Battle Studies is crap–that’s what I wanted to say because I felt like I was in a locker room with the rest of my peers. Like we were laughing at some kid for getting an “A” when it was cooler to get a “D,” while not ever realizing that time, blood and pain had generously poured over the soul that had reaped it’s reward.
John Mayer’s newest outing is simple: gleeful even and sadistically happy. Quoted as saying “I approach music like a director doing a period piece...” John has pulled a fast one on our senses. As with most music, it’s the initial feeling you get that determines what you receive from the piece, but that’s not my job. My vocation is to dig and dig deep. Battle Studies is what a trained soldier would call experience coupled with decision. Mr. Mayer went to war, and came back with a myriad emotions, attempting with each song to display the ever changing notions that we are not just one thing or thought, we are many.
Starting with “Heartbreak Warfare,” John slips in as though it’s a symphony, tuning together and beginning. But this is no ordinary score; it’s an introduction into a need to stop the chaos. Yes, he is famous, and yes, his relationships appear trite on paper, but with lyrics like “How come the only way to know how high ya get me, is to see how far I fall,” it’s also obvious John is skin and bones like the rest of us. And not every argument is sophisticated with an agreed back forth, sometimes it’s just plain childish.
At times, in all of us, we have locked ourselves in a room and said out loud “Who says I can’t get stoned, turn off the lights and the telephone, me in my house alone” and thrown it in the face of someone who is supposed to care.
Mayer’s descriptions of backs in and outs and pure notions of inadequacies are no better met than in “Assassin.” This is the meat of this fully loaded LP, and his clearest statement of admission and failure to continue in just meaningless sex. This track in particular, at around the 2 minute and 40 second mark, John Mayer’s exploits, in all their TMZ fueled glory, makes it all very clear. He lost control at some point and met his match, whomever that would be. Toning down the situation John includes “War of My Life” and you almost wonder, is he laughing at someone? The subtle easy flow indicates an almost intended contradiction. Anger coupled with happy chords, almost as though it’s a joke. “All the suffering and all the pain, never left a name...,” but you can’t help but wonder, is this an insult as well, depriving someone of what they wantingly own?
John Mayer is a no joke, solid artist and he has surely paid his dues. Like many of us, he himself left college, took off to another place and worked the road, even at one point playing SXSW and getting onto compilation LPs. But we don’t see that now; what we see is an over exposed, sometimes selfish, but talented icon. This is the anti LP and it is my opinion that Mr. Mayer knew exactly what his intentions were: to make what he likes and damn the critics, damn the masses and in some ways, damning himself. That, in and of itself, is art. He so directly states in “Edge Of Desire:” “I want you so bad, I’ll go back on the things I believe,” which every indie artist in the world has at one point or another conveyed that exact concept.
Battle Studies was not written to receive thank you’s and accolades, it was written to purge one man of a heartbreak so deep, he had to bleed it out of himself. It may not be your most treasured purchase, or even liked, but I give John Mayer credit for knowing where he wanted to go and taking that chance.
Rachael Yamagatawill hit the road as a very special guest of Irish band Swell Season for a fall U.S. tour of intimate theaters that begins November 12th and finishes up on December 5th. Yamagata has spent the last few months writing the follow-up to her Warner Bros. Records debut album Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart.
Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart was released on October 7th, 2008. The follow-up to Yamagata’s 2004 full-length debut Happenstance, Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart was praised by such media outlets as Entertainment Weekly (“Yamagata’s delivery is gorgeous”), People (“an ambitious double disc”), and Spin (“add some cheap scotch and you’ve got a John Cassavetes movie”).
Tour Dates:
Nov 12 – House of Blues / New Orleans, LA
Nov 13 – Warehouse Live / Houston, TX
Nov 14 – The Palladium Ballroom / Dallas, TX
Nov 15 - Paramount Theatre / Austin, TX
Nov 17 - Mesa Arts Center – Ikeda / Mesa, AZ
Nov 27 – Egyptian Theater / Boise, ID
Nov 28 - Jeanne Wagner Theatre / Salt Lake City, UT
Nov 29 – Ogden Theatre / Denver, CO
Nov 30 – Uptown Theatre / Kansas City, MO
Dec 2 – Michigan Theater / Ann Arbor, MI
Dec 3 – Chicago Auditorium Theatre / Chicago, IL
Dec 4 – The Pageant / St. Louis, MO
Dec 5 – State Theatre / Minneapolis, MN
There is no name more recognized the world over than Michael Jackson. Just over two months before his 51st birthday, the King of Pop was rushed to the hospital for cardiac arrest and pronounced dead yesterday, June 25, 2009. His career began four decades ago with The Jackson 5 and blossomed into a rich and successful solo careers spanning decades. Five of his solo studio albums are among the world’s best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982) with over 100 million copies sold, Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995).
It should come as no surprise that many are calling Michael Jackson the Elvis Presley of our generation. Personal trials and tribulations aside, Michael Jackson was a great entertainer and earned the title King of Pop. He will undoubtedly live on in our hearts and minds. Read what some have to say about the late, great Michael Jackson:
“We will always love you, Michael, always.” – Jermaine Jackson
“Just as there will never be another Fred Astaire or Chuck Berry or Elvis Presley, there will never be anyone comparable to Michael Jackson. His talent, his wonderment and his mystery make him legend.” — Steven Spielberg
“He was deep.” – reader Gladys
“R.I.P. to Michael Jackson my music god. R.I.P. MJ: he lives forever in my heart. I will never forget the day he came to see me in the studio and I played him music.” – Wyclef
“It’s taken me a moment to grasp this … I understand life and death are part of the same magnificent cycle. But I literally stopped and broke down When I received ‘that’ text . Mike’s music lives in my DNA. It’s bigger than tabloids. That music shaped me. The frequency is real. My heart and artistry are truly influenced and forever impacted. Thank you Micheal for your hard work , dedication, philanthropy, and the sacrifice of your young spirit. Your vision and imagination live through us.” – Erykah Badu
“This has blindsided me. I feel strange. And sad. Reminders of how short life is. I’m going to profess my love to someone. you should too.” – Ingrid Michaelson
“I can’t stop crying over the sad news. I have always admired Michael Jackson. The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever! My heart goes out to his three children and other members of his family. God bless.” — Madonna
“I was so excited to see his show in London. We were going to be on tour in Europe at the same time and I was going to fly in to see him. He has been an inspiration throughout my entire life and I’m devastated he’s gone!” — Britney Spears
“I would rather watch “Thriller” over and over than any other music video ever made.” – Shawn Fogel, Golden Bloom
“Heal the world make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race.” – Ashlee Simpson Wentz
“Stop the gossip, stop the speculation. Take a moment for Micheal and remember his gift to us all. He was truly great. May he Rest in Peace.” – Joel Madden, Good Charlotte
“Not many people have long successful careers in the music industry, yet alone over a 30 year career. Michael Jackson did and earned his title ‘King of Pop”. I’ll never forget the first time I saw “Thriller”. His voice, songs, dance moves and ground breaking music videos will live on forever leaving a legacy where we answer ‘yes’ to ‘do you remember the time?’” – Stacy Clark
“America lost a little bit of its history today. So sad when a true genius dies! R.I.P. to the gloved one.” – Mona Shiekh, Popwreckoning
“Michael was undoubtedly a great entertainer and his popularity spanned generations and the globe. Maria and I join all Californians in expressing our shock and sadness over his death and our hearts go out the Jackson family, Michael’s children and to his fans worldwide.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
“Michael Jackson showed me that you can actually see the beat. He made the music come to life! He made me believe in magic. I will miss him!” – Sean P. Diddy Combs
“I know we make light of me never getting sleep and overworking. But I’ll say that he didn’t go in vein. I will do my best to slow down as to not overwork myself to the point in which I can’t even enjoy life anymore. I’m devastated over this but we all have memories. I just hope that he will get due justice in all the press memorials and whatnot. I know he was mired in controversy the last decade of his life but i think its time we let him rest in peace and learn to separate the ART and the ARTIST. –that is the MJ I will forever remember.” – ?uestlove
“Off the wall was my second record I ever bought.” – Margaret Cho
“His music is just as relevant now as it was the day they pressed record, I’m sure it will remain so for generations to come. R.I.P. Mr. Jackson” – Samantha Ronson
“There was no one like him.” – Greg Laswell
“We should never stop talking about Michael Jackson. I hope Michael will get the respect he deserved.” – Rev. Al Sharpton
“Raising a glass for Michael! Wow – I was obsessed with Thriller when it came out.” – Ariel Hyatt, CyberPR
“Michael Jackson was my inspiration. love and blessings.” -
Miley Cyrus
“Being asked to give a quote about all of this. so in shock I can’t find any words…” – Kid Sister
“Michael Jackson died? Seriously, as Wolf Blitzer said it, my stomach got knots.” – James Shotwell, Under the Gun blog
“I keep getting chills. This is crazy. Too much.” – Estelle
“Today is a very, very sad day for music. Whether you are familiar with his work or not, the impact Michael Jackson had on pop culture made him one of the most iconic artists of all time. As a fellow artist, you can see what his music did—it transcended generations; It created a movement. It’s something people only dream of doing. He was a musical genius, and by far, one of the greatest performers of all time. There will never be anyone like him—ever. Thank you for inspiring us the way you did. R.I.P.” – Tamar Kaprelian
“Thank you Michael Jackson for being my FIRST of many! My mother took me to my FIRST concert, I was only two years old. I fell in love. My fifth birthday party was M.J. themed, I insisted. My mother found a lookalike to come sing happy birthday and I KNEW he wasn’t MY Michael.” – Solange Knowles
“A strange story comes to an end. i do hope that history will remember jackson the artist/genius/pioneer.” – David Ford
“Rip MJ! Dream as if u’ll live 4ever, Live as if u’ll die 2day. U only live once, but if u do it right dats all u need! U did it Big MJ!!” – Reverend Run
“Both parents on the phone asking me if I remember MJ inviting me to take a pix w/ him when I was a kid. I do. It was creepy. I refused.” – Annie Heckenberger
“Noooooooo! Michael Jackson was my childhood! I loved him. So so so so sad. So nearly saw him live. Just a couple of weeks. Crying.” – Imogen Heap
“Oh god…Michael Jackson just died. one of my childhood heros. moment of silence, sorrow and reflection on a massive talent & tragic life. let’s share a shrine/moment of silence @ 7:45 pm outside @thetroubadour tonight. if you’re coming, bring candles and flowers for the king.” – Amanda Palmer, Dresden Dolls
“We just cued up “Wanna Be Starting Something” in the office. What a great song. R.I.P.” – Diablo Cody
“R.I.P. Michael Jackson. Greatest performer ever.” – Talib Kweli
“Sad, sad day for the music world & for family/fans of Michael Jackson. he was my 1st favorite artist & 1 of the very best ever. RIP Michael.” – Earfarm blog
“Thriller” was the first tape I ever bought in a record store after I saw him go supernova on the Motown 25th anniversary special.” – Cary Brothers
“R.I.P. Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. what a tremendous loss in one day…. thoughts and prayers with their families and loved ones…” – Mandy Moore
“R.I.P. MICHAEL JACKSON: We’re in a state of utter shock. You’ll be sorely missed.” – The Music Slut blog
;_; – Diplo
“I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news. For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don’t have the words. Divinity brought our souls together on The Wiz and allowed us to do what we were able to throughout the ’80s. To this day, the music we created together on Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad is played in every corner of the world and the reason for that is because he had it all…talent, grace, professionalism and dedication. He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I’ve lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him.” — Quincy Jones
“We have lost a genius and a true ambassador of not only Pop music but of all music. He has been an inspiration to multiple generations, and I will always cherish the moments I shared with him on stage and all of the things I learned about music from him and the time we spent together. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones.” — Justin Timberlake
“In shock.” – Matt, The Music Slut blog
“Sad. Michael Jackson. Dead. Bum out.” – Eisley
“When we worked together on ‘Bad,’ I was in awe of his absolute mastery of movement on the one hand, and of the music on the other. Every step he took was absolutely precise and fluid at the same time. It was like watching quicksilver in motion.” — Martin Scorcese
“Listening to ‘Human Nature’ by Michael Jackson and I am crying.” – Trent Vanegas, Pink is the New Blog
“Feels hypocritical not caring about Ed McMahon or Farah Fawcett, and then being upset about Michael Jackson’s death. I didn’t know any of them.” – Paco Fish
The Gay Blades
“Dazed in the studio. A major strand of our cultural DNA has left us. RIP MJ.” — John Mayer
“‘Let the madness in the music get to you, life ain’t so bad at all, if you live it off the wall’ – Thanks for the music, the moonwalk and my childhood.” – Ali Hussain, Popwreckoning
“Michael was a great and wonderful artist and performer. We were privileged and honored to record him and his brothers here at Philadelphia International Records.” – Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff
“I remember my brother and cousin in 1987 bringing the boom box out into the living room at my grandma’s house and performing a dance to “Billy Jean” they had made up. They had to be about 7 years old and doing the classic spin move and grabbing their crotches! My mom, aunt, ME and granny WENT CRAZY! Michael Jackson made the crotch grabbing move not raunchy BUT hot!” – Kaytea McIntosh, XO Publicity
“Sony Music Entertainment expresses deep sadness and sorrow at the unexpected passing of Michael Jackson and extends wishes of sympathy and condolences to all of Michael’s family, friends and fans around the world.” – Sony
We at Popwreckoning would like to extend our deepest condolences to Michael Jackson’s survivors. His musical legacy shall live on. Please feel free to share your thoughts with us.
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