John Mayer - Born and Raised

It has been a little over two years and several hiccups along the way since the world has heard anything from John Mayer. Deleting his Twitter account and periodically sweeping clean his Tumblr page, Mayer has been making a point to keep others from looking in and for good reason.  He has been on a personal journey of self-discovery and has written a classic and revealing album called Born and Raised due out on May 22, 2012.

Fans of John Mayer have been anticipating this album for quite some time since the release of Battle Studies in 2009. In a transitional period with his music, Battle Studies lacked patience as a follow up to Continuum, and only skimmed the surface of this writer as he penned the lyrics and laid the melodies. But without this period in time, Mayer may not have been able to let go of control and write a beautifully structured classic, country feeling album such as Born and Raised.

iTunes released a full album stream last evening and here is a track by track review of the new album:

“Queen of California” – Most Hopeful -  Reminiscent of days filled with the sounds of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, this catchy tune takes you on a trip out west as Mayer is letting go and believes there is another color waiting on him as he takes an adventure into something new.

Lyric: Boarded a flight with a song in the back of my soul

“The Age of Worry” – Most Courageous – A power ballad with an Irish pub feel about facing fears and letting go of the worry and to ask oneself “why should I care”.  He is asking to reclaim your heart and mind in this “Age of Worry” and not let it hold you back.

Lyric – Dream your dreams, but don't pretend | Make friends with what you are

“Shadow Days” – Most Apologetic – This song is the first single from the album and by now is no secret to the apologetic nature this song exudes and has definitely set listeners up for the story the album brings.  This song is just one chapter into this autobiographical record.

Lyric - But you find yourself alone | Just like you found yourself before
|

Like I found myself in pieces on the hotel floor

“Speak For Me” – Most Transitional – This track is the “Something’s Missing” from Heavier Things morphed to meet Born and Raised. He is still stumbling on that missing link, still looking for guidance into the man he wants to be but is willing to ask for help.

Lyric - Show me something I can be | Play a song that I can sing |

Make me feel as I am free | Someone come speak for me

“Something Like Olivia” – Most Familiar – With a melody as familiar as yesterday this slow southern rock groove touches on a girl named Olivia that would be the perfect “other half”, yet she is with another man.

Lyric - No I'm not trying to steal | No lover way from no man |

But if Olivia herself were at my door | I'd have to say I'd let her in]

“Born and Raised” – Most Revealing – The title track is the title track for a reason. This open and honest song hits home every time you take a listen.   To reach the moment of being “Born and Raised” can only be achieved when one accepts their own grass roots in which they came. Mayer touches on his family and makes reference to his parent’s separation while laying out his experiences over the last two years on this track.

Lyric - Then all at once it gets hard to take | It gets hard to fake what I won't be |

Cause one of these days I'll be born and raised| And it's such a waste to grow up lonely

“If I Ever Get Around to Living” – Most Freeing – The ability to let go of your past life and move into your own soul, your own home, your own self.  He has accepted to be free of a life he does not need and acceptance into whom he is. This track is amazing in the sense the song starts out very different that how it ends. It is as if two songs were put together and the tempo and shift change in the song is marvelous and seamless.

Lyric – I’ll take the end of every day| Tie it up to every morning| And sail away

“Love Is a Verb” – Most Descriptive – Almost as if Mayer is channeling Van Morrison in this stripped down simple song of love, describing how love is shown and not something one possesses.

Lyric - Love ain’t a crutch | It ain’t an excuse | no you can’t get through love

| on just a pile of IOU’s

“Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967” – Most Anticipated - Those that have followed the release of this album know this song is a story of a man named Walt Grace and his “one man submarine ride”.  A man searching for something more, builds a submarine which his wife and friends disapprove of. But questions still loom – will he succeed? Where is he going? And most of all…does he survive?  I guess you will have to listen to find out.

Lyrics – Cause when you’re done with this world | You know the next is up to you |

“Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey” – Most Introspective – A song repeating the lines “whiskey, whiskey, whiskey - water, water, water - sleep”.  Perhaps a pattern experienced in Mayer’s life  in which he was stuck in a phase in which he knows he will get through but has “a ways to go”.  A narrative of a past he is laying to rest.

Lyric – Walking home with no one left | Speak softly underneath my breath |

“Hey world you ain’t seen nothing yet”| Great now it’s raining

“A Face to Call Home” – Most Accepting – Mayer knows a girl that he says has a “face to call home” and is accepting the chance to be vulnerable and happy.  This song has the right feel for this album but underneath is a classic Mayer track.

Lyric - Maybe I could stay awhile | I’m talking like all the time

“Born and Raised (reprise)” – Most Complete – This sums up the album as if to almost release all the turmoil and struggle with a big “sigh”. Now it has all been left behind as this modern day music cowboy walks into the sunset.

Lyric - And half the time I’ll be twice my age | Better learn how to turn the page |

Cause time is strange when you’re Born and Raised

Born and Raised is such a complete album that if you were to “shuffle the deck” and realign the songs into chapters from a book, you will find Mayer’s journey over the last few years included in this record. If you are willing and ready to forgive the past and live the journey of Mayer’s self-discovery, please pick up a copy of Born and Raised.