Trouser Press - Re: 4-stars...really ?

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Re: 4-stars...really ?

Author: Michael Toland
Date: 05-17-12 10:50

Mayer (and Johnson, for that matter) is one of those artists whose music doesn't have a shred of innovation or even ambition (beyond selling units), but feels familiar to an audience that complains about electropop and hip-hop top 40 stuff but also doesn't "get" anything experimental in the indie rock realm. He reaffirms certain values for that audience, but they also convince themselves they're "hip" because he's young. Perfect for Rolling Stone readers, in other words. He's the very definition of safe.

I agree with you, though. He's a supposedly great guitar player, but all he's really doing is imitating Stevie Ray Vaughan and Clapton, without bringing anything of his own to the table. His songs get the job done, I suppose, but sound like they've had the life smoothed out of them with a dough roller. (And I blame not only his producers but also his own sense of craft.) His belief in his own talent and that he's bringing something needed to the world of music has led him to make stupid statements on race in the press and generally project an air of smug sexism and arrogance, apparently under the impression that he's bulletproof.

It's possible there's a producer out there who could challenge him and bring out whatever major talent he supposedly possesses, but I have my doubts.

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nosepail

05-15-12 13:18