BY CLINT BRADSHAW
John Mayer, seven-time Grammy Award-winning songwriter and performer, released his fourth album, Battle Studies on November 17th. Mayer, now universally recognized for his guitar playing skills as well as his writing skills, expertly mixes pop, blues, soul and jazz into his ever-evolving music. At the age of 19 he enrolled in Berklee College of Music. However his interest lay more in playing music than studying it, so he left school early to begin playing professionally. He emerged on the national music scene with his CD Room for Squares, which would go multi-platinum and win him his first Grammy in 2003 for the song "Your Body is a Wonderland." Mayer appeared in an ASCAP "Quiet on the Set" Showcase at the 2000 South By Southwest festival, and just a handful of years later, he was honored at the 20th Annual ASCAP Pop Awards for his hit "No Such Thing," also from Room for Squares. In 2006, he was presented with the Hal David Starlight Award at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction ceremony.
Battle Studies (out via Columbia records) follows Mayer's critically applauded 2006 album Continuum. Co-produced with Steve Jordan and recorded in Mayer's home studio in California, the album derives its name from the lessons, observations and advice gained from relationships. The musical style of Battle Studies is a departure from the R&B and Soul influences of Continuum, instead focusing on the musical style of California rock/pop of the 70's and 80's. The release will be followed up by a 2010 North American concert tour starting in February.
