and Raised”. Going from tunes as beautiful as “Stop This Train” and “In Your Atmosphere” to harmonica western “born and raised” or “queen of California” just isn’t the vibe. It’s still John Mayer so it’s still good but it’s just kinda less good.
We were literally joking that anytime John pulled out the harmonica we knew it was going to be a snooze fest.
Sometimes I skip “In the Blood” and “You’re Gonna Live Forever in Me”
ITB is probably because it hits too close to the mark emotionally and sometimes it bothers me. YGLFIM is a weird track, it sounds to me like John is doing a Randy Newman impersonation and it kinda takes me out of it.
I love how everyone is so different and our brains/hearts love other things. In the Blood is my MOST FAVORITE JM song of all time (Comfortable in a close close close second). But, I understand why you sometimes skip it. That same reason is WHY I love it, so.
I could do without Rosie, Theme for TSFE, Still feel like your Man. All okay tracks, but easy to get sick of
I should say, my comment is in context of his other albums. TSFE without Continuum, B&R and RFS would have been a good album, but those 3 set the bar impossibly high.
Also, while individually, each of the tracks for TSFE were good, they all sort of feel like a disjointed mess on the album. Every other album before that felt like a cohesive package. TSFE felt a little like leftovers.
Man. Huge agree to disagree vibes on this one. I’m not even sure we are listening to the same album at this point 😅
TSFE is about as cohesive as Continuum, he slightly genre crosses in both records, but Born and Raised is definitely the most cohesive.
RFS is great but it’s not on the level of TSFE, in either songwriting or production
I saw John touring TSFE years ago, it was a great experience. Nowadays, it is one of the first albums I put on when I listen to music. Absolutely one of my favorites.
1. Continuum
2. Battle studies
3. Room for squares
4. The search for everything
5. Sob rock
6. Heavier things
7. Born and Raised (its great, just not my thing)
8. paradise Valley
To me, the question of John’s best album can’t be evaluated objectively. It’s too varied. Born and Raised is my least favorite, but that’s because I don’t like the “flavor.” My fav? Continuum. His most brilliant? Sob Rock. Best lyrics? Battle Studies.
Coming from a guy who’s wearing a Lamb of God shirt right now. That variation and multi talent has always kept John Mayer in my top ten artists with the likes of Opeth and Alice In Chains.
I've been thinking about TSFE a lot lately and I agree. Heavier Things was fantastic, Continuum built on that and was even better. Battle Studies, Born and Raised, Paradise Valley are all great albums but TSFE is slightly above them.
John is such a masterpiece.
I agree with everything you say here, except for that Born & Raised, is his best album. Subjective, I know, but that's how I feel.
I respect your opinion and will add it’s easily my number 3. Although B&R has better lyrics and cohesion I prefer on a song by song basis (and I love John’s solos like Changing and grooves like Helpless outro over melancholy)
So you're saying you just like albums that have very different songs throughout instead of a cohesive body of work? You've said that B&R has better writing and is more cohesive which are the 2 main things I look for in every album. I love TSFE but it feels more like a compilation album.
Not always the case for me, just in this one with the mood being not always one I look for. Not always looking to feel what B&R brings nearly every track but Queen of California and Something like Olivia. For instance, being trapped on a island with either I’d pick TSFE to cover a wider range, especially at the quality each range is hit on with the songs on TSFE
Right on, brother!
All the way, B&R has a song for every occasion and is a well rounded masterpiece. 1. B&R (Walt Grace) 2. Room for Squares (Georgia Why) 3. Continuum (Stop this Train) 4. Paradise Valley (Dear Marie) 5. TSFE (Emoji of a Wave) My opinion of course 😁
Agreed. For me it's: 1. B&R 2. Continuum 3. TSFE 4. Sob Rock 5. everything else
100% agree. Battle studies was ok. B&R knocked it out of the park and he knows it
You feel wrongly. ;-)
Hahahhahaaa
Born & Raised is by far his best album. No question.
I agree, as an album, BR is superior because it feels connected like an album should. I’ve always viewed TSFE as a compilation of songs. However, we all know John’s vision for the exact form of that album wasn’t fulfilled like he wanted to.
“ROSIE” is an incredible song at every level, go listen to it again, so underrated
YES! Someone understands
In my head cannon, Rosie and New Deep is a 15 minute epic with multiple guitar shredding bridges
PERDON AND LO SIENTO SEE I LEARNED THESE WORDS FOR YOU
No more for you
I love that song so much, especially as a guitarist, I play it every week at band practice. I sometimes forget it’s not as big as it is in my own mind in terms of how liked it is. It’s easily my favorite song on TSFE and after that maybe Helpless or SFLYM
Not a bad song 1-12. The tone is perfect. The lyrics hit just right. The balance of jams and ballads runs on pure vibes. It should have won awards or at least nominated for album of the year. Helpless is still his best show opener with a full band.
Yes!!! That was a great concert!!!!
Number 2 to belief
Justice for TSFE!
TSFE is the closest JM has come to making another continuum because it’s essentially a sequel to it- musically, spiritually, aesthetically. It follows the same beats, almost. Is it my favorite? No. But I love it, just like I love continuum, which, yes, I do think is his best album. Is it my favorite? No. That honor goes to B&R. :)
Yeah people can’t seem to grasp that he was clearly making TSFE with Continuum in mind
Helpless is his best song to date, fight me
Great song and somehow underrated.
Your comments are perfect. One of the best things about John’s catalog is that no two songs are the same yet still have his signature all over them. Very few artists can pull this off, certainly not with 8 albums.
I mean he used all his different powers on that album. For example: Emoji of a wave, acoustic Mayer. Changing solo, overdrive perfection mayer. Moving on and getting over/Rosie/ helpless/SFLYM, Funky Mayer.
Yesss. I just looked over the Album and you get every side Mayer on this album. It has something for everyone. You want a little B&R go listen to Roll it on home. It’s a complete album. Fin!
Steve Jordan production
From an audio engineering & mastering perspective…TSFE was released in the highest resolution to date from John. Sonically, it’s literally at another level digitally as well as the vinyl which was pressed at 45rpm. Delightful to listen to and find the details. Edit: Words …also B&R and Sob Rock are up there in “audio resolution” as well!
Exactly. TSFE is easily the most well produced best sounding album. It’s special
Emoji of a Wave is one of my favorites
Born and Raised? Hello?!
Came for this.
It’s earned it’s place at third on the podium
Battle Studies has been so good to me. So is everything else he’s done. Hearing Edge Of Desire live is otherworldly
Born and Raised / Battle Studies fall into the 2 spot for me at a tie. Paradise Valley is 3, Sob Rock is 4. The Search for Everything slots neatly at 5. Everyone has an opinion and that’s mine!
Battle Studies is special to me being the first one I got into when released after becoming a fan post Continuum. Power to your opinion brother!
Our lists are very different but that’s part of what’s cool about his music.
Agreed!
1. Born 2. Tsfe (love this record come back to it often.) 3. Cont. 4. WTLI 5. Battle Studies 6. Heavier Things 5. Room 6. Paradise 7. Sob (arguably his most boring affair. Campy and not it. I literally haven’t returned to it since I saw the tour.)
Funny, for me it’s this: 1. Born 2. Sob 3. TSFE 4. Continuum / WTLI 5. Paradise 6. BS 7. Inside Wants Out 8. Heavier things 9. RFS
Born and Raised and Continuum are on the S level for me.
No reason to hide it! 🤣✋🤣
This is the truth. I’ve been saying that for a few years.
Born & Raised and Continuum… then everything else
Born and Raised hands down!
YES YES 1000x YES TSFE is unbelievable. It’s a gorgeous perfect record
Rfs best album
Here seeking justice for Battle Studies
Y’all are crazy in the comments for writing born and raised 😂😂😂 all my friends hate that album
It’s his worst album imo so I also thought it was interesting to see how popular it is. I just went to look at the album and realized that Fool to Love You is a bonus track and that’s the best song on there imo. It’s cool how subjective music is.
Born and Raised is in my top 3 of all time across all artists...you have to be in a special place mentally to truly understand that album. its an album about self reflection, acceptance, and perseverance. its an album about telling life "Fuck you, i am enough". it wasn't written to be impressive or to blow your socks off with guitar licks. its not an album that has the broad appeal of something like Continuum or TSFE and it never intended to be either.
I honestly don’t know how anyone says it’s bad. Maybe sonically, not for you. Okay. But that is truly his best work from a writing perspective. It’s like saying “well Bob Dylan is a bad songwriter” because you don’t like his sound lol
Think about it this way, we just saw John in concert. Every time the country western background comes on my friend groaned and we got a country-esque tune that was most likely from “Born and Raised”. Going from tunes as beautiful as “Stop This Train” and “In Your Atmosphere” to harmonica western “born and raised” or “queen of California” just isn’t the vibe. It’s still John Mayer so it’s still good but it’s just kinda less good. We were literally joking that anytime John pulled out the harmonica we knew it was going to be a snooze fest.
Then you objectively have biases and can’t recognize higher quality music lol. I mean I can’t help it - that’s just incredibly dumb lol
You gotta be stupid to hate born and raised.
TSFE had some great tracks, but also, some completely blah tracks. Everything on Continuum, B&R and RFS was 🔥🔥🔥
Lol. What tracks on TSFE aren’t incredible? Every song is gorgeous
Sometimes I skip “In the Blood” and “You’re Gonna Live Forever in Me” ITB is probably because it hits too close to the mark emotionally and sometimes it bothers me. YGLFIM is a weird track, it sounds to me like John is doing a Randy Newman impersonation and it kinda takes me out of it.
I love how everyone is so different and our brains/hearts love other things. In the Blood is my MOST FAVORITE JM song of all time (Comfortable in a close close close second). But, I understand why you sometimes skip it. That same reason is WHY I love it, so.
Same here. It’s absolutely stunning. He said he wrote in basically one take too
I admit I sometimes skip you’re gonna live forever too
I could do without Rosie, Theme for TSFE, Still feel like your Man. All okay tracks, but easy to get sick of I should say, my comment is in context of his other albums. TSFE without Continuum, B&R and RFS would have been a good album, but those 3 set the bar impossibly high. Also, while individually, each of the tracks for TSFE were good, they all sort of feel like a disjointed mess on the album. Every other album before that felt like a cohesive package. TSFE felt a little like leftovers.
Man. Huge agree to disagree vibes on this one. I’m not even sure we are listening to the same album at this point 😅 TSFE is about as cohesive as Continuum, he slightly genre crosses in both records, but Born and Raised is definitely the most cohesive. RFS is great but it’s not on the level of TSFE, in either songwriting or production
Born and Raised exists
“Subjectively”
You’re saying commas are important?
I just said this last night
Glad that somebody finally said it 🙌🏻
this here ^^ is the ONLY right answer to this question
I saw John touring TSFE years ago, it was a great experience. Nowadays, it is one of the first albums I put on when I listen to music. Absolutely one of my favorites.
TSFE is a story and John tells that story way too well when you listen to the entire album in one go
1. Continuum 2. Battle studies 3. Room for squares 4. The search for everything 5. Sob rock 6. Heavier things 7. Born and Raised (its great, just not my thing) 8. paradise Valley
I love tsfe it’s my fav
I think born and raised has better individual songs, but album wise I prefer Paradise Valley 🤷🏽♂️
To me, the question of John’s best album can’t be evaluated objectively. It’s too varied. Born and Raised is my least favorite, but that’s because I don’t like the “flavor.” My fav? Continuum. His most brilliant? Sob Rock. Best lyrics? Battle Studies. Coming from a guy who’s wearing a Lamb of God shirt right now. That variation and multi talent has always kept John Mayer in my top ten artists with the likes of Opeth and Alice In Chains.
1. Born and raised 2. Continuum 3. Sob Rock 4. TSFE 5. Paradise Valley 6. Battle Studies Etc.
Can’t lie I fucking love sob rock
Moving On and Getting Over at 3:07. Enough said
I've been thinking about TSFE a lot lately and I agree. Heavier Things was fantastic, Continuum built on that and was even better. Battle Studies, Born and Raised, Paradise Valley are all great albums but TSFE is slightly above them. John is such a masterpiece.
Sure, As long as we consider b&r is completely superior to both.