Mayer matures with new disc
‘Continuum’ reflects Mayer’s growth in latest blues album
By Jess Novak, contributing writer
Posted on September 14, 2006

It seems to be a trend in popular music recently to flash back to the nostalgic, older styles of music, as heard in the release of Christina Aguilera’s latest album Back to Basics, and now in John Mayer’s Tuesday release of Continuum. However, both seem to have proved certain styles can be better the second time around.

Mayer’s growth and maturity are apparent in his intelligent, thoughtful and honest lyrics, and his musical versatility is proved in this blues-drenched album. While his past albums left audiences humming and dancing to catchy, more pop-style tunes and girls swooning, Continuum will leave fans contemplating his lyrical messages and possibly even comparing Mayer to several of the most legendary blues musicians of the past century.

The entire album reeks of emotionally charged blues riffs and vocals and is saturated with lyrics working like a diary of Mayer’s past two years, revealing his thoughts on everything from world wars to his own personal state of repair. 

While certain themes re-emerge, such as heartache and the familiar claims of being “so damn much more,” Mayer also incorporates the broader picture into insightful songs like “Waiting on the World to Change” which has potential to become the theme song of an entire generation. Like Mayer sings, “One day our generation is gonna rule the population, so we keep on waiting, waiting for the world to change.”

Mayer also takes a giant step in testing more political and social waters in songs like “Belief,” where he questions fighting in the name of pure conviction.

“Belief is a beautiful armor and makes for the heaviest sword,” sings Mayer. “Like punching underwater, you never can hit who you’re trying for.”

Perhaps the most groundbreaking tracks on the album, however, are those near the conclusion. “Bold as Love” is a brilliant, cryptic piece with the most upbeat electric guitar solos of the album, and lyrics that prove Mayer is more than a musician, but also a genuine American poet, something like a less-psychedelic Jim Morrison.

Yet, it was the final track, “I’m Gonna Find Another You,” that brought images of a smoky old-style jazz club and artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Billie Holiday and Ray Charles to mind. The simple, sad, painfully expressive lyrics and matching cry of the guitar end the bluesy Continuum perfectly.

Mayer has truly grown since his last release and is beginning to emerge as a potential Eric Clapton in the making. With a relaxed, bluesy feel and lyrics worth listening to, it will be interesting to see if Mayer will, in fact, survive his critics and the test of time as he sings in “Vultures”: “Power is made, by power being taken. So I keep on running to protect my situation.” Keep running, John. We’ll keep listening.