Anvie Kay
Star Rating: ★★★★★
The long-awaited return for Mr John Mayer has come and it hasn’t come with trumpets or fireworks, but rather with humility and pure simplicity.
Paradise Valley has come just in time for all Mayer lovers who have missed his soulful vocals and his impressive guitar skills, which Paradise Valley delivers.
Badge and Gun – Starting his brand new album with a soulful tune, Badge and Gun is a serenade that makes you sway and sing along to the simple and inviting lyrics. It’s one that you would listen to just lazing about and just chilling with friends, as Mayer is asking for a life that he once had.
Call Me The Breeze – A little more upbeat than the opening song, there’s a touch of folk and jazz happening in this song. It’s funky, fresh and easy to dance to. I can see it being played in a wooden bar or little café, where people are just hanging out having fun.
Dear Marie – A story beckoning to a past love, it’s a sweet song that asks about the man the persona used to be. This is my favourite song in the album. It simple, sweet and really gets you to listen to the lyrics and the story about the present looking into the past, trying to gain some recollection of who he was in a past life.
I Will be Found (Lost At Sea) – There’s a familiarity of an old love song with this song. I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s a sprinkle of nostalgia here. Another one of my favourites, it’s just one you sway to and you can see in film. Just add a bit of rain, moonlight and a lover walking along the seashore and you’re in another place, bordering loss and hope.
On The Way Home – Musically cheery, there’s a touch of looking back to look forward in this song. It’s about coming home after a being on the road. I love the simplicity of the song and the rustic sound that comes from the harmonica and guitars.
Paper Doll – Rumoured to be about Miss Swift, this song talks about a girl who was trying on little bits a pieces to see which fit. I mean I’m all up for decoding – the ’22’ and ‘heels that don’t fit’ business – but with that aside, this is a great song. The fragility of the ‘Paper Doll’ is mirrored in the delicate vocals and the simple accompaniment. Great image, great tune.
Waitin’ On The Day – Talking about the day that a lover chooses to be by the persona’s side forever, this song is romantic lyrically and woos you musically. It’s definitely one to slow dance to and even cover for all you Mayer fans out there.
Who You Love (ft. Katy Perry) – I didn’t recognise Katy Perry’s voice at first, but when I listen a little harder I was like, “WOW! She sounds so different!” So kudos to Miss Perry for her versatility. This talks about lovers who are with other people, yet their hearts are with each other. It argues that you can’t fight love, not matter what other people say, you love ‘who you love’.
Wildfire – Catchy, easy to dance to and definitely one that deserves its own line-dance routine. Someone please get onto this! It’s a simple and fun song that you would play at a party to get the dance floor started. But if you listen closely, all is not what as it seems.
Wildfire (ft. Frank Ocean) – A little tag to the previous song, it strips back and really makes you listen to the lyrics about young girl escaping the hands of suicide. In stripping back, it let’s you think about the ‘wildfire’ nature of the girl he just met – as well as makes you re-think about the lyrics of the previous song.
You’re No One Lets You Down – Finishing his new album with a song about someone who’s been let down and learning from that experience, the song states, ‘You’re no one until someone lets you down,’ allowing the title to suggest that the persons that let you down are no ones. Deep.
Overall, Paradise Valley really stays true to its title. It truly is a valley in a paradise filled with music that makes you lie down and just relax. There’s no song that’s too technical or “riffy” like Mayer’s past works, the entire album is just filled with easy-going tunes that makes you want to sit and chill. Some songs encourage you to dance, but most of them make you contemplate the lyrics as you listen and sing along. It’s a nice change for John Mayer, but it’s still very much the same old John that we fell in-love with.
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