4/5
Sob Story.
Freeze frame on the face of Candy. John Mayer's latest 'Last Train Home' sounds like the roll credits at the end of a classic John Hughes comedy from the 80's. "I like it. My wife (I wish) likes it." His customers will. "I'm not a fallen angel, I just fell behind/I'm out of luck and I'm out of time/If you don't wanna love me, let me go/I'm runnin' for the last train/I'm runnin' for the last train home", Mayer sings over some serious nostalgic synths that you kids ain't ready for yet, but 'Back To The Future' your parents are gonna love it. This is the song of the season on a record that billboards in California are calling, "the song of the Summer is Mayer's whole album." With 'Room For Squares', dear John is on his 80's Springsteen s### like a 'Human Touch' from a 'Tunnel Of Love'. Or 'Born In The USA' even his inspired, classic 'Battle Studies' iTunes bonus cover of the Boss' 'I'm On Fire'. All for some amazing aesthetic album artwork with tones straight out 'The River' set for tour tees that will look as 'Stranger Things' as tye-dyes becoming as epic as the 'Your Body Is A Wonderland' t-shirt YouTube spoof off the 'Heavier Things' record. Or the promotional poster campaign that looks like something out of the air of an 80's Nike magazine print. Whether you think 'Continuum' is his classic opus (hands up. That album was my introduction to him...and my first trip to New York) or whether the live takes of extended plays like 'I Don't Need No Doctor' are your preferred prescription, you can't deny Mayer is in a 'Born and Raised' chilled zone following the holy trifecta also traversing a 'Paradise Valley' before finding a home in 2017 for his last release, 'The Search For Everything', which was a beautiful journey before this destination finally. Now with his eighth wonder this S.O.B. gives us 'Sob Rock'. Something so hot this summer it will reduce you to tears.
Fear not, the man who almost lost his voice has still got it. All for a 'New Light' for this top gun as the Maverick sings, "I'm the boy in your other phone/Lighting up inside your drawer at home, all alone/Pushing 40 in the friend zone/We talk and then you walk away, every day" in a zebra as a friend crazy video for the new stripes of this leopard that doesn't change his signature spots. 'I Guess I Just Feel Like', himself again maybe? As on the track John tells us, "the weight of my worries is too much to take on/I think I remember the dream that I had/That love's gonna save us from a world that's gone mad/I guess I just feel like/What happened to that?" before an inspired instrumental break from a world where, "Nobody's honest, nobody's true/Everyone's lyin' to make it on through." But hey, "I guess I just feel like I'm the same way too". It's like what Arianna Grande said on Gaga's 'Rain On Me' this time last year, "living in a world where no one's innocent/Oh, but at least we try." But Mayer's mesmerizing music will 'Carry Me Away' as we solace sing in unison with him, "There must be more behind the summer/I want someone to make some trouble/Been way too safe inside my bubble, oh/Take me out and keep me up all night/Let me live on the wilder side of the light", just like when he was an 'Inside Friend' of Leon Bridges (his platinum classic standard 'Gold Digger Sound' comes out of isolation next week) last Summer during quarantined lockdown and social distance solidarity for the generation Zoom's planet pandemic.
"Life is hard. Rock soft", says the slogan. You're not being Rick-rolled. 80's babys, you're never gonna give this up. Porsche promo pop the cassette in the tape deck of the sports car you brought off that oversized suit Wall Street money and roll down the highway, you white collared Scarface. "At 40 minutes, Mayer's new record is long enough to last a lifetime," his social media promotional campaign droll in deadpan jokes like the throwback commercials of that bygone vintage era. But as soon as the 'Train' pulls into the station, we could ride again on repeat for the rest of this year. Or at the very least, until the sun goes down. It won't set like South Beach for this new top ten for your CD changer. "Should have been open/should have done more/should have learnt the lesson from the year before", Mayer muses on the Sony Walkman playing 'Shouldn't Matter But It Does' in a regret call to enjoy the Summer before it's gone. No matter the heat like Miami. Get under those palms with your headphones and the hands of the one you love...even if like me it's just the ones you have clasped together on your chest as you lie on a sand hammock. 'Why You No Love Me' you ask, but this beautiful ballad will tie you over like the sea. The loungin' laid back beauty of this mood music continues on the 'Wild Blue' that should join you when those skies take on a purple hue like the artist that's about to finally welcome you '2 America' at months end. 'Shot In The Dark' feels like a Tom Cruise romantic run to the one he loves at the end of a movie for a completing, cinematic speech ("Jerry. Jerry."). The stunning singles latest vivid video looking like a coffee commercial, complete with Joey from 'Friends' faux windows of rain for the pain like when he lost the love of his life...Chandler. "I wonder what it all means/strange conversations with you in my dreams," John dearly sings to the soundtrack, before his classic guitar hero worship work comes into play. This record feels like it should have been born on the fourth of July, but quietly into the night independently I'm just glad it came out before my birthday for that party (of one) playlist (July 20th if you were thinking of sending a present (hair tonic)). Rocking 'Til The Right One Comes', "when the lucky in love call themselves winners and the losers sinners." Whether you're looking for love or home is where that heart is, this is the album for you...or the two of you. A sweet, sincere and sometimes sombre sob that's over before you know it, like crying out of nowhere. But as you sing 'All I Want Is To Be With You' to the one that got away like rolled up suit sleeves from the 80's, save your tears. Summer is here and we're heading on a 'Last Train Home' all night long. Son of a bitch. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'Last Train Home', 'I Guess I Just Feel Like', 'Shot In The Dark'.
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