Intrigued by a different thread; what's with all the hate for John Mayer?

[flaggerphil]

I don't dislike him and I don't like him...he's just not on my radar.

[bentay]

This is pretty good.

[AronW]

Originally Posted by mikeiscool42

Several years ago I was really into JM, back when the John Mayer Trio album came out. I couldn't believe the quality of all the songs on the record...then I found out he only wrote a few and the rest were Hendrix tunes (this was well before I really got into Hendrix beyond the JH Experience). I quit listening to him b/c of that up until yesterday when someone posted the Berklee videos. I forgot how good of a guitar player he was b/c I was so turned off by his covers (not that they were bad).

Now I'm back on the JM wagon. Born and Raised is a great album as well as his newest one Pleasure Valley. Both have a lot of acoustic guitar.

Actually on the Trio album only 2 songs were covers, 1 Hendrix song and the other a Ray Charles cover. The rest were written by Mayer, or the Trio.

[DesolationAngel]

He's got chops, no question... (and I really like this song)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hFyvEswGRM

(NO idea why I can never get the YouTube linking to work)

[mdutr0]

I think that a lot of people don't like him because he has pretty publicly made a butt-head out of himself on more than one occasion.

Of course, he has also made plenty of public apologies for his antics and claims to have learned/matured from them. Has he? Who knows?

But:

1) I don't care. He's a great guitar player, acoustic and electric.

2) His antics are no worse than those of any other pop/rock star from the Rolling Stones to the present day. And in some ways they have been pretty tame.

[j3ffr0]

I never really bothered to listening him before. After looking at the clip above and one other on the internet I have three things to say about him:
1) His guitar playing is good, and he's a good musician.
2) However, I definitely don't like songs where I feel like some dude is trying to whisper to me and get all breathy. I just can't do that, and I'm sure I'm not alone in this.
3) If he's a jerk that's fine. I was probably more of a jerk at a young age than him. Right now he is approaching the age I was when I became more human than animal.

[state-it]

Never heard of him until today.

From what I've listened over the last hour he's not too bad a guitar player.

[Random1643]

+1 he's "the whole package." A gifted guitarist - rhythm, picker & lead, singer and songwriter. I don't follow and could care less about his personal life - altho I guess I hope he's happy.

My 2 cents.

[Rmz76]

Originally Posted by pickinguy

I'm always curious when there appears to be a consensus on one topic or another. I noticed in the "sig artist" thread that many players have a distaste for John Mayer.

Just curious why? I have no particular affinity for him or his music, I'm indifferent really. I was hoping those who don't like him could provide some insight as to why?

1. Because he became over saturated
2. Because the radio hits that have made it out by him pigeon hole him (he even has said this and hates that it happened, but also seems grateful for the fans it brought in at the same time)
3. Because he dates a lot of celebrities people don't like or want badly
4. Because he's a preppy guy who happens to play blues and folk music very, very well
....
I could go own.

I have his music in my playlist. I admire his songwriting and his guitar skills. He's not my favorite, but I think he's very good.

[CyberFerret]

I think what rubs a lot of people the wrong way is his quirky sense of humour. Not really my style either, but I can laugh along with him, and wouldn't mind hanging with him once just to see what he is like as a person outside of the limelight.

He has no issue taking the mickey out of himself either...



I also believe he is a generous soul. Here is a video of one of his concerts where he sees a young kid in the audience holding up a sign saying "I want to play 'Belief' with you". He invites the kid up to the stage to play the song with him, lends him one of his guitars to do so, and at the end, gives the kid his guitar...

[random works]

After a short while, his voice bothers me: I don't know why. He is a good musician no doubt.

[bld522]

Originally Posted by bentay

This is pretty good . . .

So is this:

[ewalling]

Originally Posted by AdiHog

Because he gets all the hot chicks.

Exactly. Young, successful. talented, good-looking ...

That is not considered "nice" by some of the good folks of AGF!

[Sluffer]

Originally Posted by mattmoo

My sister knows him and has been to close to 50 shows all over the country. She and her gal pal take weekend trips all over the USA to see him.

It's kinda a girl thing with him. He is pretty nice to girls. But you know, motive and all that.

I like his stuff, more or less. But as I tell my sister, who thinks he is the greatest thing ever, just let me know when he writes one song as good as an average song by The Beatles. I'm still waiting.

Cmon...comparing him to the Beatles. That's a set-up question, isn't it? Responding to that sounds like a good way to get flamed! Check out his double cd "Where the Light is". It's fantastic, and I'll put "Gravity" live up against anyone's "average" song.

Also, he can't be that bad of a guy because he collaborates with a ton of people (including Clapton, BB, Buddy Guy etc...), which probably says something about him as a person.

[architype]

He is a great guitar player and musician, but I can't stand his voice. Seems phony and forced...overly dramatic and breathy...that's just my opinion.