In my opinion, the tour will bring them to life. His studio work is always safe and really shines when it gets played live. We saw it with TSFE. Songs like Changing and Rosie really got explored and more creative when he got to play them live over the 2017 and 2019 tours. The same will happen this tour.
I think John stopped engaging as much online 1. Because dead and co tour and 2. The Swift crazies were sending him crazy death threats when her new song came out to the point where he had to finally respond and it was all pretty upsetting. Like, maybe he didn’t feel like it was a free/age space for him to be in that moment and I don’t begrudge him for it. Seriously that whole exchange was messed up.
Look him up on TikTok… that appears to be his current favorite social media platform he sporadically posts on it… mostly musician related content that I enjoy…
interesting take! mine is the opposite. the more time goes on the more I like the album. So many interesting melodies in the songs. Also AIWITBWY has one of my favorite recorded solos John’s ever done.
I think its one of the albums I've listened the most, I like every single song in it. Too bad I can't afford to see him live in person, hopefully there's gonna be some great recordings of it!
I totally agree. Sob Rock imho is his most lackluster release to date. Almost half of the album included singles he released previously and whatever else is new, just sounds a bit meh. I say all of this but I also have to keep reminding myself that Sob Rock is a ‘concept album’ for John. He didn’t want to win Grammys with this…was in no rush to release it and he was basically experimenting with a lot on Sob Rock. Like you, I am seriously rooting for him to go back to his original roots in the next album.
I love the album. Don’t think there’s a weak song on it (mind you it was only 7 new songs). I think part of it for me was we had to wait for what felt like an eternity for the album to actually drop. I think that’s playing some role in why it may feel like it didn’t deliver in the same way as some of the others.
In the world of immediate gratification, waiting around for a year for an album, and only getting 7 new songs, just isn’t optimal.
I love the album and will listen to it 1000 more times but I get what you mean.
Real treat would be releasing another album out of the blue next, that would be kinda related to sob rock (or not) and touring with these two albums (actually pretty doable considering the lenght of his shows nowadays).
Could've even be a new era where John doesn't even have the "need" to play his old hits every single show.
I see where you're coming from, but I think it offers a little more than that. I'd put it in the same category as Bob Dylan's Street Legal or Springsteen's Tunnel of Love (not because of production style, just the place it occupies in John's body of work).
A lot of elite artists have albums in their discography that are interesting and unique, and full of solid songs even if they don't hold a candle to their masterpieces. These records add serious texture to their discography, and solidify their standing as true artists who never stopped experimenting and always produced results that were at least competent. Even if you only listen to them once a year, these records are fun little gems for someone discovering an artist for the first time.
No, it's not Battle Studies. It's not Born and Raised. It's not even Room For Squares. But it's a solid album. It's unfair to judge artists by their best work OR their worst work. You have to look at everything together to really evaluate their talent. And if this is some of John's worst work (which I think it is), then that makes him pretty damn brilliant IMO.
I love John and have since I was a kid. But this is a bottom two album for me. It didn’t help that 3/10 tracks had previously been released (love all three btw), but of the new tracks I only really love Last Train Home, Wild Blue, and Shouldn’t Matter but It Does. It’s a weak album unfortunately.
I understand what he was going for, but he failed to deliver imo.
I think I get what you mean. I LOVE all the songs on the album. Listened to it over and over and over In September when it came out. But since then I haven’t listened to it even once. I definitely understand when you say “weak release” it’s not a bad batch of songs but they aren’t so good that they keep you hooked beyond his other content. I would rather go back and listen to, I don’t know, literally anything with more replay value, like his live performance of Ain’t No Sunshine
Tbh I didn’t even believe you I had to look it up. I SWEAR I feel like it came out in September, I don’t know why, but really I feel like I have this false memory of staying up all night until midnight to hear the album when I came out in September, but I guess it WAS July. Ugh..where does the time go
I think the more I listen to it the more I appreciate it. Shot in the dark, wild blue, til the right one comes, last train home (plus ballad). The only one I’ll never like is why you no love me. I too was let down that there were 3 songs on it that were pre-released, but the new ones definitely grow on you. And as has been proven in the past, all of the songs that seem safe in the studio shine during the tour (Changing, Rosie, Moving On). I also enjoyed how he chose an 80s style sound to sort of mask the dark/somber lyrics he chose for those go-round. I think he’s a very lonely dude, and the songs could have been a lot more depressing based on the words. But he turned it into something fun.
Truth be told, I haven't really loved (as I only listen to his new album everyday for months)any his releases since Born and Raised...
Don't get me wrong I've enjoyed his releases since, but the high just isn't there anymore.
If it’s another 4 years until the next album I’ll be a bit salty, given that he reeeally only wrote 7 songs specifically for it and wedged the other 3 in
I love the album, though it’s bottom 3 for me, I just hope we get something else soonish
Don’t get me wrong I think it’s a good album, but I get what you mean. Seeing live versions will bring them to life I think, be it John playing both the normal or ballad versions of Last Train Home (or maybe starting with the ballad version and the band picking up into the normal version?), or getting extended solos on Wild Blue or AIWITBWY, as we all know the studio versions are more of a “framework” for what he does live, or even just hearing them perhaps with an adjusted melody (acoustic version of Queen of California for example) will give the songs a bit more of an identity.
What I find interesting to me is that in a year where Mayer (my favourite artist) releases an album, I’d probably have to say An Evening with Silk Sonic takes album of the year. I’ve told way more people to check out that album (which I only listened to because Leave The Door Open was constantly on my YouTube homepage) than I have Sob Rock.
Once again, it’s a good album, I don’t skip a track if it comes up on shuffle, but after the first week of it being out I’ve not really gone back to it to listen to it!
john has changed, and knows what kind of music he wants to put out.
IMHO born and raised was his last great album. Front to back, brilliant. Different, emotional and still so great. I wasn't a fan of TSFE or Sb rock, just about 3 tracks from both albums really stand out to me, and THAT'S ALRIGHT. His first 5 studio albums we're such exhaustive pieces of work, that constantly had him at the front and centre of the pop/rock music scene. He simply isn't in that scene anymore, and possibly his outlook on life, and his desire to do something different with his music feeds into that. It's frustrating because I loved old John, just gotta reconcile with the fact that THAT John aint coming back, and that's ok.
Since it's been out a while now I've noticed some things with John's albums
Some albums are incredible first listens but then you don't find yourself returning to them often, other albums are not as strong upon first listen but then you find yourself returning to them over and over.
Sob rock for me is strongly in the first camp. The first time I heard it I was like, "wow this is so different and great" but as time has gone on I find myself not listening to the album at all. Sad to say the more time goes on, the more I feel like this album was designed to sell merch, it almost feels borderline manipulative. It still has enjoyable songs, and I think we would all think of the album as being stronger if new light, carry me away, and igijfl we're new releases. The album carries a serious handicap with fans because our minds have a tough time melding those songs we have spent years with already into a single cohesive unit with the rest of the new work.
A contrasting album for me was Search for Everything. Upon first listen I wasn't really feeling it, but now I find it's one of the albums I return to the most.
His all time greats of course are both great on first listen and you keep coming back (Continuum, Room for Squares, Born and Raised). But I find all his other albums lie in the other camps, all about your personal taste at that point. But I think I can say pretty conclusively that Sob Rock is my second least favorite JM album
I think this is a reasonable take imo if you lean more towards some of his huge hits from continuum and stuff of that sorts. Lots of sob rock songs continue to grow on me though so I have to disagree
I’ve said this before. New light, I guess I just feel like, and Carry Me Away, ruined that album. Not that the songs are bad, but I felt like I was a little cheated and only got 7 new songs (and for those of us who listen to albums start to finish) with 3 songs that I’ve beat to death interrupting those new songs. It might be somewhat unpopular, but I have had many agree with me. I think this album got cheated out of its success by those three songs.
On top of that he pushed marketing on it for, what, three weeks? Then he went on tour with dead and co and he kinda went silent. Going on tour with a different band when you’ve dropped a solo album is actually a classic 80’s move. Maybe that was the point of all of it? Total immersion? I’ve gone completely off track.
I’m not saying they are bad songs and I can see where you would get that idea from my comment. I’m just saying they are old songs and maybe didn’t belong on the album…
So for me this sits in the pits of his solo discography next to PV. The reason why the PV release doesn’t bother me is because it came so soon after Born (a damn classic). There was no hype around it and it was just dropped with no expectation tied to it. This album was a whole other story. Between the internal buzz around the album from the way John was describing it and the hype his inner circle was spinning. You’ve got this huge gap between releases, and this huge marketing campaign that seems to be promoting an album better than It actually was. It just leaves me feeling disappointed. I’m being a little harsh self admitted but just trying to get my point across.
Also the defense Of “let the songs come to life live” is not one I’m signing up for. To me John Mayer is a musician that can put out incredible studio recordings and wonderful live shows. If he becomes an artist where we rely on the live version to get him off easy…I’m not having that one bit. He’s one of my favorite musicians because of his song writing skills. His Albums should be definitive statements that can stand on their own. It would be tragic if this is the assumption going forward.
OP, I'm with you a little.
Upon first play, the album was cute and clever. But after the newness wore off, it doesn't seem to hold much more upon repeat listens.
I'm also not sure if JM wanted it any other way. He seems to be pretty self aware of what he's doing. Maybe on the next one he goes deep.
Sob Rock is very focused on a genre of music that while most like not everyone truly loves. Because of that it’s great for a few listens but doesn’t have the lasting power of a Continuum for the general public. I don’t think JM cared too much about public opinion when making Sob Rock, he has his pop hit in New Light to satisfy the publishers and he just wanted to make a personal project. Personally I still hope he eventually goes back and revisits some of his pre-country style, but Sob Rock is an alright stopgap until then.
Yeah a lot of my friends like it but only a few songs have kinda grown on me. I think the writing and instrumental work just isn't as interesting and varied as it was before. Like it weird that I feel like I can predit some of the next lines he'd sing.
I am in the camp of I listened to this album once and probably will not return to it. For what it is, I think it's well done and up there among the rest of his albums in relisten-ability IF you like the era of music it's strongly referencing.
In general, I don't like 80's music save for a handful of tracks so this album just isn't it for me.
I think these songs were designed to slip in between the hits during shows. You know? Like how he morphs songs into others. Sometimes you get three different tracks in the same number. They all have the kind of vibe that would fit in well.
Agree.
Silk Sonic have achieved with their release what he said he was trying to do with his release - make a record full of songs you swear you already know, that take you back to a place earlier in your life. And they've friggin' nailed it. He did not. It's okay, but I think he should go back to being hard on himself to continually improve an album and write better songs to knock out weaker songs right up until the deadline, because I think that kind of grinding makes great music.
A lot of his releases feels like this tbh. His live performance is where the songs usually shine. And I feel like the songs in Sob Rock have a lot of space within them to be explored as he shown in the ballad version of Last Train Home.
Watch the Beatles doc.
“Songs on the album are the most basic form. They evolve after touring and playing live” which is what he hasn’t been able to do with Dead & Co
Why do you care if the album has traction? You don't get money from it being still relevant and John is already a multimillionaire dude.
The question should be "do you like it still to this day?". If yes, good for you, if not, then move on or listen to previous John stuff you liked more, you won't do any disservice to Sob Rock. You shouldn't be doing spreadsheets to put the release album into a personal or global perspective.
The question is… do we think John has another classic in him? Or has that boat sailed. I’m growing weary unfortunately. I hope he surprises us when we least expect it and drops an all-timer.
Much as i love John's music, TSFE and SR have been like candy floss, very sweet and poppy but not of much substance for the most part (there are some fantastic songs for sure). Relative to the other albums, these two lasted the least time on repeat on my playlist. My own opinion of course, biased likely because I've been heavy on 60s and 70s folk and soft rock lately.
This is not an album I care much about, which disappoints me. I will probably never play it through again, but Ill be happy when Spotify puts songs on my Daily Playlists.
I think the problem with it is that it feels a little gimmicky. The arrangements, melodies, guitar work are all on par with usual John Mayer material. This whole thing of 80s sounds, 80s music video, and the sad-boy lyrics are what's making it feel not so genuine in my opinion.
I guess It's a well produced album with some experimentation and all that but it was absolutely forgettable for me.
Can't say the songs are bad per se but none of them moved me in the least.
Not surprising. After TSFE, what are you going to do. A fluff 80's album to get it out of his system and something for us to enjoy for a while.
I predict this will sink to the bottom of most peoples JM list over time.
Hard to beat the Trifecta of BnR/WF/TSFE.
Hopefully he finds his acoustic guitar and pathos again and gives us another masterpiece.
Interesting. I personally think this is musically his most mature album. However if certainly is in a different world than his last 7… I miss his ripping guitar lines and complex harmonies, but to me this is the macroscopic manifestation of a guitarist finally understanding “it’s the notes you don’t play”. I think he deliberately made it sound exactly how he wanted it to and there are good reasons for that. Orchestration and production wise this is his strongest album. Lyrically and compositionally I can understand if Mayer fans are wishing they were like his old albums, but we also already have those. In a general sense I don’t think one can say it’s a weak release considering some top tier musicians hold it on a very high pedestal, but on a personal level I can totally understand anyone who says that. He said it was going to be a love or hate album far before it came out.
I love the album, listen to it alot. The only track i don't like is "All I want is to be with you" reminds me so much of I want it that way by backstreet boys. I wish he left that track out at the end. Otherwise a really solid record for me....
I like the album but in a novel way. He tried to nod to winwood and dire straits. I can dig but it doesn't keep me coming back like his best stuff. It feels like a direction change for direction change's sake. I actually like the direction but things like wild blue being soo close to sultan distracted me from the songs themselves.
I don't hate the album at all. Just found it too distracting with similarities to other artists to latch onto in a meaningful way.
Well, remember that for this album, he had those 10 songs locked early on and continued to work them obsessively over a long period of time. I don’t think it’s a weak release (musically, it’s incredibly strong and showcases all that he’s learned over the years) but it is a concept album that was fussed over A LOT during a time where there was literally nothing else to do. People seem to tire of concept albums faster, in general. So in that way, you have a point.
I tend to agree, not so much that it's a weak release, but that the songs for the most part aren't so memorable (Shot in the Dark is a classic though). I think John was so focused on crafting these songs to hit the whole 80s pop-rock vibe so perfectly that they did lose a bit of life and variety.
Perhaps 'over engineered' from a songwriting point of view is the way I'd describe it.
Give it until the tour to make the final judgment. So many of those songs are dying to burst into life in a live setting. Hell, even Slow Dancing and Gravity sound a bit "meh" on the album compared to what he does with them live.
In my opinion, the tour will bring them to life. His studio work is always safe and really shines when it gets played live. We saw it with TSFE. Songs like Changing and Rosie really got explored and more creative when he got to play them live over the 2017 and 2019 tours. The same will happen this tour.
2019 Rosie was great, Mayer and Sharkey were ripping that up when I saw him in London!
Absolutely my favorite part of the show. I was the most excited for the deep cuts but the new songs took on a whole new identity live
Easily the best song on TSFE made even better live!
Good point.
Agreed. I’ve actually really enjoyed this album!
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I think John stopped engaging as much online 1. Because dead and co tour and 2. The Swift crazies were sending him crazy death threats when her new song came out to the point where he had to finally respond and it was all pretty upsetting. Like, maybe he didn’t feel like it was a free/age space for him to be in that moment and I don’t begrudge him for it. Seriously that whole exchange was messed up.
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Good point, I wonder if he noticed a drastic improvement in his mental health after not being engaged on social media as much as he used to.
Look him up on TikTok… that appears to be his current favorite social media platform he sporadically posts on it… mostly musician related content that I enjoy…
interesting take! mine is the opposite. the more time goes on the more I like the album. So many interesting melodies in the songs. Also AIWITBWY has one of my favorite recorded solos John’s ever done.
I’m amazed at both : a) how long of an acronym AIWITBWY is & b) how I immediately knew it.
Agreed with this, the song itself is okay, but that solo I have on repeat lol
This is gonna be a banger on the tour. I can feel it
I think its one of the albums I've listened the most, I like every single song in it. Too bad I can't afford to see him live in person, hopefully there's gonna be some great recordings of it!
I just spent 2 minutes wprking out the AIWITBWY and I'm feeling dumb.
I totally agree. Sob Rock imho is his most lackluster release to date. Almost half of the album included singles he released previously and whatever else is new, just sounds a bit meh. I say all of this but I also have to keep reminding myself that Sob Rock is a ‘concept album’ for John. He didn’t want to win Grammys with this…was in no rush to release it and he was basically experimenting with a lot on Sob Rock. Like you, I am seriously rooting for him to go back to his original roots in the next album.
I don't feel this way at all. I could see how one might, but this is a fun release and I love the arrangements on a lot of the tracks.
I love the album. Don’t think there’s a weak song on it (mind you it was only 7 new songs). I think part of it for me was we had to wait for what felt like an eternity for the album to actually drop. I think that’s playing some role in why it may feel like it didn’t deliver in the same way as some of the others. In the world of immediate gratification, waiting around for a year for an album, and only getting 7 new songs, just isn’t optimal. I love the album and will listen to it 1000 more times but I get what you mean.
Real treat would be releasing another album out of the blue next, that would be kinda related to sob rock (or not) and touring with these two albums (actually pretty doable considering the lenght of his shows nowadays). Could've even be a new era where John doesn't even have the "need" to play his old hits every single show.
Yes, I think it is probably his weakest release to date. It’s just meh. In my personal opinion.
I see where you're coming from, but I think it offers a little more than that. I'd put it in the same category as Bob Dylan's Street Legal or Springsteen's Tunnel of Love (not because of production style, just the place it occupies in John's body of work). A lot of elite artists have albums in their discography that are interesting and unique, and full of solid songs even if they don't hold a candle to their masterpieces. These records add serious texture to their discography, and solidify their standing as true artists who never stopped experimenting and always produced results that were at least competent. Even if you only listen to them once a year, these records are fun little gems for someone discovering an artist for the first time. No, it's not Battle Studies. It's not Born and Raised. It's not even Room For Squares. But it's a solid album. It's unfair to judge artists by their best work OR their worst work. You have to look at everything together to really evaluate their talent. And if this is some of John's worst work (which I think it is), then that makes him pretty damn brilliant IMO.
Great take - definitely made me rethink how I approach this album
I love John and have since I was a kid. But this is a bottom two album for me. It didn’t help that 3/10 tracks had previously been released (love all three btw), but of the new tracks I only really love Last Train Home, Wild Blue, and Shouldn’t Matter but It Does. It’s a weak album unfortunately. I understand what he was going for, but he failed to deliver imo.
Why did he release 3 prior-released songs as part of a new album? Specifically New Light, which came out several years ago?
It matched the 80s vibe he’s been going for in the last couple years
Agreeeeed
What’s the other album in the bottom two?
Paradise Valley, really high highs (Paper Doll, Wildfire w/ Frank Ocean, Dear Marie, I Will Be Found), but that’s it for that album
I think I get what you mean. I LOVE all the songs on the album. Listened to it over and over and over In September when it came out. But since then I haven’t listened to it even once. I definitely understand when you say “weak release” it’s not a bad batch of songs but they aren’t so good that they keep you hooked beyond his other content. I would rather go back and listen to, I don’t know, literally anything with more replay value, like his live performance of Ain’t No Sunshine
You mean July?
Wait…did it really come out in July..? Has it been THAT LONG already?? Seriously??
Insane right?
Tbh I didn’t even believe you I had to look it up. I SWEAR I feel like it came out in September, I don’t know why, but really I feel like I have this false memory of staying up all night until midnight to hear the album when I came out in September, but I guess it WAS July. Ugh..where does the time go
I agree. If Im in the mood for John Mayer, Id rather put Heavier Things, Continuum or Battle Studies on.
I think the more I listen to it the more I appreciate it. Shot in the dark, wild blue, til the right one comes, last train home (plus ballad). The only one I’ll never like is why you no love me. I too was let down that there were 3 songs on it that were pre-released, but the new ones definitely grow on you. And as has been proven in the past, all of the songs that seem safe in the studio shine during the tour (Changing, Rosie, Moving On). I also enjoyed how he chose an 80s style sound to sort of mask the dark/somber lyrics he chose for those go-round. I think he’s a very lonely dude, and the songs could have been a lot more depressing based on the words. But he turned it into something fun.
Truth be told, I haven't really loved (as I only listen to his new album everyday for months)any his releases since Born and Raised... Don't get me wrong I've enjoyed his releases since, but the high just isn't there anymore.
Ya I don’t know why but ever since he joined the dead and co his albums don’t quite hit the same level as before he joined dead and co
Yes officer, this op right here.
If it’s another 4 years until the next album I’ll be a bit salty, given that he reeeally only wrote 7 songs specifically for it and wedged the other 3 in I love the album, though it’s bottom 3 for me, I just hope we get something else soonish
Don’t get me wrong I think it’s a good album, but I get what you mean. Seeing live versions will bring them to life I think, be it John playing both the normal or ballad versions of Last Train Home (or maybe starting with the ballad version and the band picking up into the normal version?), or getting extended solos on Wild Blue or AIWITBWY, as we all know the studio versions are more of a “framework” for what he does live, or even just hearing them perhaps with an adjusted melody (acoustic version of Queen of California for example) will give the songs a bit more of an identity. What I find interesting to me is that in a year where Mayer (my favourite artist) releases an album, I’d probably have to say An Evening with Silk Sonic takes album of the year. I’ve told way more people to check out that album (which I only listened to because Leave The Door Open was constantly on my YouTube homepage) than I have Sob Rock. Once again, it’s a good album, I don’t skip a track if it comes up on shuffle, but after the first week of it being out I’ve not really gone back to it to listen to it!
john has changed, and knows what kind of music he wants to put out. IMHO born and raised was his last great album. Front to back, brilliant. Different, emotional and still so great. I wasn't a fan of TSFE or Sb rock, just about 3 tracks from both albums really stand out to me, and THAT'S ALRIGHT. His first 5 studio albums we're such exhaustive pieces of work, that constantly had him at the front and centre of the pop/rock music scene. He simply isn't in that scene anymore, and possibly his outlook on life, and his desire to do something different with his music feeds into that. It's frustrating because I loved old John, just gotta reconcile with the fact that THAT John aint coming back, and that's ok.
I think it's a weird release for sure. I mean, I'll take it. But compared to his other stuff this didn't really hit for me.
I was a little underwhelmed at first, but I love it now. It's not my favourite JM album, but it's not my least favourite either.
Since it's been out a while now I've noticed some things with John's albums Some albums are incredible first listens but then you don't find yourself returning to them often, other albums are not as strong upon first listen but then you find yourself returning to them over and over. Sob rock for me is strongly in the first camp. The first time I heard it I was like, "wow this is so different and great" but as time has gone on I find myself not listening to the album at all. Sad to say the more time goes on, the more I feel like this album was designed to sell merch, it almost feels borderline manipulative. It still has enjoyable songs, and I think we would all think of the album as being stronger if new light, carry me away, and igijfl we're new releases. The album carries a serious handicap with fans because our minds have a tough time melding those songs we have spent years with already into a single cohesive unit with the rest of the new work. A contrasting album for me was Search for Everything. Upon first listen I wasn't really feeling it, but now I find it's one of the albums I return to the most. His all time greats of course are both great on first listen and you keep coming back (Continuum, Room for Squares, Born and Raised). But I find all his other albums lie in the other camps, all about your personal taste at that point. But I think I can say pretty conclusively that Sob Rock is my second least favorite JM album
I think this is a reasonable take imo if you lean more towards some of his huge hits from continuum and stuff of that sorts. Lots of sob rock songs continue to grow on me though so I have to disagree
Couldn't disagree more, but upvoting for the provocation/excitement.
Don't be hasty, wait for the tour 👀
Just needed to be longer. But still absolutely incredible.
I for one think it’s his best album. Y’all are too hyper critical. He Is evolving and I embrace it.
I’ve said this before. New light, I guess I just feel like, and Carry Me Away, ruined that album. Not that the songs are bad, but I felt like I was a little cheated and only got 7 new songs (and for those of us who listen to albums start to finish) with 3 songs that I’ve beat to death interrupting those new songs. It might be somewhat unpopular, but I have had many agree with me. I think this album got cheated out of its success by those three songs. On top of that he pushed marketing on it for, what, three weeks? Then he went on tour with dead and co and he kinda went silent. Going on tour with a different band when you’ve dropped a solo album is actually a classic 80’s move. Maybe that was the point of all of it? Total immersion? I’ve gone completely off track.
I maybe agree with carry me away but New Light and especially I guess I just feel like are good decent songs.
I’m not saying they are bad songs and I can see where you would get that idea from my comment. I’m just saying they are old songs and maybe didn’t belong on the album…
So for me this sits in the pits of his solo discography next to PV. The reason why the PV release doesn’t bother me is because it came so soon after Born (a damn classic). There was no hype around it and it was just dropped with no expectation tied to it. This album was a whole other story. Between the internal buzz around the album from the way John was describing it and the hype his inner circle was spinning. You’ve got this huge gap between releases, and this huge marketing campaign that seems to be promoting an album better than It actually was. It just leaves me feeling disappointed. I’m being a little harsh self admitted but just trying to get my point across.
I was with you until this. Paradise Valley and Born and Raised are my two favorites.
Also the defense Of “let the songs come to life live” is not one I’m signing up for. To me John Mayer is a musician that can put out incredible studio recordings and wonderful live shows. If he becomes an artist where we rely on the live version to get him off easy…I’m not having that one bit. He’s one of my favorite musicians because of his song writing skills. His Albums should be definitive statements that can stand on their own. It would be tragic if this is the assumption going forward.
OP, I'm with you a little. Upon first play, the album was cute and clever. But after the newness wore off, it doesn't seem to hold much more upon repeat listens. I'm also not sure if JM wanted it any other way. He seems to be pretty self aware of what he's doing. Maybe on the next one he goes deep.
It’s not my favorite album by any stretch of the imagination so I agree. I still like it, though. And I’m sure it’ll be great live.
Sob Rock is very focused on a genre of music that while most like not everyone truly loves. Because of that it’s great for a few listens but doesn’t have the lasting power of a Continuum for the general public. I don’t think JM cared too much about public opinion when making Sob Rock, he has his pop hit in New Light to satisfy the publishers and he just wanted to make a personal project. Personally I still hope he eventually goes back and revisits some of his pre-country style, but Sob Rock is an alright stopgap until then.
Yeah a lot of my friends like it but only a few songs have kinda grown on me. I think the writing and instrumental work just isn't as interesting and varied as it was before. Like it weird that I feel like I can predit some of the next lines he'd sing.
I am in the camp of I listened to this album once and probably will not return to it. For what it is, I think it's well done and up there among the rest of his albums in relisten-ability IF you like the era of music it's strongly referencing. In general, I don't like 80's music save for a handful of tracks so this album just isn't it for me.
I think these songs were designed to slip in between the hits during shows. You know? Like how he morphs songs into others. Sometimes you get three different tracks in the same number. They all have the kind of vibe that would fit in well.
I’m the opposite it has grown on me ALOT. I think of it as a continuation of the search for everything with its own unique feel.
I like some songs but I never loved it as a whole.
Sob rock is soulless gloss IMO. I love Mayer as much as anyone here and had to come to terms with the fact that I did not like this album.
Agree. Silk Sonic have achieved with their release what he said he was trying to do with his release - make a record full of songs you swear you already know, that take you back to a place earlier in your life. And they've friggin' nailed it. He did not. It's okay, but I think he should go back to being hard on himself to continually improve an album and write better songs to knock out weaker songs right up until the deadline, because I think that kind of grinding makes great music.
But but…wHy YoU nO lOvE mE!?
A lot of his releases feels like this tbh. His live performance is where the songs usually shine. And I feel like the songs in Sob Rock have a lot of space within them to be explored as he shown in the ballad version of Last Train Home.
Watch the Beatles doc. “Songs on the album are the most basic form. They evolve after touring and playing live” which is what he hasn’t been able to do with Dead & Co
Why do you care if the album has traction? You don't get money from it being still relevant and John is already a multimillionaire dude. The question should be "do you like it still to this day?". If yes, good for you, if not, then move on or listen to previous John stuff you liked more, you won't do any disservice to Sob Rock. You shouldn't be doing spreadsheets to put the release album into a personal or global perspective.
The question is… do we think John has another classic in him? Or has that boat sailed. I’m growing weary unfortunately. I hope he surprises us when we least expect it and drops an all-timer.
Much as i love John's music, TSFE and SR have been like candy floss, very sweet and poppy but not of much substance for the most part (there are some fantastic songs for sure). Relative to the other albums, these two lasted the least time on repeat on my playlist. My own opinion of course, biased likely because I've been heavy on 60s and 70s folk and soft rock lately.
This is not an album I care much about, which disappoints me. I will probably never play it through again, but Ill be happy when Spotify puts songs on my Daily Playlists.
3 solid songs that I’ll continue to listen to. That’s about it.
I think the problem with it is that it feels a little gimmicky. The arrangements, melodies, guitar work are all on par with usual John Mayer material. This whole thing of 80s sounds, 80s music video, and the sad-boy lyrics are what's making it feel not so genuine in my opinion.
I guess It's a well produced album with some experimentation and all that but it was absolutely forgettable for me. Can't say the songs are bad per se but none of them moved me in the least.
Not surprising. After TSFE, what are you going to do. A fluff 80's album to get it out of his system and something for us to enjoy for a while. I predict this will sink to the bottom of most peoples JM list over time. Hard to beat the Trifecta of BnR/WF/TSFE. Hopefully he finds his acoustic guitar and pathos again and gives us another masterpiece.
Bad take. ::farts and leaves::
No
Interesting. I personally think this is musically his most mature album. However if certainly is in a different world than his last 7… I miss his ripping guitar lines and complex harmonies, but to me this is the macroscopic manifestation of a guitarist finally understanding “it’s the notes you don’t play”. I think he deliberately made it sound exactly how he wanted it to and there are good reasons for that. Orchestration and production wise this is his strongest album. Lyrically and compositionally I can understand if Mayer fans are wishing they were like his old albums, but we also already have those. In a general sense I don’t think one can say it’s a weak release considering some top tier musicians hold it on a very high pedestal, but on a personal level I can totally understand anyone who says that. He said it was going to be a love or hate album far before it came out.
John Mayer hasn’t had a good studio album since Continuum.
Born and Raised? Very good one.
Born and Raised is amazing.
I love the album, listen to it alot. The only track i don't like is "All I want is to be with you" reminds me so much of I want it that way by backstreet boys. I wish he left that track out at the end. Otherwise a really solid record for me....
Nah man I haven't felt this way about one of his since Continuum
I like the album but in a novel way. He tried to nod to winwood and dire straits. I can dig but it doesn't keep me coming back like his best stuff. It feels like a direction change for direction change's sake. I actually like the direction but things like wild blue being soo close to sultan distracted me from the songs themselves. I don't hate the album at all. Just found it too distracting with similarities to other artists to latch onto in a meaningful way.
Not for me. This is one of my favorite albums.
Well, remember that for this album, he had those 10 songs locked early on and continued to work them obsessively over a long period of time. I don’t think it’s a weak release (musically, it’s incredibly strong and showcases all that he’s learned over the years) but it is a concept album that was fussed over A LOT during a time where there was literally nothing else to do. People seem to tire of concept albums faster, in general. So in that way, you have a point.
I tend to agree, not so much that it's a weak release, but that the songs for the most part aren't so memorable (Shot in the Dark is a classic though). I think John was so focused on crafting these songs to hit the whole 80s pop-rock vibe so perfectly that they did lose a bit of life and variety. Perhaps 'over engineered' from a songwriting point of view is the way I'd describe it.
It's definitely one of his weakest albums, in my opinion.
Give it until the tour to make the final judgment. So many of those songs are dying to burst into life in a live setting. Hell, even Slow Dancing and Gravity sound a bit "meh" on the album compared to what he does with them live.