John Mayer - Battle Studies (180 Gram) (2 LP)

It's no secret that John Mayer is a 21st Century Fox, wining and dining women all through tabloid headlines, so it's about time he delivered an album that traded upon his loverman persona -- and Battle Studies is that record in spades. Retaining more than a modicum of the slick, soul-blues undertones of Continuum, Mayer fashions a modern groove album, a record that maintains a smooth seductive vibe so thoroughly it spills into a one-man band cover of "Crossroads." Mayer remains somewhat of a disciple of Slowhand, but he shows an unusual interest in the big AOR stylings of Journeyman, along with Stevie Ray Vaughan's In Step, creating a coolly clean blend of synths and Strats, one that's as much about texture as it is about song.something perfectly appropriate for a make-out album like this. Sometimes, Mayer dips too heavily toward the texture, but he can't resist a good, tight melody and builds the bulk of Battle Studies upon them: the elegant "Half of My Heart," the softly soulful "Perfectly Lonely." Here, Mayer is effortlessly seductive and somewhat irresistible, and it's easy to see why the ladies love cool John. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: Pop, Rock, Alternative
  
• 180 Gram, Double Black Vinyl
• Remember, for our lowest prices, always order directly from Joco Records!

TRACKS

Side: 1
1 Heartbreak Warfare
2 All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye
3 Half of My Heart
Side: 2
1 Who Says
2 Perfectly Lonely
3 Assassin
Side: 3
1 Crossroads
2 War of My Life
3 Edge of Desire
Side: 4
1 Do You Know Me
2 Friends, Lovers or Nothing