John Mayer's PARADISE VALLEY

Rating 5/5

John Mayer's new album, “Paradise Valley” came out on the 20th of August, 2013. We don't have a screaming, fainting crowd of a fanbase for him here in Dhaka, but he has won seven Grammy Awards and sold around 20 million albums worldwide. So, he's kind of a big deal.
John Mayer started out as an aspiring artist with mainly acoustic rock before he gradually digressed to blues and now he's down to country! Like his previous album “Born and Raised”, this is very country and you know a country album is incomplete without woeful songs like “You're No One Till Someone Lets You Down”. But these are actually great songs. I personally feel that with every new album, we get to see John Mayer grow as an artist, developing in and nailing every genre he's taken up so far.
This album features strong but balanced guitar work so it does not feel too indulgent, and a folksy warmth that feels experimental but not forced. Typically John Mayer likes engaging melodies that catch on without being manipulative.
On the bluesy side, there's a romantic duet with girlfriend Katy Perry titled “Who You Love”.
On the scandalous side there are subtle, but definitely questionable references made to ex-girlfriend, Taylor Swift, in “Paper Doll” that has everyone speculating.
Nine out of eleven songs are sure to be hits amongst the general public. Most likely to be voted as the best track of the album is “Wildfire”, featuring Frank Ocean. However, some people might find another hit, “Waitin' on the Day”, a tad too slow.
On a personal note, I love John Mayer. I'm in love with this album and I feel like he gets better with every new piece of work. If you aren't in love with country music yet, this might be just the push you need. You may believe that he's been held sufficiently accountable for oblivious behaviour, has gained perspective and changed, or not. When it comes to the music, as Mayer and Perry say, “You love who you love.”