Album Review: Try! (Live) by the John Mayer Trio
There's been a large buzz around John Mayer ever since he came into the spotlight, but lately more than ever he's been the word. Everybody's seemed to know or heard that he's a good guitarist, but when you produce crap like he had on "Room For Squares" and "Heavier Things" it makes it hard to believe you can really rock out.
John's hung up his pussy, fratboy rocker just out to bang chicks image....for the most part, and pulled out some of the baddest licks you've heard in years. And he's doing something nobody's really tried in forty or more years: do something new with the blues.
Yeah, I've seen people bash this album on iTunes or Amazon and whatnot, but you know what? People bashed the hell out of Bitches BRew when that came, going as far to say Jazz was dead. I'n not saying this ablum is the new BRew, but damned if it isn't the some of the only good music around today.
He's got guitar work on here worthy of anybody to listen to. He's really got a Stevie Ray Vaughn-type sound. On 'Vultures' if you close your eyes and listen during the solo, you'll swear he's Clapton. But he's not simply emulating, he's actually got an original voice and is expanding the range of the blues.
That's right, he's teaching the old dog some new tricks. Last time something big happened to the blues, Cream rocking and Zeppelin came out with 'Led Zeppelin I.' That was 1968 people. Nothing really innovative has happened since. But John here is actually working to expand its range by not only exposing the blues to a wider audience, but playing more complex changes (which has been done, but not something you hear much anymore) and giving the blues a 2005 feel. You blues purists can sing your Robert Johnson and Leadbelly standards about your milkcow no longer givin' milk, but wanna know something? It doesn't appeal to an audience other than very older blues fans and purists. Do you know how many people today actually know who the hell Robert Johnson and Leadbelly are? Mayer writes lyrics that your average 21st century listener can understand and appreciate. Not quite as awesome as say lyrics by Willie Dixon, but lyrics that apply today
John started out with bubblegum poppy career. Now he's changing for the better. Embrace it and see it for the genius it is. Hes trying to help the blues; show it a new way and show a VERY wide audience what real music is.
There's great work by legend bassist Pino Palladino on here to as well as smart drumming and good grooves by Steve Jordan. John's guitar plays tasteful, exiting solos, and his singing is not horrible. Hopefully that will mature to the level of his playing.
So I strongly recommend Try! by John Mayer Trio. He stills sings like chick magnet pretty boy, but he plays like grizzled vet putting in everything he's got.
