SOUND CHECK.JOHN MAYER
John Clayton Mayer (born October 16, 1977) is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. : ``Heavier Things'' (Aware/Columbia) - Three stars Mayer's rapid ascent two years ago was fueled by ingredients that probably belong on the endangered list - good songs, an instantly recognizable sound, hard work and unmanufactured, intensive word of mouth. True to its title, Mayer's shimmering shim·mer intr.v. shim·mered, shim·mer·ing, shim·mers 1. To shine with a subdued flickering light. See Synonyms at flash. 2. new disc reveals the depth suggested on ``Room for Squares,'' his good-natured debut. At a succinct 10 tracks, the gorgeously crafted ``Heavier Things'' (in stores Tuesday) suggests Mayer has all the right instincts - and is here for the long haul Long distance. Long haul implies traversing a state or a country. Contrast with short haul. . The songs stand out, especially melodic highlights ``Clarity,'' the radio hit ``Bigger Than My Body'' and ``Come Back to Bed,'' which show Mayer has been soaking up classic r&b along with blues and Police-era Britpop. Helping out on this top-notch set are dependable hands, including drummer Steve Jordan Steve Jordan may refer to:
Early life Lenny Castro is a percussionist of Puerto Rican descent and was born and raised in New York City. , adding welcome textures to one of contemporary pop's best efforts. - Fred Shuster JUNE CARTER CASH: ``Wildwood Wildwood, city (1990 pop. 4,484), Cape May co., SE N.J., on an island off Cape May; settled 1882, inc. as a city 1911. It has large commercial fisheries and is a popular summer seaside resort with many vintage motels and other buildings from the 1940s–60s. Flower'' (Dualtone) - Four stars The country royal's final album (in stores Tuesday) is, expectedly, heavy on favorite compositions retrieved one last time from the family archives (``Keep on the Sunny Side,'' ``Sinking in the Lonesome lone·some adj. 1. a. Dejected because of a lack of companionship. See Synonyms at alone. b. Producing such dejection: a lonesome hour at the bar. 2. Sea,'' the title track). We've heard June and her relations do these a thousand times, but there's something in her crumbling voice this go 'round that makes the renditions sound definitive - most magnificently and chillingly, of course, when she, her beloved Johnny and assorted young'uns carry the chorus to Uncle A.P.'s ``Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone.'' But the album is far from strictly elegiac el·e·gi·ac adj. 1. Of, relating to, or involving elegy or mourning or expressing sorrow for that which is irrecoverably past: an elegiac lament for youthful ideals. 2. . June's happy Autoharp enlivens many a cut (as does Norman and Nancy Blake's superb picking), and she tells a weird, funny story about Lee Marvin. To answer the main musical question: How on God's green earth could we not miss her now? - Bob Strauss HILARY DUFF: ``Metamorphosis'' (Buena Vista/Hollywood) - Two and one half stars Don't let the title fool you. Duff's still the same all-American good girl formerly known as Lizzie McGuire. On her 14-track set, she sings about puppy love - from falling head-over-heels (``Anywhere but Here'') to crushing heartache (``So Yesterday'') with a sweet voice. Duff's by no means a great vocalist, but her chops do work well on New Wave throwbacks such as ``The Math'' and ``Party Up.'' And when she isn't insisting on a kiss from a boy she likes, or listening to that ``Little Voice'' in her head, she's quietly finding some kind of ``Inner Strength.'' - Sandra Barrera CHICAGO: ``The Box'' (Rhino) - Three stars A five-disc box (plus bonus DVD DVD: see digital versatile disc. DVD in full digital video disc or digital versatile disc Type of optical disc. The DVD represents the second generation of compact-disc (CD) technology. ) might seem extravagant, but Chicago was never famous for moderation. Its first two albums were double-vinyl affairs blending rock, jazz and r&b, and when it was time to cut a live album, the result spanned four discs. Conventional wisdom has it that the band never recovered from the death of guitarist Terry Kath and the firing of producer/Svengali James William Guerico (a one-two punch that happened in the late 1970s) and you won't get much argument here. Some of the subsequent Peter Cetera power ballads are the epitome of the form, for what it's worth, but the primo stuff evaporates midway through the fourth hour. Still, die-hards will pony up for this lavish box and come away satisfied, even if the liner notes give new meaning to the word fawning fawn 1 intr.v. fawned, fawn·ing, fawns 1. To exhibit affection or attempt to please, as a dog does by wagging its tail, whining, or cringing. 2. . In concert Sept. 19 and 20 at the Wiltern. - Glenn Whipp PETER RAUHOFER: ``Live (at) Roxy 2'' (Star Sixty Nine) - Three stars Saturdays, Rauhofer is the Pied Piper, drawing throngs of dance music fans to New York's Roxy club for marathon DJ sets. This two-disc collection is a slice of that scene - deep, dark and dirty. It's layered with tracks of hard-pumping drum beats, late-night synthesizers and minimal vocals. With Rauhofer at the controls, listeners get an eclectic sonic journey that takes in bells and whistles A slang English term for exceptional features in some product. In the computer field, it typically refers to functions in software that may be greatly appreciated by some users, even though they may not be necessary most of the time. , adding an '80s funk feel. Standout: Richard Humpty Vission's mix of ``Bucci Bag.'' - Phillip Zonkel CAPTION(S): 6 photos Photo: (1) no caption (John Mayer) Lester Cohen/WireImage.com (2 -- 6) no caption (CD covers) |
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