John Mayer – 'Continuum' (Columbia) Released 16/10/06

According to Mr. Mayer the third in a series blows the whole thing wide open. Then comes out with a lot of arty type phrases that when used willy-nilly as he does, makes the user look pretentious. Happily though his talent manages to keep up with such unutterables as “This is the first endeavour in my entire life” or “It was all about space, using a whole different palette”. He has indeed produced a collection of work which took effort and is not as irritating as how he talks about it. There is guitar work that involves more than three chords, there is a sense of rhythm, and the funk oozes through like nobodies business. In five words or less, the album is good.

The man has collaborated with Eric Clapton, B.B. King and (oh gods he was doing so well) Kanye West. He also worked with a group called the “John Mayer Trio” who apparently helped him get back to the roots of music or some other nonsense. Whatever happened to him and however he talks about it, it seems to have worked and gives us this tuneful set. ‘Heart of Life’ is probably one of the more soulful of the lot with some gentleness and polite wailing of the old electric guitar. ‘Belief’ is funky to the point of formlessness. It is a tune that smacks of somebody sitting down and thinking, right, what exact beat combination makes for funk? And how slow can I make it without losing said funk? The result is…well, slow funk with an anti-war message.

Some of the lyrics, most of which you cant decipher without the little book, are really pretentious as well. Sure the guy can play well, but does he have to go on about it? Do not be fooled though, this is an excellent chillout or driving album, just put it on and drift, drift away…