Tuesday, January 26, 2016

The Wasatch Fault: SLC's Best Band


I first heard of The Wasatch Fault from a facebook group called the Loganscene back in 2013. I was in a journalism class with a writing emphasis on local music. Turns out only the drummer was in Logan, the rest of the band is in SLC. I listened to some tracks and I was a fan. I got the chance to buy the album last summer. Was this just a kind gesture to support local music? NO. I legitimately love this band, on any level.

I have a bias towards 90s lo-fi bands. The sound changed my life. I cannot forget listening to Pandora's Pavement station when I was a senior in high school. I learned more about bands I already loved and was introduced to bands I would greatly approve. To me, hearing stuff from Pavement was like hearing my own voice and my own guitar. Superchunk, Sebadoh, Built to Spill as well. I had been a music guy leading up to that point and I felt like I had now found my music. Just for me.

In Jerome, ID, it literally was my music and nobody else. The Wasatch Fault is comforting to me. A band with similar influences, making original music-- and one of these guys lives 2 miles away from me. This band is what I wanted college to sound like.
Pavement is infamously a "low budget' band, although they worked on more money than I personally have. The Wasatch Fault covers the space between my reality and my teenage dream of becoming Steve Malkmus.
The band unity and musical culmination of The Wasatch Fault reminds me of my teenage comrade re with guys in my high school theatre program: Abrasive and full of joy. The bass lines and drum fills are well-articulated and memorable. The guitar tones are reminiscent of 90s Modest Mouse or Built to Spill. And I will rarely admit this about local groups, but their lead singer's voice is easily identifiable; his screams actually come off as natural. The production as a whole is sweet and tattered.

This music isn't ripping off anybody. It's a noticeable collective of influences, for sure, but it adds to something unique. And their sole album, (The Wasatch Fault) is totally cohesive.


MY FAVORITE TRACKS
I legitimately listen to these songs regularly; pretty much any time I went for a hike this summer.

"Why Would You Want To Be Anything, When You Could Be Everything?"
 At first, one might think this is going to be some awkward reggae cover of MBV's "To Here Knows When," but it turns into something totally different. Probably the album's most adventurous track; constantly shifting.
"Baker's Chocolate"
This song is possibly the closest thing the album has to a "single." And lyrically interesting-- apparently about some bizarre, 1-man cult youtuber David Charles Baker and not about Jesus.
"We Live In The Sky"
GREAT RIFF
MY OTHER FAVORITES
"Dopamine"
I LOVE the guitar/drum syncopation on this track!
"Monster Falcon"
The least weird lyrics on the album... I think every lo-fi album should consist one track like this.
"Reality Is a Construct (Built from Legos)"
I hear more of a DC post-punk influence on this one.
"Eternity Pill"
There's a guitar tone mid-way through this song I'm pretty sure I've never heard before.

So their new album (Super Wasatch Fault) should be coming out in a month or so, and I'm stoked! I had the pleasure of watching one of their rehearsal recordings with drummer Aaron McCuiston last year. The next album should have 8 songs, all between 4 and 11 minutes in length; I predict some influence something along the lines of Perfect from Now On. Listen to their first album below!

The 20 Best Live Bands I've Seen

-Ranked in order from worst to best
-I'm not including the time I saw the sitar player for The Rolling Stones' "Street Fighting Man," Dave Mason, because I don't remember it
-I will not include underground Twin Falls or Logan shows I've been to :(
-But I am including opening acts (I can remember)
-I'm also including a show I went to on mistake
-Rankings are based on how good the actual band's performance was, personal experiences from the concert, how likable the band's personality was, the "live experience," the set-lists, etc.

20 Parachute (2013)
My first spring semester at USU, I heard there was a free concert at The Spectrum. I'd never heard of the band before. Thought I'd show up. There were tons of people there! Mostly girls! Part of me was like: "Wow, I must be in the right place! This local band is gonna get some exposure, and I can stand anywhere and meet some girls!" Turns out, Parachute is a popular "pretty boy" band, famous for songs like "She Is Love" and "Kiss Me Slowly." As these young men entered the stage with their skateboard shoes and tight, ripped jeans, the stadium full of white college girls went crazy. I left early.

19 Styx (2006)
Styx was my favorite band at age 10. I liked them for the entirety of my early teenage life. I thought I'd be ecstatic to see them live when I was 15! I have very few memories from this show. It was over 100 degrees outside. I knew every song they played. Never felt overly stoked. The operatic Dennis DeYoung was no longer a band member, thus they didn't play "Come Sail Away." And a Styx concert without "Come Sail Away" ceases to be a Styx concert.

18 Mike Doughty (2006)
Opening act for Barenaked Ladies. Mostly a adult contemporary guy. Although he did this cool remix jam called "More Bacon Than the Pan Can Handle." He then did an acoustic cover of "The Gambler" seguing into an acoustic cover of "Paradise City." I laughed and winced simultaneously.

17 Twin Shadow (2014)
These guys sucked. Their lead singer has this great voice, but he only used it to sound like a Bryan Adams impersonator. Quote of the night: "I dedicate this song to all the girls out there who wanna make out with me on Capitol Hill or something like that." 
Oh! And also, there was this shirtless old man there in a cowboy hat, smoking a doobie and swingin' his hips to every song. To quote my friend with me that night: "Now that's entertainment."

16 CSS (2013)
At least these guys made me dance. Also, they were the sole reason my buddy Via showed up.

15 Average White Band (2003)
Yes, they played "Pick Up the Pieces" and that's all we could ask for.

14 Elf Power (2014)
They opened for Neutral Milk Hotel; a fellow member of the Elephant 6 record co. NMH band member Scott Spillane (and Santa Claus lookalike) joined them on some songs. The moment I saw him, I knew he had to be that one dude with the beard from the old NMH band photos.

13 Eddie Money (2003)
I remember he wore a green jacket covered in $ dollar signs. Some guy played a saxophone that had 2 horns on it. He played "Take Me Home Tonight." That's why we came, Eddie.

12 Flying Lotus (2012)
Flying Lotus is one of my favorite modern artists alive. I didn't know much of his stuff back in 2012. But even if I did, I would've been just as disappointed with this show. It was basically a rave. The music sounded generally cool, but not jazzy in the least. He drank onstage the whole time and got drunk to the extent it wasn't entertaining. He opened up a mysterious box he simply called "The Box", where he presumably was sorting through types of marijuana. He said something about Vancouver and smoked it, back to the audience. 
However, he finished the show with this catchy club banger he said he'd been working on with Thundercat. The song was released an entire year later on Thundercat's Apocalypse and was titled "Oh Sheit It's X." A great live moment.

11 Boston (2004)
I was 13 and Boston rocked! They brought out a giant guitar that required 2 people to play it. The organ intro for "Foreplay /Long Time" was about 10 minutes long. When I heard the opening riff for "Smokin'" the entire place suddenly smelled like nicotine. Brad Delp almost couldn't hit his high note on "Peace of Mind," but was heroically saved by a band-mate. This is what classic rock shows are about! However, it was at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, CA, which made for the most awkward sentence ever yelled from a stage: "We love you Concord California!"

10 Night Terrors of 1927 (2015)
I interviewed the band for the USU paper after the show! This included The Honorary Title's Jarrod Gorbel as well as former Boy Meets World actor and Rilo Kiley guitarist Blake Sennett!!!
The band's music is actually pretty crappy, and the interview was awkward. But whatever.


9 TV on the Radio (2014)
This show would be ranked lower, but I joined the mosh pit during "Wolf Like Me" and it was legit! TVOTR was one of my favorite bands as a teenager. The show as a whole didn't live all the way up to its potential nostalgic value, but I made it fun. Great drummer. The real bummers were that they didn't include as much vocal harmony as they do on their records, and they didn't play an encore :(

8 Bachman Turner Overdrive (2003)
My dad knew one of the security guards, and he let us stand front row! At age 12, I was ecstatic about touching the stage. Also, I saw their drummer taking a pee! This show was on the University of Pacific football field; he did it right on the ground, side-stage, and probably thought nobody was watching. But we were right up there! All because my dad student-taught this dude at Fresno State! I don't remember much about the actual performance, other than they didn't play "Let It Roll on Down the Highway" :(

7 Swearin' (2012)
For an opening act, these guys are okay. They get extra points because I stood next to the lead singer (Allison Crutchfield) during the Japandroids show! She's awesome! A punk show is no place to chat, so I had a brief conversation with her. Something along the lines of this... 
"Hey, you guys rocked!" 
"Thanks!"
"Japandroids rock!" 
"Yeah!"

6 Future Islands (2014)
I guess at the end of the day, Future Islands are just another indie 80s-throwback synth-pop band. Even their band members dress like it. Except their lead singer (and greatest man who ever lived), Samuel Herring. The band gained viral success after their performance of "Seasons (Waiting on You)" on Letterman. That dance he does in that video? He has a crazy dance for every song. He stands up there in a black t-shirt, sings like he's freaking Phil Collins, and every song has dramatic movement to it. Whether he's dancing like a monkey or re-enacting Phantom of the Opera, Herring is one of the greatest entertainers I've ever witnessed.

5 Barenaked Ladies (2006)
Confession: The Barenaked Ladies were my favorite band growing up. When it comes to pre-show excitement levels, this concert was easily #1. My favorite band on my 16th band birthday! And I admit, universally, it was a freaking fun show. The band even still had Steven Page, who undoubtedly is the greatest singer I've ever seen. And the set-list was awesome! They played all of my favorite Steven songs ( i.e. "Break Your Heart"). They did an improv rap about libraries. They did a 10-minute rendition of "If I Had $1,000,000." I loved it.
They ended the show with everyone switching instruments, where drummer Tyler Stewart took the mic saying: "Usually when the drummer starts singing, the whole show goes to hell. But tonight, in Mormon Town Utah, we're going to heaven!" Then they played "Feliz Thanksgiving" ("Feliz Navidad," but replaced "Navidad" with "Thanksgiving" every line... genius).

4 Neutral Milk Hotel (2014)
Neutral Milk Hotel is a hollowed name in the indie-sphere. This was the band's first tour in over 15 years. And I saw them. No photography was allowed at the show. This was a one-time-only experience and I had to take everything in. I was there with my buddy Taylor and some dude she met via Tinder. We watched from the front row! Apparently Jeff Mangum has a beard now... and I don't mean a "I'm-a-college-guy-trying-to-get-a-girlfriend" beard... I mean long and gray, like the prophets of old. 
Few words were uttered from the band between songs. The beardless Julian Koster, who looked like a pale-skinned 5-year old wearing a 2-foot long stocking cap, spoke in a backwoods child's voice: "We just love you guys!" And Jeff Mangum (who never smiled once) would close his eyes and put his hands together as though praying, and whisper: "Peace. my friends." Great show, great crowd to boot. Everyone sang along to "Two-Headed Boy." And the place went freaking bonkers when they played their bagpipe jam "[untitled]."
This could be ranked higher if not for the sad backstory. My buddy Via pre-ordered her tickets, but she couldn't get into the show. At age 24, she apparently doesn't have a driver's license. The show was at a bar. All she brought was Missouri driver's permit from 2006. Apparently this wasn't enough evidence to get her into the venue :(

3 Beck (2014)
Beck was my hero when I was a junior in high school. I even bought a Beck t-shirt with 2 turntables and a microphone on it. To see him on tour for his new Morning Phase album-- for $5, mind you-- was huge for me! I went with a random crew of friends who just wanted a fun Thursday night. And we sure got it...
It was a Twilight Concert Series show at Pioneer Park in SLC. The crowd was freaking NUTS. We were caught in the thick of it, towards the front. I showed up in my 80s-themed "Kanye glasses," but lost them by the end of the show. My buddy Andrew got stepped on and hurt his foot so bad, he left the crowd. I had no idea he was away from me the whole time. Mostly because I was moving the entire time. With all the people pushing each other and crammed so tightly, I never stood still once for the entire show. Discomforting, but memorable. Beck told the audience multiple times to "take care of each other out there" and mentioned that this was "the craziest crowd I've seen since like, 1996." I'll never forget the look on his face when he started playing his softest, most melancholia single "Lost Cause." The crowd freaking erupted and he was standing with his acoustic guitar, looking at us in pure confusion.
There were people watching the show from the tops of trees. I ran into a guy I served my mission with and a guy I went to high school with. That was cool. The whole place smelled like pot and I'm pretty sure I got second-hand high. I remember driving home the wrong way and smiling real big the whole time, feeling elated yet numb all at once. And I was super hungry. But what the hey. Beck played 15-minute versions of "Debra" and "Where It's At." It was a great time.


2 Japandroids (2012)
OK, I don't like Japandroids nearly as much as I used to. But their live show will make a believer out of anyone. These 2 working-class guys take the stage in their white t-shirts and just play their hearts out. The Urban Lounge is a small venue, but the show looked big. Lights hit them from every side. They motion their bodies melodramatically. The guitar tones sound better live than on the records. Hard to deny the magic in the room when they played "The House That Heaven Built."
My story: I was alone. I was supposed to watch the show with mission buddy Josh Lambert, but he never showed up. And I showed up an hour too early. I stood alone in my Vancouver Canucks Roberto Luongo jersey, in homage to the band's hometown. As I stood outside the club, this guy walks out, girl-in-arm, and says: "Hey man, nice shirt!"
I thanked him as he walked away. I thought: Funny, that guy looks like the lead singer. IT WAS! Brian King complimented my Canucks jersey! A night to remember!


1 Flaming Lips (2013)
This show has no cool stories about seeing a rare band or meeting it's members. But as part of Twilight Concert Series, I paid $5 to watch. The entertainment was worth much more.
The fact that I made it there was a miracle. My car wasn't functioning, and I told this girl I'd drive her to SLC for the show. A couple hours before the show, some random chick we didn't know offered us both a ride! Flaming Lips lovers of Logan united to make this night happen!
And the show was just all spectacle. Wayne Coyne stood in front of us in a shiny blue space suit, holding a plastic baby and raising his hand in the air in a traditional greeting pose. Crazy psychedelic lights were flashing everywhere! I remember just staring at people throughout the show and not thinking anything. I'd stare to the stage and my eyes were melting off my face. I don't know much about technology, but when it comes to sound, it was an artistic triumph. I guess all the instrumentation was technically "live," they just didn't sound like "instruments."
Wayne noted that it was the Utah holiday Pioneer Day and he called it "Pie and Beer Day." The crowd wasn't as historically weird as with most Flaming Lips shows, yet he still referred to us as "the weirdest bunch of freaks" (as he probably does for every show). And I did see a fan who began the show fully clothed, but by the end was standing alone in his underwear. And this couple behind me kissed each other for the entirety of "Do You Realize??" Not making out, not even any movement of their faces. They were like a statue of people kissing. Also, I think I got secondhand high. I can't think of a better band for that to happen to someone.

Scott's Classic Rock Chronicles I: The Basics

Music is the most important topic on this blog. I often write about modern independent artists that receive little radio airplay. But long before I was streaming underground electronica albums on the internet... I was a classic rock guru.
I literally spent 2 years of my life not knowing any new music because I was listening to classic rock radio all the time. I would use my parents' dial-up internet to look up the discography of bands like Grand Funk Railroad and Heart. At age 13, I knew more classic rock band statistics than most adults. I even spent a summer making my own homemade version of "classic rock Monopoly." I would never know so much about hipster music if I didn't start out by obsessing over classic rock. 
The funniest part about the music critic world is seeing how they handle "rock" music. Because every time they mention "rock," they put the word "rock" in quotation marks. This is because, no matter who you are, nobody knows what "rock" is. I have to grace the world with my encyclopedic knowledge of the genre of classic rock. I will show you the light as to how good (or bad) everybody's favorite rock bands really are. There will be lists. There will tears. There will be superficiality
Here are the basics of classic rock according to Scott.


The Beatles Are Not Classic Rock 

The Beatles are the greatest band of all time. Their music features guitars, percussion and vocals. George Harrison is one of my favorite guitarists of all time. But that doesn't mean The Beatles classify as a classic rock band.
 The internet's most generic database (Wikipedia) defines classic rock as "music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on commercially successful hard rock popularized in the 1970s" (citation to NY Times writer Jon Pareles noted). The Beatles career just barely edge this timeline. However, they impressively wedged in some classic rock tracks during that time: "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Come Together," "Helter Skelter," "I Want You (She's So Heavy)," to name a few. But while the classic rock genre was emerging from the live concert settings, The Beatles had already stopped touring in 1966. They were a studio-conscious band making experimental music. 
If you want to be a contrecoeur of pop music as a whole, study up The Beatles. If you want to grow your hair long and perform shredding guitar solos, keep reading.


Led Zeppelin = The Rule Book

Led Zeppelin wasn't the first hard rock band ever, but I dare say they were the best. They experimented with a wide flavor of genres, yet always focused on the essential elements of rock. See "Kashmir," "D'yer Mak'er," "The Battle of Evermore" for more. Aside from just the music, they looked like every hard rock band for the next 20 years. The hair, the wardrobe, the live light show, etc. And of course: DRUGS.
However, if I could make a case for any other band paving the way for classic rock, it'd be The Who. Much like Led Zeppelin, each member of the band was equally dynamic and influential. Their attempts at "poetry" were really just drunken and stupid ("Bargain" vs. "Thank You"). Their riffs were heavy and loud. Who's Next might be the best album between both bands. But from front-to-back of their careers, Led Zeppelin remained true to the genre. While Roger Daltrey was singing "rock is dead," Zep was recording Physical Graffiti. Why critique your own genre when you could be polishing it? 

How Good Were The Rolling Stones?

To be picky with genres, here's the general consensus of rock greatness:
Greatest band of all time: The Beatles
Greatest hard rock band of all time: Led Zeppelin 
Greatest rock band of all time: The Rolling Stones
I grew up always criticizing The Rolling Stones. I loved them and all, but I went as far as to question what made them so good. If anything, I've learned that most bands aren't as consistently good as the Stones were, releasing about 15 years worth of enjoyable hits. Mick Jagger's voice is possibly the most influential singer of all time. You try writing a 3-minute rock'n'roll song without somewhat imitating his vocal styles. Also, Charlie Watts is a super underrated drummer (the variety on "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" will make you a believer). Keith Richards guitars were always distinctly jagged. Bill Wyman's bass lines on songs on "Sympathy for the Devil" and "Bitch" are pretty hard to forget. And collectively, there was a fair amount of experimentation with latin music, gospel, R&B and proto-grunge. The Rolling Stones were a lovable band.
They were not lyricists.
But yes, they were indeed a great classic rock band. 

From hereon out, I will be dissecting popular classically classic rock bands (or rather, tearing them apart). So.. Who should I write about next??? Guns N' Roses? The Eagles? Aerosmith? Steve Miller Band? King Crimson? I wanna know! No one is safe.

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Which John Mayer Album Cover Is The Worst?

John Mayer was the most popular male solo artist in adult contemporary music, what seems like only yesterday. The new title is easily taken by Ed Sheeran. But as much as 5 years ago, who stood a chance against him? Jack Johnson's last 2 albums went so far under the radar, their singles have yet to surpass the Spotify rankings of his 2006 non-single "Banana Pancakes." Jason Mraz has made a couple juggernaut singles that completely cover the fact he was once a 2000's one-hit wonder for "The Remedy." Yet even in his most sentimental moments, we cannot take him seriously. Who was the guy getting multiple Grammy nominations (and wins)? Who's the guy who could go a full concert without smiling and the crowd will believe him? Who still makes singles that barely creep into the Billboard Hot 100 yet gain 75 million Spotify hits? Only John Mayer.
However, despite his undeniable title, it's an undeniably stupid title. You have to narrow down, like, 5 different genres to pinpoint where he rules in the music world. The guy hasn't made an album in 3 years. He hasn't had a top 40 hit in 6 years. Yet people pay to see his shows far more than some coffee shop act.
There's a certain elegance about John Mayer's personality, yet many music critics set aside his work as things of naught. Then again, unlike Jack Johnson or Jason Mraz, he always stands a chance in the eyes of the Grammy Academy (18 nominations). And his guitar skills have proven him worthy of praise; check out his live John Mayer Trio album and his performance on Frank Ocean's "White." Yet at age 38, he still walks a fine line between The Boys and The Men. This is made most obvious-- not by his music-- but by his album covers.
Here are John Mayer's full-length album covers... and what they really say about his career.


THE JACKET
Battle Studies
2009
When google searching John Mayer's album covers, this is the first one that come up. I'm not 100% why, but I think it's because he kinda looks like a stud on the cover.
-Let's start with the jacket. I want that jacket. That is one sexy jacket.
-That hair style will forever be considered attractive.
-His eyes look like he has sleeping problems. He probably burned a doobie at 2am that morning.
-The solid creme background is quite classy.
However, there is way too much writing on the side. Since the right side of the album cover represents simplicity, I was really hoping the only words I'd see here would be "JOHN MAYER BATTLE STUDIES." The album info is written in annoyingly large print.
And as much as I like his look here, the actual music on the album makes him look like "just another handsome guy making bland pop music." He looks like a MAN. But there's nothing bold here.

THE GET-UP
Paradise Valley
2013
I've heard a few tracks from this album. I can see what he tried to do. Especially considering the Western get-up on the cover. This album was supposed to be his breakaway from pop. The earthy, au naturale John Mayer. The desert plains-wandering prophet, showing roots from both the cowboys and the Natives of the land. The experienced songwriter who shares album covers with his pets.
Then why is he wearing faded jeans?
I'm pretty sure that dog is asking the same question in this picture. This isn't the Sublime dalmatian looking cool with the rest of the band. This dog is a confused companion, looking for attention from his owner. "John, will you please stop looking like a darn fool and play fetch with me?"


THE BEST ALBUM
Continuum
2006
This is easily his best album. I admit to a soft spot in my heart for the first half. (sigh) OK, I bought this when I was 16. Rolling Stone called it the 12th best album of 2006. I believed them. "Gravity" was a fairly original blues track for the time. The hook from "The Heart of Life" would later be ripped off by hipster songwriter genius Jens Lekman. "I Don't Trust Myself" is probably his best song. The album features collabs from Ben Harper and the guitarist of the then new band Maroon 5. This was a Grammy nominee for Album of the Year. Continuum doesn't suck (that is, until you get to his cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Bold as Love"-- holy fail, Batman). He tried to show off his soul skills, as well as his Clapton guitar impersonations.
By the way, yes, I am totally overplaying this. This album is actually pretty boring. Or is it just the album cover? Here we have a non-scripted words from a Circuit City customer in 2006:

Look at that word. It's the word "CONINUUM." I don't hear that word much. Oh, and below it says "MUSIC BY JOHN MAYER." I figured this was a John Mayer album, but I had no idea it would music by him! Maybe he's trying to make a statement against all the artists out there who are not making music. Hmmm... Well, nothing much else to look at here. The blue-white-gray color scheme is making me yawn. I wonder what other CDs they got here... ooh, look! The Curious George soundtrack! I could download that on my Zune!


THE TATTOO
Heavier Things
2003
These days, John Mayer's entire left arm is covered in tattoos. But in 2003, he was still just a kid with some cutesy flowers on his right arm. This album cover was a big career move for him. The blue tint presumes that he was gonna show us his best melancholia, mature side. He looks like he's been breathing heavily. You can tell he's really serious about his music. And that tattoo on his left arm is some kind of sign of tough skin, something you see no sign of on his first album cover (which I will definitely be talking about later).
The lead single "Bigger Than My Body" is musically lite-weight, but the he's trying to make a statement of maturity he'll actually accomplish on his next album. The most popular song was surprisingly its third single, "Daughters," which actually got a Grammy nod for Song of the Year nearly 2 years after this album release! It was an unlikely audience shift for a pasty white guy who made the Billboard top 20 with songs about high school reunions and playing with girls' bodies. Maybe there's more to little John Mayer than meets the eye?
I'd look harder, but those 2000s cargo pants make me laugh too hard.

THE LUCKY BREAK
Room for Squares
2001
As is a common theme for John, the album title Room for Squares implies the idea of growing up. He always admits to having growing up to do. Perhaps it's his emphasis on this theme is why the common world listened to him. Perhaps his sultry voice is what launched him into popularity. Well, I tell you what-- it wasn't this album cover.
If you ever wanna feel good about yourself, remember this: This guy-- in the picture below-- this totally scrawny, vague, white geek of a boy-- went on to go out with these women:
-Jennifer Love Hewitt
-Jessica Simpson
-Minka Kelly
-Jennifer Aniston
-Taylor Swift
-Katy Perry
-Jennifer Lawrence (rumor!)
As the Battle Studies album cover indicate, John's fashion skills and physical attributes improved over time. I'm just saying, this is one friggin lucky kid sittin' down right here.


THE BASEMENT
Born and Raised
2012
This is where we feel bad for John Mayer. This album cover was the stake through the heart of his consistently successful career. The lead single "Shadow Days" was a sincere ode to his issues with anxiety, which unfortunately never sells records. He just got dumped by Taylor Swift, who wrote a breakup song about him that is possibly her best songwriting work [(ouch) "ouch" because that really hurt his ego and "ouch" because Taylor can't write a song better than that crap]. And to add on to the heartbreak, no songs on here gained any notable popularity. I think this has to do with the fact that this album cover is super terrible.
I think the Black Crowes released an album with this cover every 5 years. Or maybe he was imitating Grateful Dead live albums. John Mayer is probably a fan of both, but Southern jam rock is definitely not his strong suit. Within 3 years, he went from sexy songwriting crooner to the secret 15th member of The Allman Brothers. Nobody can legitimately admit to remembering this album. John himself tried to cover it up with Paradise Valley but 1 year later. What doesn't help is some British dude named Ed Sheeran who pulled through with his surprise hit "The A Team" and followed it up with one of the highest selling albums of this decade. Since this album, John Mayer has become old news. Maybe there's still hope for him. My sister still loves the guy.