Album Review- Continuum John Mayer (2006)
At the beginning of his career it felt like John Mayer was known as a singer-songwriter from a radio prospective. With hits like “Your Body Is a Wonderland,” “Daughters,” and “Bigger Than My Body” John Mayer had already established himself as a very popular singer-songwriter. His 3rd LP Continuum would show fans and critics alike that he had a different side to him, combining the songwriting he was known for with the blues he grew up idolizing.
Continuum, which was produced by Mayer and Steve Jordan who also plays drums on the record, is the perfect mix of blues with a pop sensibility. The first song on the album “Waiting On the World to Change” is a song where John Mayer simply looks at the role his generation is playing in the world. He sings, “One day our generation is gonna rule the population” as a reminder to start paying attention to what is going on around us.
“Gravity,” which would later become the song that Mayer has to play at every show, is a bluesy number that sees John questioning the way some things in his life are turning out. Near the end of the song he proclaims “Just keep me where the light is” in order to try and stay levelheaded on things in his life.
On “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room,” Mayer beautifully paints a picture of a broken relationship. At times during the guitar solo it sounds as though he is making the guitar cry out of anger and sadness.
The last song I want to discuss is “In Repair.” This song has to be one of the most underrated songs in his catalog. Throughout the song, Mayer speaks on the emotion that no matter where we are in our lives there is always room for improvement or revision. He sings “I’m in repair I’m not together but I’m getting there” to drive home the point that life has a funny way of working itself out and to enjoy the process of figuring things out.
This album is not only my favorite John Mayer record, but it may just be one of my all-time favorites. I hope this review gives you a reason to give it a listen.