by Noelle De Guzman on July 5, 2004

John Mayer. I've heard people describe him as an average Joe. However, his musical ability is way above average, as heard in his first album from a major record label.

Even though he had already released an album independently, I hadn't heard of him before "Back to You," the first single off Room for Squares. I was even reluctant to get the full album, even though many of his songs (bootlegs and authorized versions) were available off Kazaa. It was my uncle who gave me a kickstart, giving me a mix CD containing acoustic versions of most of the songs from the album. Then, my sister Marielle gave me a Limited Edition "Room for Squares" for my birthday. "There's no escaping him," I thought, and plunged my head between my headphones for a listen.

The melodies were the first thing that caught my attention. No one can say the songs are monotonous, or that they sound alike. They're also instantly catchy; I could hum along with a song even if I'd only heard it once.

As a lyricist, John Mayer proves what he himself admits: that he's a chatterbox. That's not a bad thing, because as a result the lyrics don't fall back on cliches and trite phrases. Instead, he goes to the trouble of finding and using vivid imagery and narrative. Each song also tells a story. It could be a story of proving oneself, like in "No Such Thing," or a story about the various types and phases of love, which gets treatment in a majority of songs on the album.

And then you have John Mayer as the storyteller. There's not a strained note within hearing, since he writes for his voice range and type. His style is laid-back and smooth; his voice is like soft velvet.

Before you jump to the conclusion that I'm giving him a good review because I'm crushing on him, I'll have you know that the pictures on the album flaps are not that impressive. In fact, I once thought he'd be better off a radio star than a video star. No, what gives him staying power in my CD player is the quality of his songs.

My Top Five Favorite Songs on This Album
1. Love Song For No One
2. My Stupid Mouth
3. 3x5
4. St. Patrick's Day
5. Your Body is a Wonderland

Room for Squares is perfect for de-stressing after a rough day. Let John Mayer croon you to calmness and put a smile on your face. I know I would.

Copyright © 2004 Noelle De Guzman. All rights reserved. Do not use without permission.