Older News • 2005
Tim Fagan wins songwriting contest
December 9, 2005
He gave John's "orphaned" lyrics at home! - Esquire
Vote for TRY on Paste Magazine
November 28, 2005
Click here to vote for TRY, results published in February/March edition of Paste.
TRY on Billboard charts
November 28, 2005
"Try! John Mayer Trio Live in Concert, opens at #34 with nearly 50,000 copies sold" - Vh1
Bid 2 Beat Aids
November 28, 2005
"A huge entertainment memorabilia auction, which will occur on eBay beginning December 1, 2005 (World AIDS Day) at 3:00 EST (Noon PST), with proceeds going to LIFEbeat, the music industry's AIDS fundraising and service charity. The auction lasts exactly ten days."
"Lots of official, real RIAA gold/platinum record awards for artists including Britney Spears, Coldplay, Hilary Duff, Coldplay, No Doubt, Avril Lavigne, John Mayer, and more!" - Bid 2 Aids
New song, "Stop This Train"
November 17, 2005
From the Berklee magazine:
"How hard is it for you to write a song and get it into the shape you want?
It is incredibly hard; it's like code cracking. I like to play the music and hum along. I get cues about what to say by what kind of imagery the music brings to my mind. Then I write that imagery. A new song I am writing is called "Stop This Train." The groove revisits the shuffle feel of "3x5." If you can make a connection happen between the image and the music, it almost doesn't matter what you are singing about. People will understand it."
John on "Eric and Kathy" November 18
November 17, 2005
"Tomorrow morning John Mayer and Denis Leary join Eric & Kathy." - WTMX
Bowery Ballroom Performance
November 17, 2005
"Network LIVE, a joint venture between America Online, XM Satellite Radio and AEG, will present the John Mayer Trio at New York City's Bowery Ballroom next Wednesday, November 23rd at 9:00pm to celebrate the November 22nd release of "Try! John Mayer Trio Live In Concert." Through Network LIVE's partnership with AOL and XM Radio, millions of John Mayer fans will have access to this intimate performance in real-time and on demand." - PRN News
Farm Aid Televised
November 14, 2005
"SOMERVILLE, Mass. Nov. 16 /U.S. Newswire/ -— Farm Aid announced today that INHD and INHD2, cable's most widely distributed suite of high-definition networks, will present the exclusive HD broadcast of the Farm Aid 20th Anniversary Concert on INHD2 on Thanksgiving Day, November 24 at 9 p.m. EST. The event features exclusive behind-the- scenes footage along with performances by Farm Aid president Willie Nelson, board members John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews as well as Wilco, Buddy Guy with John Mayer, Widespread Panic, Los Lonely Boys, Arlo Guthrie, Emmylou Harris, Susan Tedeschi, Shannon Brown, Kathleen Edwards, Supersuckers and Kate Voegele." - Newswire
November 20 release of TRY in Australia
November 16, 2005
The Aussies will gtethe CD 2 days earlier than us North Americans. - Top 40 charts
TRY Leaked
November 14, 2005
Vh1 is leaking "TRY", listen to the tracks before they come out!
Mayer Plays Atlanta
November 14, 2005
"John Mayer will be going back to play at his old stomping ground this December and Local-83 members will have a chance to purchase tickets. He will be playing at Eddie's Attic in Atlanta, GA December 20-22nd. Stay tuned for more details on tickets!" Local83
JOHN MAYER TRIO'S NEW LIVE ALBUM "TRY!" DUE OUT NOVEMBER 22 EXCLUSIVE IN-STORE PERFORMANCE AT TOWER RECORDS
November 7, 2005
"To celebrate the release of "TRY! John Mayer Trio Live in Concert", John Mayer Trio (John Mayer, Steve Jordan, Pino Palladino) will perforom live at Tower Records in New York City on November 22.
Starting at 9:00 a.m. on Teusday November 22nd, be one of the first 250 people to purchase John Mayer Trio's new album, TRY! John Mayer Trio Live in Concert, only at Tower Records in the Willage, and you will receive a wristband that grants you admission to this very special performance and autograph signing.
Tuesday, November 22nd @ 7:00PM
Tower Records Village
692 Broadway (Broadway and 4th Street)
New York, NY " JohnMayer.com
"Calling it Christmas" track listing
November 7, 2005
The track listing according to eltonjohn.com:
1. Step Into Christmas - Elton John
2. Feliz Navidad - El Vez
3. Frosty the Snowman - The Ronettes
4. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - Bruce Springsteen
5. The Man with All the Toys - The Beach Boys
6. A Change at Christmas (Say It Isn’t So) - The Flaming Lips
7. It Doesn’t Often Snow at Christmas - Pet Shop Boys
8. Spotlight on Christmas - Rufus Wainwright
9. Jingle Bell Rock - The Ventures
10. Run Rudolph Run - Chuck Berry
11. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - The Crystals
12. Playa’s Ball - Outkast
13. Merry Christmas Baby - Otis Redding
14. Christmas Island - Jimmy Buffett
15. St. Patrick’s Day - John Mayer
16. Please Come Home for Christmas - The Eagles
17. Christmas Must Be Tonight - The Band
18. 2000 Miles - The Pretenders
19. December Will Be Magic Again - Kate Bush
20. New Year’s Day - U2
21. Calling It Christmas - Elton John and Joss Stone
"Calling it Christmas"
November 4, 2005
"JOSS STONE has recorded a duet with ELTON JOHN for an upcoming benefit collection of his favorite holiday songs, Elton John's Christmas Party, due November 10th exclusively through Starbucks. Their track, the John/BERNIE TAUPIN-penned "Calling It Christmas," joins holiday recordings by BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, the BEACH BOYS, U2, JOHN MAYER, the EAGLES, RUFUS WAINWRIGHT, JIMMY BUFFETT, OUTKAST and OTIS REDDING. Starbucks will donate $2 for every CD sold to the Elton John AIDS Foundation . . ." Rolling Stone: "A giggly Stone reported that she had recorded a new holiday song, calling It Christmas, with John. "He's an amazing guy, and he can sing his (butt) off."" - Yahoo!
New Years Eve concert
October 21, 2005
"John Mayer Trio has just announced their plans to play with Phil Lesh and Friends on New Year's Eve in San Francisco. Phil and Friends have asked the Trio to join them for three nights of music starting on Thursday, December 29th at the Fillmore, then moving to the Warfield Theater on Friday, December 30th. John Mayer Trio will kick off the New Year at the Bill Graham Civic Center with Phil & Friends, featuring Joan Osborne, Jimmy Herring, Barry Sless, Rob Baracco and Jeff Sipe.
Local-83 will be holding a special presale for members only on Monday, October 24 12pm EDT/9am PDT.
Thursday, December 29th
The Fillmore
San Francisco, CA
Friday, December 30th
The Warfield Theater
San Francisco, CA
Saturday, December 31st
Bill Graham Civic Center
San Francisco, CA"
Local-83.com
'Come Together Now' benefit for Hurricane Katrina
"Additionally, the song "Come Together Now" is the title track of an extraordinary industry-wide benefit record that will aid victims of the recent hurricanes along the Gulf Coast. The record, "Hurricaine Relief Come Together Now", will be released in mid-November and will feature some of the worlds most popular artists including: Coldplay, Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Sting, Bonnie Raitt, John Mayer and Lenny Kravitz, among many, many others.""
"All net proceeds will be divided equally among 3 charities, the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and MusicCares." - Prn Newswire
Nomination for AMA
Not only is John presenting at the AMA's, but he's also nominated in the ADULT CONTEMPORARY: Favorite Artist category, against Kelly Clarkson, and Maroon 5. - ABC
"TRY" official release date
October 11, 2005
"John Mayer Trio's debut album, "TRY!" Will be released on November 22, 2005. Stay tuned for details on pre-order, promotional appearances and other special information surrounding the release."
Track listing:
1. Who Did You Think I Was
2. Good Love Is On The Way
3. Wait Until Tomorrow
4. Gravity
5. Vultures
6. Out Of My Mind
7. Another Kind Of Green
8. I Got A Woman
9. Something's Missing
10. Daughters
11. Try
Audio Book on iTunes
October 5, 2005
Info from iTunes.com
TimesTalks -John Mayer (Original Staging Nonfiction) John Mayer and Jon Pareles
Narrator: John Mayer and Jon Pareles
Audio Lenght: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Year published: 2005
Provider: New York Times
Presented by Audible.com
price: 8.95$
About John Pareles: "Chief popular music critic of The New York Times, joined The Times as a music critic in August 1985, after having been a stringer since 1982. Previously, he was a music ditor for Crawdaddy, an accosiate editor at Rolling Stone, and then a senior editor at the Village Voice. He began playing the piano at age six and the flute two years later, majored in music at Yale in 1974, wrote music criticism for the Yale Daily News and was the music director for two years at WYBC-FM radio. He performed in rock, jazz, and classical ensembles and was also a member of the Yale Guild of Carilloneurs. He is the co-editor of The Roling Stones Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll."
Keep a Child Alive program
October 4, 2005
"Alicia Keys will star in "The Black Ball," a concert to benefit Keep a Child Alive (KCA). Presented by TIME magazine, the concert will raise funds to provide lifesaving anti-retroviral medicine for children and families living with AIDS in Africa." [...]
"Performers at The Black Ball include Common, John Mayer, Angelique Kidjo, Ron Isley and the Agape Children’s Choir from Durban, South Africa. There will be some surprise guests." - Time.com
Live CD/DVD News
Sept 29, 2005
"We're off to the studio to continue assembling the live album, called "TRY!" coming out November 22. We've decided to take the best performances from the entire tour and line 'em up. Should be a great album." John, JM3
Live CD/DVD News
Sept 24, 2005
The DVD/CD set was filmed in Chicago, and will be released November 22nd. jm3.
American Music Awards
Sept 20, 2005
Congrats to John for being nominated for an american music award, for favorite artist!! No date yet on when the show will be aired!! Here
"Who did you think I was" video
Sept 17th,2005
You may now watch "Who did you think I was" on AOL Music. It's a weird one!
Hurricane Katrina Raffle
Sept 15th, 2005
Aware records is having a Hurricane Katrina relief raffle, read about it here.
JM3 Single video
Sept 15th, 2005
"Look out for the video for "Who Did You Think I Was," which has been shot by acclaimed director Gus Van Sant ("Good Will Hunting," "My Own Private Idaho")." -AndPop.
Official due date for JM3 cd
Sept 14th, 2005
"The John Mayer Trio has picked a two-night Chicago stand as the source for its first album, a live disc due Nov. 22 via Aware/Columbia. Originally expected out in December, the set will be recorded Sept. 21-22 at the House of Blues in the Windy City.
The group — guitarist/vocalist Mayer, drummer Steve Jordan and bassist Pino Palladino — has done some studio work as well. Its first single, "Who Did You Think I Was," is virtually backed with the b-side "Come When I Call" and is available beginning today (Sept. 13) exclusively via Apple's iTunes music store. Acclaimed director Gus Van Sant has shot a video for "Who Did You Think I Was."
— Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y. " -Billboard
New Katrina benefit
Sept 13th,2005
"September 13, 2005 — THE big Sept. 20 Madison Square Garden benefit for Hurricane Katrina victims just got bigger. So big, in fact, Radio City Music Hall will be open the same night for even more acts.
Among the performers at the Radio City show are Dave Matthews, Tom Waits, Joss Stone, Trey Anastasio, John Mayer, the Meters, and Galactic with the Mardi Gras Indians." -NY Post
New songs on iTunes
Sept 13th,2005
"The new single "Who Did You Think I Was" will be released as an exclusive iTunes single on Tuesday, September 13. The track will also feature a B-Side, the new song "Come When I Call." (JM3
Cancelled Show
Sept 9th,2005
Local 83 newsletter:
New Pre-sale Scheduled for Tomorrow!
Due to the recent destruction in Louisiana from Hurricane Katrina, John Mayer Trio will no longer be playing at the House of Blues in New Orleans, LA on September 27. John and the Trio are saddened by this course of events and hope for the quick reconstruction of New Orleans so they can reschedule at the HOB in the near future.
As a result, the Trio will be playing a second night at The Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA on September 27, 2005, and Local-83 has reserved a limited supply of seats for a fan club pre-sale. Local-83 members can purchase tickets at 10AM Eastern Time on Friday, September 9, by visiting the ticketing page on www.local-83.com
Tickets are limited and will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Local-83
Career Suicide
Sept 9th,2005
John Mayer is about to commit career suicide, and there's no stopping more..
BB King Duets
Sept 2,2005
"...and the Leon Russell-penned "Hummingbird" with John Mayer."
Track listing:
01. Early In The Morning - with Van Morrison
02. Tired Of Your Jive – with Billy Gibbons
03. The Thrill Is Gone – with Eric Clapton
04. Need Your Love So Bad – with Sheryl Crow
05. Ain’t Nobody Home – with Darryl Hall & John Oates
06. Hummingbird – with John Mayer
07. All Over Again – with Mark Knopfler
08. Drivin’ Wheel – with Glenn Frey
09. There Must Be A Better World Somewhere – with Gloria Estefan
10. Never Make Your Move Too Soon – with Roger Daltrey
11. Funny How Time Slips Away – with Bobby Bland
12. Rock This House – with Elton John
Part of "ReAct Now: Music & Relief
Sept 2,2005
"MTV, VH1, and CMT announced more artists set to take part in an ongoing Hurricane Katrina relief campaign which launches Saturday, September 10th from 8-11pm ET/PT with "ReAct Now:Music & Relief," a multi-artist, multi-genre, multi-platform special set to
air commercial free and simultaneously across all the music networks
including: MTV, VH1, CMT, MTV2, VH1 Classic, mtvU, and MTV Overdrive & VSpot,
MTV & VH1's broadband video services. The special will seek to raise much
needed funds for The American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, America's Second
Harvest and similar organizations as they continue their relief efforts in the
devastating wake of Hurricane Katrina. The campaign will also seek to
activate the diverse audiences across MTV, VH1, and CMT to drive volunteerism,
donations, and general awareness."
-Prn Newswire
Buddy Guy mentions John, Redding song
Sept 2,2005
"with a little help from guest stars Keith Richards, Carlos Santana and John Mayer. "He's a great blues guitarist," Guy says of Mayer, who plays on Redding's "I've Got Dreams to Remember."" -Rolling Stone.
John Mayer's brings his A game
Sept 2,2005
JOHN MAYER TRIO Pino Palladino (from left), John Mayer and Steve Jordan "This new venture marks the next phase in the remarkable evolution of a gifted, adventurous and prolific young artist," reads a press release about the John Mayer Trio, the multiplatinum pop star's latest touring group.
Well, it does and it doesn't.
In a sense, the trio is likely to be something of a return to the hotshot guitarslinger mode Mayer reportedly adopted as a young musician growing up in Connecticut, before he moved to Atlanta, switched his focus to subtle yet accessible songwriting and started on his path to Grammy glory.
But then again, it can hardly be considered a step back when you form a band with a rhythm section such as drummer Steve Jordan (right-hand man in Keith Richards' side project the X-pensive Winos, among his countless credits) and bassist Pino Palladino (ubiquitous British session player, John Entwistle's replacement in the Who).
The group will play a mix of covers, past Mayer hits reworked for a trio setting and new material, according to a Billboard magazine report. Even in the context of his previous, pop-leaning shows, Mayer has shown impressive chops and taste as a guitarist. Teamed with players of such surpassing technical skill and rare rhythmic savvy, Mayer could make this next phase a memorable one.
found here
Heavier sounds
Sept 2,2005
POP STAR JOHN MAYER HITS ROAD WITH BOLD, BLUESY POWER TRIO
By Jim Harrington
Special to the Mercury News
John Mayer has spent much of this year climbing out of a pigeonhole.
It began back in January when the 27-year-old pop heartthrob unleashed a fiery rendition of Jimi Hendrix's "Bold as Love" to millions of television viewers on "Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope." It continued at the 47th annual Grammy awards in February as he cranked out a revved-up version of his single "Daughters," which had won song-of-the-year and best-male-pop-vocal-performance honors that evening.
The biggest part of the image makeover is his new trio, which features drummer Steve Jordan andbassist Pino Palladino. That's the band responsible for the eye-opening performances at "Tsunami Aid" and the Grammys. It's also the group Mayer will lead into the Fillmore on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"I'm excited by the trio idea," Mayer says by e-mail. "It's about 'cats.' It's about personnel. For me, Eric Clapton is the template. Make another band and go out with another band. And whatever the muse is, follow it. I have the opportunity to just pick up a guitar and play with whomever I want to play with."
The John Mayer Trio represents a different, harder-edged sound for the singer, songwriter and guitarist. Those fortunate enough to have tickets to the sold-out Fillmore gigs will witness a different side to the pop tunesmith known for slick hits such as "Your Body Is a Wonderland."
"I wouldn't just change just for the sake of changing, but I've always had another agenda," Mayer explains. "That other agenda is a whole different set of heroes and hues and colors and textures. I've just decided to go to my next place. . . .
"It's a very thought-out process of taking what excites me about Eric Clapton and B.B. King and Buddy Guy and Blind Faith and Derek & the Dominos and the Band and Cream . . . and placing it in my thing. I love pop music. I love guitar playing. I love blues. I love jazz. And I love the idea even more that I could put my own stamp on all those things and roll them into one sound."
His stamp, in this case, translates mainly to a heavier guitar sound. Mayer is better known for his boyish good looks than his blistering good licks, but this trio project may tip the scales.
"He's really serious about his guitar playing," Palladino says from his home in London. "Some guitarists have a special touch, and you know the guys I'm talking about, and John is one of those guys. It's the way he strikes a note. He just has something."
The same could be said for both Jordan and Palladino, two stellar players who have performed with rock legends.
Jordan, who has worked with the likes of Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, first collaborated with Mayer on the guitarist's third album, "Heavier Things."
"We hit it off during those sessions," Jordan says from his home in New York. "I was very impressed with his guitar playing, more than anything, and I thought I would like to work more with him in the future on various projects. So anytime I got something that I thought he might be interested in I would let him know."
Mayer was very interested when the drummer approached him about contributing to "Herbie Hancock: Possibilities," a newly released all-star affair along the lines of Carlos Santana's "Supernatural" and Ray Charles' "Genius Loves Company." Mayer and Hancock collaborated on the album's radio-friendly lead track, "Stitched Up," which features Jordan on drums. (The vocalist-guitarist also joined the famed jazz pianist — as well as bassist Marcus Miller, saxophonist Kenny Garrett, guitarist Lionel Loueke, trumpeter Roy Hargrove, drummer Terri Lyne Carrington and percussionist Munyungo Jackson — for the Headhunters performance at the Bonnaroo festival in June.)
Jordan then enticed Mayer to record a version of "You Can Make It if You Try" with blues guitarist Buddy Guy for the Sly & the Family Stone covers album "Different Strokes by Different Folks." The well-connected drummer also hooked the pop idol up to do a smoking version of the classic "Route 66" for Pixar's upcoming animated film "Cars."
Jordan's recommendation
Session great Willie Weeks was the bassist on "Route 66" and was Mayer's first choice to join Jordan and him for the tsunami benefit. Weeks had a commitment with Gregg Allman, but Jordan had a replacement in mind.
"Steve, very kindly, said that there was only one other bass player that he wanted to play with, and he mentioned my name to John," Palladino says. "John was really up for it because he was a fan of some of the music that I've done with D'Angelo."
The threesome clicked from the start. The group's debut at the tsunami benefit was so satisfying that it prompted the musicians to go into the studio that night to record "Bold as Love."
"John's reaction, within just a few minutes of playing, was, 'I love this band. I want to do something with this trio,' " says the 47-year-old Palladino, who is known for his work with the Who and Jeff Beck. "A trio is a strange thing because there is a certain tension that you have to have with just three people playing. We seemed to have that straight away."
Second show at Grammys
The John Mayer Trio made its second public appearance at the Grammys and turned heads with its roughed-up makeover of "Daughters."
"John wanted to make a statement that night, and he was able to do that," says Jordan, who declined to give his age.
Mayer will continue to make his point — and climb out of his pigeonhole — at the Fillmore, which will mark the trio's first full-length concert performances. Those looking for a straight run through the singer's catalog of hits could be disappointed. Mayer does plan to play some of his own material, but he also is looking to fill his sets with covers, blues and other surprises.
"I don't even know a lot of the music we're going to be playing, or the songs that I'll write before we hit the road," he says. "But knowing that those guys are behind me makes all the difference."
What happens after the tour ends on Oct. 12 in Philadelphia is anybody's guess. But, given Mayer's work ethic of late, the safe bet is that he will hit the studio and lay down some tracks with his new trio.
"I'm not a guy who'll release a record and go away for four years," he explains. "This is what I do for a living. I'm coming to work."
Found here
Best Pop-Rock artist, World Music Awards
August 31, 2005
T World Music Awards were taped yesterday. John is running for best pop-rock artist, with Eminem, Gavin DeGraw, Gwen Stefani, and Asheel Simpson. It will officially air on ABC, September 13, from 9 to 11pm. Visit the awards site here.
Participing in "AnthemLIVE!"
August 30th, 2005
"Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia announced its third annual AnthemLIVE! featuring tennis greats James Blake and Andy Roddick. The event will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005, at Old Dominion University's Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk." -Finanzen
John on main page of Fender site
August 27th, 2005
John is featured on the main page of the Fender website!
B.B King's New CD
August 9, 2005
John will be on B.B King's new duet cd, along with other well known musicans. The cd is expected to be released on September 13th, 2005. found here.
Bittersweet will not be release according to Kanye West
August 5th, 2005
"Diamonds has been a headache for its maker, too. Negative reactions from West's core fanbase stung him into dropping four of the album's more outre songs, including one that features John Mayer and a harpsichord, and replacing them with more conventional hip-hop tracks. Never one to understate his case, he proclaims on the crunching, martial Crack Music: "This is black music, nigga!"
Fender John Mayer Signature Model Stratocaster
July 27, 2005
"Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has teamed up with Grammy Award winning guitarist, singer and song writer John Mayer to release a new instrument based on Mayer's own personal electric guitars. A combination of classic Fender specifications and newly designed features, the new Fender John Mayer Signature Model Stratocaster guitar is designed by Mayer himself. Known for playing a number of different Stratocaster guitars throughout his career, John jumped at the chance to add his own preferences to a new Fender model.
The guitar evokes a '60s era "vibe" with vintage Fender bridge and tremolo, and vintage tuning machines. The back of the maple neck, the fingerboard and headstock are given a tinted and buffed finish to complete the vintage look. Newly designed Big Dipper single coil pickups were designed for John's modern tastes, which accentuate the bass and treble frequencies while softening the mid-range, offering the unique tones found in Mayer's playing. They are controlled with a volume and two tone control knobs, and standard Fender 5-way switching." -Ultimate-Guitar.com
John Mayer Trio website
June 29, 2005
You can now check out the official John Mayer Trio website, at www.johnmayertrio.com.
Fall tour dates!
June 28, 2005
9/6 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
9/7 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
9/10 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues
9/11 San Diego, CA House of Blues
9/13 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
9/14 Los Angeles, CA House of Blues
9/15 Los Angeles, CA House of Blues
9/17 Denver, CO Fillmore
9/19 Kansas City, MO Uptown
9/21 Chicago, IL House of Blues
9/22 Chicago, IL House of Blues
9/23 Minneapolis, MN Quest
9/24 Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom
9/26 Nashville, TN Ryman
9/27 New Orleans, LA House of Blues
9/28 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
9/30 Orlando, FL House of Blues
10/1 Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues
10/3 Washington DC MCI Center (with Rolling Stones)
10/4 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
10/6 New York, NY The Beacon
10/10 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia (with Rolling Stones)
10/11 Boston, MA Avalon
10/12 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia (with Rolling Stones)
Local-83.com
John Mayer autographed items
June 27, 2005
Alicia will be hosting a new online charity auction, and "Other goodies up for auction include a private tennis lesson from Andre Agassi, a lunch date with Halle Berry, a guitar signed by the members of Maroon 5, and autographed items from REM, John Mayer, Sting, Norah Jones, and more.", read more here.
John Mayer Trio Fall tour information + Continuum info
June 24, 2005
"The threesome starts a club tour Sept. 6 at the Fillmore in San Francisco, which will be followed by a live album for Columbia in December." Billboard
More on Clapton's new record
June 20, 2005
John will be playing guitar on Clapton's new album, "Back Home", which comes out August 30th.
Track listing:
1) "So Tired" (Eric Clapton, Simon Climie)
2) "Say What You Will" (Eric Clapton, Simon Climie)
3) "I'm Going Left" (Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright)
4) "Love Don't Love Nobody" (Joseph Jefferson, Charles Simmons)
5) "Revolution" (Eric Clapton, Simon Climie)
6) "Lost And Found" (Doyle Bramhall II, Eric Clapton, Jeremy Stacey)
7) "Heaven" (Doyle Bramhall II, Suzanna Melvoin, Mike Elizondo)
8) "Love Comes To Everyone" (George Harrison)
9) "One Day" (Vince Gill, Beverley Darnell)
10) "One Track Mind" (Eric Clapton, Simon Climie)
11) "Run Home To Me" (Eric Clapton, Simon Climie)
12) "Back Home" (Eric Clapton)
Market Wire
New vibe and creativity for John
June 18, 2005
Johh reveals his new record plans, what songs may make it, and how much he is enjoying the process. Not to mention, what the Trio will sound like, and what he has been up to! Read up.
Rachel Perry and "Strip Search"
June 13, 2005
"Rachel Perry, who hosts the VH-1's hit "Strip Search," certainly has gotten into her work. The beauty, who peels in the new issue of Stuff, says she's sometimes tempted to pinch the posteriors of her show's male contestants. But she got more than she bargained for with John Mayer. The Grammy winner not only told Perry how a childhood operation affected his nether regions, he showed her, according to an interview with Sirius Satellite Radio's Rock Chick ..."
Hancock talks about John
June 13, 2005
"Those who went for Hancock were treated to a relentlessly energetic set of instrumental jazz funk, featuring an unabashedly ecstatic John Mayer on guitar. And if fans were surprised by this, just "wait till you see what I'm about to do next," Mayer said to reporters. "I've got a lot of time," he said. "I'm just experimenting with patience."
Onstage with Hancock, Mayer was part of a collective sound, at times breaking ahead with a rousing solo, but more often backing up while Hancock took the lead on the keys or bassist Marcus Miller busted out, as on an ultra-funky "Frankenstein."
"He can honestly, really play the guitar," Hancock remarked to reporters."
New Heavier Things tribute album
June 03, 2005
On June 21, 2005, you will be able to get your hands on a string quartet tribute to John Mayer's Heavier Things. To hear previews and get more information, click here.
So who is the John Mayer Trio?
May 23, 2005
"Mayer's trio, which also includes bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Steve Jordan, will make its live debut opening shows on Oct. 3 in Washington, D.C., and Oct. 10 in Philadelphia. Palladino and Jordan previously backed Mayer for his 2005 Grammy Awards performance of "Daughters."" -Billboard
John Mayer Trio opening for Rolling Stones
May 12, 2005
Hot news! The John Mayer trio will be opening for the Rolling Stones i the fall, the Local 83 says.
"The new John Mayer Trio is opening up for the Rolling Stones, and Local-83 is hearing it first. The Trio will only be playing select dates on the Stones upcoming fall tour. The Mayer Trio is officially confirmed for October 3 at the MCI Center in Washington, DC and October 10 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, PA. We will keep you updated as more information is released."
Hancock album release
May 12, 2005
"POSSIBILITIES, will be released at the end of August (05)." -Contact Music.
John playing guitar on Common album, Kayne on his upcoming
May 09, 2005
John is actually playing guitar on a track in Common's new album, the artist says a few words about John also: "He's creative," Common says of Mayer. "He's a good dude. He was bringing a lot of great ideas to the table."
The article also mentions Kayne and John working on each other's upcoming albums!
Room for Squares Dual Disc
May 08, 2005
Purchase the Dual Disc of Room for Squares on June 7th, check it out on Sony Music.
John on the new album
May 06, 2005
"They are tunes that live on guitar," he says. "When it comes out,I may never win a Grammy again,I may never sell a million records again, but the world will get where I am coming from, I'm not afraid to lose it all." -Rolling Stone
The John Mayer trio
May 06, 2005
"I'm gonna go out in the fall with the trio and just play", he says. "Power rockin', electric guitar in your face blues. And we'll do a live album." -Rolling Stone
Clapton and Buddy Guy collabs
May 06, 2005
"Meanwhile, Mayer has been an in-demand guest for his heroes:He has recorded with Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy for their upcoming albums,and he'll be performing at Bonnaroo in June with Herbie Hancock's reunited Seventies funk jazz group, the Headhunters." -Rolling Stone
More on Scolfield album
May 06, 2005
""That's What I Say" marks the first time Scofield has worked with guest vocalists, of which there are several high-profile names here. The track "What'd I Say" boasts appearances by John Mayer, Warren Haynes, Aaron Neville, Dr. John and Mavis Staples, as well as Charles saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman." -Billboard.com
New collaboration?
May 05, 2005
"Formed in 1996 by brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson, and bassist Chris Chew, the Allstars are steeped in the local sounds. Their producer is also their dad, the famed Jim Dickinson, who raised 'em up right, judging from their sixth CD, "Electric Blue Watermelon." The disc, to be released here July 13 by Buffalo Records, includes a Japan-only bonus track by Cody called "Dragonslayer," featuring John Mayer." -Asahi.com
Jammy Awards April 26
April 27, 2005
"Chicago blues guitarist Buddy Guy was honored with a lifetime achievement award, and he proceeded to trade guitar licks with John Mayer during a rendition of the Muddy Waters classic "Hoochie Coochie Man.""
"I invited this young man (on stage) because I didn't want the blues to die," he told the audience. -Reuters.
John in Rob Thomas dual disc feature
April 20, 2005
John appears for 4 minutes in the DVD part of the newly released dual disc. Buy the CD at Amazon.
"Go" to be a single
April 19, 2005
The second single off "Be" from Common is "Go", which already has a clip made for. Read about it here.
"I Don't Need no Doctor", John Scolfield Collboration
April 11, 2005
"JOHN MAYER plays guitar and sings on "I Don't Need No Doctor," a track from That's What I Say, jazz guitarist JOHN SCOFIELD's tribute album to RAY CHARLES. " -Rolling Stone
John performing with Herbie Hancock June 11
April 11, 2005
According to this site, John will be performing with Herbie Hancock, "June 11th - Live at the Garden Series: The Headhunters, featuring John Mayer and Herbie Hancock - Gates open 6pm; concert starts at 8pm."
John in London
April 10, 2005
John joined Eric Clapton and UB40 on Stage today, for the Teenager Cancer Trust Charity concert, at Albert Hall, in London. Click here to see pictures!
Rob Thomas album to be a Dual Disc
April 5, 2005
"The forthcoming debut solo album from Melisma/Atlantic recording artist Rob Thomas, "...SOMETHING TO BE," will be available exclusively in the new DualDisc format. Due in stores on April 19th, the eagerly awaited release will feature the full album on the CD side and over 20 minutes of exclusive video material on the DVD side, which will also include all 12 songs in 5.1 multichannel surround sound. The DVD content will feature an "In Session" behind the scenes documentary — including footage of recording and songwriting sessions for the album — plus a photo gallery, lyrics, and more." Read more at Market Wire
New song "Go"
April 8, 2005
John collaborated with Kayne West and Common to record "Go", a rap song, for more details click here.
Message from Michael Chaves
April 1, 2005
Check out the Split Screen Sadness team for a message from Michael!
"Bittersweet" on "Hitch" soundtrack?
March 28, 2005
"Bittersweet" featuring Kayne West may be featured in the "Hitch" soundtrack import, you can see the details on the Japanese HMV page.
John runs into trouble at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
March 14, 2005
John attended the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last night:
"But when U2 (search) took the stage last night at the Waldorf, Mayer almost got into trouble. He stood up in the front row, hard by the stage, to support Bono (search). But one of Lou Palumbo's walking refrigerators lumbered in front of Mayer in case the folk rocker decided to get too effervescent. Mayer and several industry execs quickly backed off before they got trampled." -Fox News.
Rob Thomas Collaboration info
March 10, 2005
"[due to hit stores on April 19th in North America] Another lad who dropped by to help Thomas out on the record is one John Mayer, who recently picked up the Grammy for "Song of the Year". The singer/songwriter can be heard playing guitar on the song "Streetcorner Symphony"." -Soul Shine
New album details
February 25, 2005
"As for future projects, Mayer said that he is still working on a new album and is being patient with the process. He said he's trying to come up with something that feels and sounds different.
"I'm trying to sew together all the different parts of the quilt," he said"
Source: AP Press.
Daughters rises to number 3 on adult contemporary
February 25, 2005
The AP reports the Tops in adult contemporary:
1. "Heaven," Los Lonely Boys. Or.
2. "Breakaway," Kelly Clarkson. Walt Disney. (Gold, signifying more than 500,000 copies sold)
3. "Daughters," John Mayer. Aware.
4. "In My Daughter's Eyes," Martina McBride. RCA Nashville.
5. "She Will Be Loved," Maroon5. Octone. (Platinum, signifying more than 1 million copies sold.
6. "You'll Think of Me," Keith Urban. Capitol.
7. "Live Like You Were Dying," Tim McGraw. Curb.
8. "I'll Be Around," Daryl Hall John Oates. dke.
9. "Don't Let Him Steal Your Heart Away," Phil Collins. Face Value.
10. "This Love," Maroon5. Octone. (Platinum)
Tower Records giving away free John DVD
February 17, 2005
When you buy the Heavier Things dual disc, you are entitled to get a free John dvd, no word on which one it is!-Tower Records
John announces new album name and date
February 15, 2005
In a recent MTV article, John mentioned that "My next record probably won't come out until about 2006. It is called Continuum.".
John wins song of the year
February 13, 2005
Congratulation to John for winning song of the year article here
John wins second Grammy
February 13, 2005
John took the Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, they are announced on MTV.
Another Grammy Prediction
February 11, 2005
Song of the year: "If it's not 'If I Ain't Got You' by Alicia Keys, which it will be, I think that John Mayer's song 'Daughters' is a really beautiful song. I really do."
People.com
John scores number 48 on top money makers list
February 11, 2005
the Top Money Makers list:
"48. John Mayer
$10.5 MILLION
ON THE ROAD Mayer's tour behind 2003's Heavier Things grossed $24 million in North America — the bulk of his earnings for the year.
ON CD Heavier Things sold nearly 750,000 CDs, and his debut, Room for Squares, added 400,000 copies to the total. Last year's rank: 33" View full list here.
John Mayer, Jesse McCartney Invited To Grammy Dress-Up Party
February 10, 2005
"Lil Jon's Crunk!!! was also served, and as a rep from the energy drink boasted, "Crunk!!! isn't just a drink, it's a lifestyle."
Maybe that's what John Mayer needed, as the visibly exhausted singer arrived late after performing with Kanye West down the street at the House of Blues. Or maybe a presentation from Sony on their new portable briefcase TV might spark the techie singer/songwriter's interest.
Whatever the case, Mayer had better get energized, as several other "gifting" suites have been set up around Los Angeles for Grammy week. The idea is that the artists will actually wear some of the free clothing or accessories to the Grammys, giving the companies massive exposure." -Vh1 News
Kanye, With Two Johns In Tow, Brings Hollywood Crowd To Its Knees
February 10, 2005
"After rapping, West once again addressed the House of Blues, saying that he wanted to introduce another good friend. John Mayer then came from behind the curtain, garnering a huge scream as well as a wave from Hilary Duff, who was upstairs with her sister, Haylie. Mayer then let his guitar flail, playing bluesy licks as "All Falls Down" began.
Mayer stayed for most of the show's remainder, and when Legend started to sing some of the Burt Bacharach-penned "A House Is Not a Home," the guitarist got right in there.
"Are you gonna be," Legend crooned while Mayer answered with more guitar licks. "Say you gonna be," Legend then sang, with Mayer continuing the volley of words and music before they segued into "Slow Jamz."
After the song, Kanye tried to play the night out in true dramatic Hollywood fashion, leaving the stage with his entourage. No one in the audience was fooled, however: The crowd knew he couldn't possibly close out the set without performing "Jesus Walks." Of course he came back to perform his triumphant anthem, ending with a little bit of the "Jesus Walks" dance.
Mayer and West have also been collaborating in the studio. The guitarist sings on a track called "Bittersweet" that will appear on West's upcoming Late Registration LP, as well as on a song called "Go," the upcoming single from Common's soon-to-be-released Be. Both records were produced by West." -VH1 News
Song of the Year prediction from MSN Music
February 9, 2005
"By Dmitri Delgado
Special to MSN Music
Song of the Year:
This is a category where sap constantly trumps substance, which means John
Mayer's "Daughters" should be a slam dunk, though Tim McGraw's "Live Like
You Were Dying" also fills the bill. Kanye West's "Jesus Walks,"
Hoobastank's "The Reason" and Alicia Keys' "If I Ain't Got You" are
also-rans.
Canadians gets Dual Disc February 22nd
February 9, 2005
If you're Canadian you may have to wait a few more days to get John's latest release, HMV will have it in stores only on February 22nd.
John performing at the Grammys this year
February 8, 2005
According to the Local-83 John will be performing at the Grammys this year, no word on the song, but it will probably be "Daughters"!
John in Las vegas for Superbowl weekend
February 8, 2005
"VIVA LAS VEGAS! Super Bowl weekend is Sin City's second- busiest weekend (New Year's is first), but for two dozen high-profile Chicagoans, this past weekend's trek to Vegas had nothing to do with pro football's biggest night. A legion of pals of man-about-town Neal Zucker discovered "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas," and that included helping Zucker leave his 30s behind. The hearty partying ranged from the Bellagio's gaming tables to the sexy "Zumanity" Cirque du Soleil show to Rich Melman's Mon Ami Gabi (with Cindy Crawford lunching nearby) to a dinner at Nine in the Palms hotel, where Derek Jeter and John Mayer were spied checking out the crowd with Nine co-owner Michael Morton." -Sun Times
MSN Music Offers Free GRAMMY-Nominated Songs
February 7, 2005
GRAMMY®-nominated songs are being offered for free on the MSN Music website (grammys.msn.com) They will be giving away a free download of a Best Song nominee in one of five genres (pop, rock, rap/hip-hop, soul/R&B, country) each day from Feb. 8 through Feb. 12 in the U.S. only.
Each day, one song from the following Grammy categories will be available on MSN Music each day:
Tuesday, Feb. 8: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance/Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (Total of two songs given away)
Wednesday, Feb. 9: Best Rock Song
Thursday, Feb. 10: Best Rap Song
Friday, Feb. 11: Best R&B Song
Saturday, Feb. 12: Best Country Song
They will be announced every day, by MSN Music's editorial team (professional musicians and producers, and others in the music industry), based on their predictions of which will win the Grammy in the resptive categories.
Thank you Kirsten for the info!
E! Grammy Predictions
February 7, 2005
"the contenders
• "Daughters," John Mayer (John Mayer)
• "If I Ain't Got You," Alicia Keys (Alicia Keys)
• "Jesus Walks," Miri Ben Ari, C. Smith & Kanye West (Kanye West)
• "Live Like You Were Dying," Tim Nichols & Craig Wiseman (Tim McGraw)
• "The Reason," Daniel Estrin & Douglas Robb (Hoobastank)
dave predicts
"Daughters": There's nothing Grammy likes better than saying, "I told you so." A nod to this beautiful composition by 2002's Best Male Pop winner will take care of that. Using that twisted logic, Keys and McGraw might also be players here."
Daughters Single CD Aussie release
February 5, 2005
The CD gets released Monday March 9th and you can pre-order it here.
John Colbaroating with Herbie Hancock
February 3, 2005
"At work on collaborations
At the end of the "Directions in Music: Our Time" tour, Hancock said he can envision another CD release stemming from the project.
"I hope so," he said. "I like to try to record all the performances that I do, when it's possible and practical, because if something happens that seems like it could be CD material, then we have it."
In the meantime, he's also at work on a new project - a series of collaborations with artists from a variety of musical genres outside of jazz, tentatively planned for release in late summer. He's already recorded with John Mayer, Sting, Trey Anastasio, Annie Lennox and the Roots; more collaborations are planned with artists such as Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon, Alicia Keys, Yo-Yo Ma and Carlos Santana. " Register Guard
Heavier Things DualDisc In Stores February 8th!
February 3, 2005
According to the JohnMayer.com newsletter, the dual-disc "Heavier Things" CD will be hitting stores on the 8th of this month. Hopefully they will be on sale everywhere! Just to refresh your memory about that, :
"The DualDisc features the original stereo mix of the entire Heavier Things album on the CD side. On the DVD side, you'll get a 5.1 Multichannel Surround-Sound mix of the album, John's never-before-seen appearance on The Paul Reddy Show, a new interview, and rare live, in-studio, and behind-the-scenes footage!" -JM.com Newsletter
Christmas Fund sums up to $5700.00
February 2, 2005
"Hey y'all -
Thank you so much for making this happen. All together, the amount donated to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta was worlds beyond anything I could have imagined" [...] -MerryXmasJohnMayer
John Mayer Plays at Blues Concert
January 29, 2005
John made an appearance last night at the "Blues Express legends of the blues" with Buddy Guy, check out Wire Image for photos of the concert.
Daughters climbed up to number 2
January 22, 2005
"Daughters" has gone to number 2 this week! -PRN Newswire
Heavier Things [DualDisc (CD+DVD)]
January 21, 2005
Another version of Heavier Things is coming out, on February 8th, 2005. This time it is a two-disc set and there are new features:
Entire album in 5.1 Surround Sound and enhanced LPCM Stereo
New interview with John Mayer
Rare footage of the making of the album at home and in the studio
Music video for "Daughters"
-Sony Music Store or Amazon.com
Daughters release in Australia
January 21, 2005
"Until the track hits our ears, John Mayer fans will be able to indulge in hearing his lush acoustic sounds on the airwaves once again, when 'Daughters' - the third single from his album 'Heavier Things' - hits radio and music TV mid-January. While 'Daughters' is a media-only single (sadly, it won't be released in stores here), it does have an awesome new video, which you can take a sneak peek at right now at www.johnmayer.com" -Sony Music Australia
John and Scofield
January 3, 2005
John himself announced that he will be on a few tracks on John Scofield's upcoming disc, to read his post click here.
Heavier Things is on number 38 in Billboards
January 19, 2005
Mentioned in the current issue of Rolling Stone, Heavier things jumped from number 53 to 38 on the Billboard charts!
Daughters on Grammy CD
January 17, 2005
"The disc contains many of the most widely recognized GRAMMY categories. The 21 tracks from the 2005 GRAMMY Nominees CD represent nominees from the Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal , and Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group categories. The nominee CD is made possible by a special arrangement with all of the major music distribution companies and rotates from year to year. For additional information regarding the 2005 GRAMMY Nominees CD, please visit www.grammy.com."
-Top 40 charts
Tsunami tracks up for download
January 17, 2005
To coincide with the telethon and raise additional funds, Sony's Connect store has made available select performances from "Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope." Some of the exclusive tracks available for download include live versions of Maroon 5's "She Will Be Loved," Nelly's "N Dey Sey," Sarah McLachlan's "Angel," John Mayer's "Bold As Love" and Norah Jones' "We're All In This Together." The tracks can be downloaded now through February 15, 2005 at http://musicstore.connect.com/promos/tsunami/index.html/. You can download all 15 songs for $13.99 or a single track for $0.99.
100% of the sales price will be donated to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, and Sony Corporation of America will match the first $100,000 raised through domestic sales of the "Tsunami Aid" downloads sold through the Connect music store.
Track Listing: "Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope"
01. She Will Be Loved - Maroon 5
02. We're All In This Together - Norah Jones
03. Love's In Need of Love Today - Mary J. Blige
04. Love And Mercy - Brian Wilson
05. Always Tomorrow - Gloria Estefan
06. Angel - Sarah McLachlan
07. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me - Elton John
08. To Where You Are - Josh Groban
09. Bold As Love - John Mayer
10. N Dey Sey - Nelly
11. Wish You Were Here - Eric Clapton and Roger Waters
12. I Can't Go There - Kenny Chesney
13. Why - Annie Lennox
14. Let Love Rule - Lenny Kravitz
15. Reach Out and Touch - Diana Ross
Someone should have told John you can't swear!
January 16, 2005
John swore last night on the Tsunami Benefit, "The benefit wasn't without a glitch: Singer John Mayer (news) uttered an expletive that got on the air, even though NBC was using a five-second delay to protect against such things." -Yahoo News.
"John Mayer played Jimi Hendrix's "Axis (Bold as Love)" as his contribution to the evening. But Mayer's performance soon went from demure to ego on display as he hot-dogged licks and swore as he backed away from the microphone for a guitar solo. The gaffe made it onto the air, despite NBC's five-second delay. " -Boston Herald
"While Mayer was singing "Bold as Love," Mayer appeared to swear while backing away from the microphone during a guitar solo. The audio briefly cut out about a second or two after he had said it... However, she [NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks]later said that it appeared Mayer had said only,"Oh shhhhh." But NBC wiped it out for the West Coast anyway." -Cleveland.com
Daughters is number 3 this week
January 15, 2005
"Daughters" has risen up to number three this week on the Vh1 Weekly countdown, check out the rest of the songs and new additions here.
John attends Macworld Conference
January 11, 2005
"Apple CEO Steve Jobs (L) is joined by Grammy Award winning musician John Mayer as they both show Apple's new iPod Shuffle digital music player which Jobs introduced at the Macworld Conference in San Francisco, January 11, 2005. The newest addition to Apple iPods will retail for $99. REUTERS/Lou Dematteis" -Yahoo/Reuters
John to join Tsunami Benefit
January 10, 2005
"Among those scheduled to perform in the special, titled "Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope," are Madonna, Sheryl Crow, Lenny Kravitz, Eric Clapton, Mary J. Blige, Kenny Chesney, Brian Wilson, India.Arie, John Mayer and Gloria Estefan."
"The concert, airing at 8 p.m. ET Saturday (Jan. 15), will be broadcast on NBC and all its cable networks." -Zap2it
John collaborating with Rob Thomas
January 6, 2005
"Matchbox twenty frontman Rob Thomas will release his as-yet-untitled solo debut in May via Atlantic Records. The set features a guest spot by singer/songwriter John Mayer on guitar on an unnamed track, according to Thomas' spokesperson." -Billboard
John talks about next album and Winter Tour
January 6, 2005
"He even launched his own VH1 show, "John Mayer Has a TV Show," and now he's looking at a winter tour." [...]
"My next record, I'm closing up shop on acoustic sensitive and I'm gonna go to electric guitar and make something else happen," he said. "I'm bored, man, [singing,] 'I miss your kiss so much.' Truth is, I don't.
"I'm trying everything I can not to be jaded 'cause I don't like jaded musicians," he continued. "But slowly, as I get older, the radio's on and I go, 'What the f—- is that? How did that get on the radio?' It's not music out there right now. That's why, to me, hip-hop is where rock used to be."
So is Mayer going hip-hop? It's possible. After all, he and Kanye West have collaborated on West's new album and are talking about doing more (see "Kanye West And John Mayer Collaborate But Won't Elaborate"). -Vh1
John on top artist list on Vh1
January 4, 2005
John is #9 in Vh1's Top artists.
John Mayer making smashes
January 4, 2005
"Kanye West
What's the super-producer/rapper got left up his sleeve?
After scoring the most Grammy nominations this year for The College Dropout, West is hard at work on Late Registration, due in April or May. He is, of course, producing it himself, and so far the only confirmed guest is, um, mellow guitarist/singer John Mayer? It doesn't matter if it's John Denver, Envy said. "His production with all these other artists makes his [next] album a beast," according to Envy. "He's making smashes with new artists, but I'm sure he's keeping some goodies for his album. His songs don't feel conscious, but they're not hardcore, so parents like them for their kids." -MTV News