Just to keep this thread alive, I'll offer this observation. "Your Body Is A Wonderland" is Mayer's worst song, and one that he would have been well advised never to allow to see the light of day. A lot of people are going to misjudge him as an artist because of that song. That's a shame, because everything else on his albums is much, much better stuff.

On the other hand, "Your Body Is A Wonderland" might be the main reason he survived to make another album...oh well...

so I've been listening to a few songs ("Neon", "Everything Is Broken", "Love Song for No One") and my forethoughts were right: this is well crafted, so well crafted that it bores the hell out of you... it's probably good background music, for when you have a family dinner, 'cause it won't offend anyone, and I'm not speaking about the lyrics now, I don't need offensive language or anything, it's just so very middle of the road, no angles or original things...

Some other bands I'd like to recommend, The Shins and The Thrills, aren't all that original either, they are clearly influenced by the Beach Boys and other 60s bands, but listening to them is so much more rewarding... and Rev, you always say: oh I haven't been hearing things like this, well then I guess you just haven't been looking for it...

Different strokes for different folks, I guess. I don't find Mayer boring at all. I'll keep my eyes (and ears) open for the other bands you mentioned, the Shins and the Thrills.

Do I always say I "haven't been hearing things like this"? I don't think I always say that. What I do often say is that there's lots of good music around, but you have to dig for it. Anyway, with a collection of 2,000 or so CDs and LPs, I really am not desperately looking for new music to listen to.

I understand... this pop/rock style is very popular, and I understand why, because it's so accessible, but I always try to point out other things...

You may like Sioen, a Belgian pop/rock band, fronted by a pianist with a rather hoarse voice... but I guess their cd is hard to find outside Belgium (and the Netherlands maybe)

I did not say what I wanted to say about John Mayer earlier in this thread I'll say it now and I'll make it brief:
I don't especially dislike John Mayer's music. However, if you don't already know, my parents are Jehovah's Witnesses (and I am 13 years old). The JW's are against the majority of he music I listen to (they don't know I like it though), which in some cases is just ridiculous (for instance - Frank Zappa). The Jehovah's Witnesses do their best to make everybody listen to the most wholesome music around. I am not saying their is anything wrong with "Wholesome music" but it's ridiculous when you have a group of people who can not respect your tastes in music and try to force you to listen to John Mayer and the Dave Matthews Band. I said I hate John MAyer, but really I have no problem with him, I still don't like his music, but I can't stand how the JW's force him on me.

dude, dave matthews says "fuck" in one of their songs, they are badasses

badasses can make boring music too

I am gonna bump this because I want the Rev to see my last post.

Wow...what I'm amazed at is that JWs would consider John Mayer and Dave Matthews (both of whom are very free with sexual references in their work) "wholesome". I'm actually surprised at that.

John Mayer sounds like late seventies light rock/disco designed for office music.

Office music got high ratings on radio because people would leave it on all day.

It could be left on all day because it was non-offensive, cliche', cheap pop hooked, audio mayonaise.

If you like that feel you get while standing in an elevator, you might like John M.

Also if you suffer from a stress or anger disorder, it may help ease the tension.

It you don't it may give you one though.