When someone asks me who my favorite current artist is, my answer is always John Mayer.
The easy explanation behind the answer is his talent. Undoubtedly, Mayer is one of the greatest guitarist not only in the modern era, but in the history of music. Yet there is more behind the man than his guitar playing.
It is his songwriting, as Mayer is one of the staples in modern pop song lyricism. It is his consistency, with each album seeming better than the previous. It is his ability to mesh pop music with the blues flair that made guitarists such as B.B. King, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughn so prevalent.
His work has influenced the likes of some of the best pop artists of today, whether those be Halsey, Shawn Mendes or others. With all of this being said, here’s my ranking of his albums from worst (although all are great) to best.
7. Paradise Valley (2013)
Mayer continued to showcase his softer side with his sixth album release. “Paradise Valley” does not showcase his heavily pop-influenced music, nor his Hendrix-styled guitar rifts. The music is most comparable to soft rock/singer-songwriter, a style of music that was seen in her previous release ‘Born and Raised.” With songs such as “Wildfire,” “Paper Doll” and “Who You Love,” a complicated Mayer who transitioned from his life in the city to his new home in Yellowstone River, Montana spilled his heart in this record while also maintaining that special Mayer flair.
6. Heavier Things (2003)
With his second official release, “Heavier Things” presented his first number-one single with the hit song “Daughters” which also gave him his second Grammy award for song of the year. It was one of his most philosophical works, with songs such as “Clarity” and “New Deep” dealing with issues of mental stability and maintaining a healthy spiritual lifestyle. And with some unbelievable hidden gems throughout the 10 track listing, such as “Split Screen Sadness” and “Come Back to Bed,” this album was an excellent sequel to his record breaking debut album.
5. Born and Raised (2012)
In 2012, Mayer was villainized by the media due to his personal life, especially regarding his public relationships. He needed to escape these pressures, and he wanted to use his art as a scapegoat. He purchased property in Montana and began working on his fifth album. Mayer transitioned from his normal tone and was influenced by folk artists such as Bob Dylan or Neil Young. “Born and Raised” was Mayer’s third album that landed at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200. Yet more than that, with harmonica-driven hits such as “Queen of California” and “Shadow Days” it was a refreshing shift of focus for a conflicted Mayer.
4. Battle Studies (2009)
Produced in several different areas throughout Southern California, “Battle Studies” sold nearly 300,000 copies in its first week of sales and was certified platinum. Yet there was concern from Mayer. The intense success of his previous record led to immediate pressure for Mayer to respond with something spectacular. Truly, he did. With critically beloved songs such as “Heartbreak Warfare” and “Half of my Heart” highlighting the album, the record remains one of the most beloved on Mayer’s list. Yet more than anything, some of his lesser known songs on this record are also some of his best work, whether those be “Who Says,” “Edge of Desire,” “War of my Life” and others.
3. The Search for Everything (2017)
Mayer’s most recent album on the list, this album mainly goes back to his original roots. With pop anthems such as “Love on the Weekend,” “Still Feel Like Your Man” and “Rosie,” it was his lyrics that were highlighted the most. While it was not his most critically beloved album, Mayer heads were happy to see him go back to what made him one of the greatest pop artists of the 21st century. Yet there are also those special hidden gems that appear to always be seen in a Mayer record, with songs like “Emoji of a Wave” and “Moving on and Getting Over.” This album proved that John still has that pop flair within him, and I was all for it.
2. Room For Squares (2001)
His debut album, this record immediately turned John Mayer into a sensation. Released by Columbia Records, it remains Mayer’s most sold album with close to five million copies sold. It reached number one on the Billboard Charts after seven weeks of being on the shelves. Although the initial release was not incredibly prosperous, after weeks of touring and a few performances on some of the country’s biggest late night shows, Mayer became a household name. With his irresistible hit “Your Body Is a Wonderland,” his music became recognized as some of pop’s strongest material. And, check this, he wrote that song at 16! The song and entire album gave him his first Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. It was only the beginning to his brilliant career.
1. Continuum (2006)
Continuum” had to be number one. It’s commonly recognized as Mayer’s best work, with the biggest reason being his incorporation of blues and rock to his music style. Although it never reached number one on the charts, it was his most critically beloved album, and it gave him yet another Grammy, this time for Best Pop Vocal Album. The album simply had hit after hit, with “Waiting on the World to Change” starting the album off, “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” starting Side B and the album concluding with “I’m Gonna Find Another You.” And finally, Mayer’s most well-renowned song “Gravity” appears on the record as well. In fact, Mayer calls the song “the most important song” he’s ever written.
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