New Releases from John Mayer and Tedeschi Trucks Band.

For me, it’s hard to find new music by artists that continue to make music that stimulates me. I usually end up seeking out old music by established artists in hopes of finding something I may have missed out on. On Tuesday May 22 2012, there were quite a few releases that I not only admire but also recommend. John Mayer’s Born and Raised,  the Tedeschi Trucks Band’s live Everybody’s Talkin’,  Joe Bonamassa’s Driving Towards the Daylight and Slash’s Apocalyptic Love were all released on the same day. Thanks to the internet and services like Spotify, I am able to dial up these new albums (both at home and my smartphone) and listen to the entire albums.  I know there are music purists that may criticize me for this practice. But, I am paying for the service to “sample'” and stream these albums. I have also been scoping out these releases on various retail websites in hopes of downloading the albums(legally) or buying a physical copy on CD. As I listen to these, I’ll make an opinion of these. Right now, I know that I’ll have a hard time decided which ones to get first. They are sounding really good at this point. They are energizing me enough to write this down. That’s saying something. For this blog, I’ll highlight the ones from John Mayer and the Tedeschi Trucks Band.

First of all is John Mayer’s Born and Raised.  Mayer’s been on the music scene for the past decade and I really feel he’s made some great music. He’s a definite student of the Blues through artists like Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan. But, he also has influences from the music of the past 30-40 years too. His last album Battle Studies never really resonated for me. His album before that was Continuum and that definitely hit me on a musical and emotional level. I was in the middle of a divorce and was coming to grips with the end of my marriage when I heard that album. That album touched on issues on relationships that I related to at the time. Even now, when I go back to listen to that, I’m transported back to the time and the emotions I was feeling at the time. The new album is very earthy and natural sounding. I really dislike it when modern day producers take musicians that are proficient on their instruments and bog down the songs with “modern” sounds of drum machines and turntable scratching to make it seem more pop sounding to cater to a pop market. This album is very stripped down. I’m sure in today’s marketplace, it could be considered “country” or “folksy” sounding.  There’s a lot of acoustic guitar, harmonica, slide guitar/dobro on this album. It’s just feels like a natural musical statement. It’s a definite “Sunday Afternoon chill-out” album.
On this album, he reflects on his life after a 2 year absence from the spotlight after his much talked about embarrassing interviews with Rolling Stone and Playboy magazines. Mayer’s talent often gets overshadowed by his tendency to end up in the tabloids with whoever he seems to be dating at the time(Jennifer Love-Hewett, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Aniston). But, I really feel his prowess on the guitar and for songwriting is something he should be commended for. The lyrics on this album are autobiographical for Mayer. He’s looking to isolate himself from the busy life of the limelight. On Queen of California, he talks about finding “that song” like what Neil Young or Joni Mitchell wrote on their classic icon albums. The Age of Worry is that thing that creative people do when they are trying too hard. They worry about what others think of their creative ventures. I myself have had that moment of worrying what others think of me. Do they like me? It can be almost crippling at times. I’ve been a people pleaser from a very young age. I’ve done theatre. I’ve done a bit of stand-up comedy. I’ve been in singing groups and bands. Most of it is all for the attention and the approval of others. But, being happy in your own skin is something I struggle with on a daily basis. It’s lyrics like this that I find encouraging.

Yours is with your timing
Dream your dreams but don’t pretend
Be friends with what you are

The next song is the current single off the album. The lyrics for this are another look at self introspection. I’ve had those days of questioning when my life will make a turn for the better. The song for Shadow Days is a lesson in self affirmation.

Hard times let me be
I’m a good man with a good heart
Had a tough time, got a rough start
And I finally learned to let it go
Now I’m right here, and I’m right now
And I’m hoping, knowing somehow
That my shadows days are over
My shadow days are over now

As I track through the songs and read through the lyrics, I can envision John in the middle of Montana(he lives there now) alone with a notebook jotting down these lyrics and thoughts as they touch on the emotions he’s been feeling the past couple of years. From the title track Born and Raised to If I Ever Get Around to Living, he seems to be lamenting and constantly yearning for something intangible in life. The lyrics are autobiographical as is the music. Many of us have felt it and yet he’s finding a way to express it.  Through the simplicity of the instrumentation and vocal harmonies (courtesy of Graham Nash and David Crosby), John Mayer makes an honest and heartfelt album that shows him to have more depth than what some may have perceived him to have.
Back in 2007,  John Mayer and Derek Trucks(along with Chili Pepper John Frusciante) were featured as the “New Guitar Gods” in Rolling Stone magazine.

I’ve been following the two and them ever since. Both are fantastic guitar players steeped in the Blues. Their kind of Blues is more of a laid-back country blues. Derek Trucks began teaming up with his wife (blues singer) Susan Tedeschi on the road a few years back. Last year, they released the critically acclaimed (and Grammy Award winning) debut album for the Tedeschi Trucks band called Revelator.  Their new album is a live album whose title is also a unique cover of the Harry Nilsson classic Everybody’s Talkin’. 

There only seems to be about 3 songs from the Revelator album on this live set. But, they are 3 great songs. This full band is funky and jam packed with southern soul. Derek’s slide guitar sings and cries. While Susan’s singing voice touches me deep and makes me cry(Check out Midnight in Harlem) Derek’s signature sound is instrumental in carrying on the legacy of his musical mentor- the late Duane Allman. When I listen to his playing, I’m almost always relaxed and DE-stressed into a moment of serenity and comfort. It’s just that magical to me.

The band is so loose and grooving. Upon first listen, I found myself grabbing a pair of my drumsticks and started playing along on a  single practice pad. From Bound for Glory into Rollin’ and Tumblin’, I had my left foot tapping along to the point where I found myself playing on an imaginary “air” drumkit in my mind. My left foot became my hi-hat pedal. My right foot was my bass drum foot and my arms were laying down a beat between the imaginary snare drum, cymbals, toms and hi-hat. I am moved to be moving and grooving.
This overall sound is the kind of sound that warms my heart, quickens my heartbeat, fills me with excitement and puts a smile on my face.  The crisp horn section, the slithering bass lines, the Hammond organ and of course the signature guitar sound make me sit in awe of this incredible band. I can only imagine how great a live show is put on by this band. I’m also thinking “How can I get a chance to play in a band like this?”  The live songs flow as a live show should. Then I’m hit with a cover of Stevie Wonder’s Uptight.   The band is right on this one. Susan’s vocal range is perfect for this one. This one stretches into an all-out jam by this group of fantastic musicians including a double drummer solo. The band winds up with a couple of great songs including Love has Something Else to Say followed by the gospel show stopper Wade in the Water  that highlights the vocal interplay between Susan and the backing singers which I assume are Mike Mattison and Kofi Burnbridge from Derek’s band.  This is yet another great release from this band. I would definitely put these albums on my early favorites list for 2012.
I wanted to write up a review for the new Joe Bonamassa and the new Slash album too. But, that will be a blog for another day. Right now, these are the albums that are occupying a space in my brain for now.