The large scale mainstream success and the fact that it's been critically accepted as such (albeit to a far lesser degree) just adds to the strangeness of the overall musical landscape of this year. Don't get me started. A few years ago I got a hold of a promo copy of Room For Squares and maybe I didn't give it quite the fair listen it deserved, but right away it all struck me as watered down Dave Matthews (like on of those videos edited for Mormons). I don't remember hearing the song "Real World" which is a great up-tempo pop song with strong hooks and a fun live video that quite literally catapulted the affable seeming young fellow into overnight stardom.

I can't say as I went back and listened to Room For Squares to see it contained more such overlooked charm - I just wrote it off as "my bad" and more or less figured Mayer as a promising newcomer whom I'd take more seriously next time around. Next time around for me was "Your Body is a Wonderland," which sadly re-affirmed my original opinion of Mayer - Wonderland is a dull overrated snoozer of a single that for my money is about the musical equivalent of macaroni and cheese on toast.

After a good half dozen careful listens, I really can't say as I care much for Heavier Things, though I suppose I can understand why other people might. Heavier Things is pleasant enough adult contemporary mood music, which one might put on the stereo before a date arrives for the same reason that this same person might clean the house and light a candle.

It's the kind of music you can put on in a mixed group of people, not necessarily to impress them, but because it's unlikely to annoy anyone. It's nice to have an album that serves this purpose, then again Coldplay will get this job done, and impress someone. But I can't fault Mayer, Heavier Things sold like crazy and in record time the guy is selling out arenas. I'm happy for him, he seems like a nice enough kid and I happen to know he's one hell of a good musician. (It's a lesser known fact that he's an absolute blues guitar prodigy - he shreds).

But his guitar prowess notwithstanding, Heavier Things is full of songs that really never hit any pay-dirt in terms of infectious chorus hooks - sometimes you don't really no the difference not only between the verse and the chorus, but often between one song and the next.

There are exceptions to it's uneventful same-ishness, I like "Split Screen Sadness," that sports kind of an early U2 bass-line and a swelling keyboard build-up that gives it a bigger arena-rock feel. "Bigger Than My Body" is another exception that brings the otherwise tepid water that flows through most of this album up to a nice boil for what is another highlight of Heavier Things.

Obviously this guy is enormously popular and probably in for the long haul - I'm just hoping he makes an album that is less a pastel watercolor still life and more an exploration of his skills as a guitarist, particularly his preternatural gift for the blues. I think he needs to hook up with Jack and Meg, lose the pretty production and takes some chances. Then again he if you're making millions with your glossy innocuous formula you might not want to trifle with it. To hell with making me happy. I've got plenty of other stuff to listen to.