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Mayer
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telefunk1
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 10:10 am    Post subject: Mayer Reply with quote

Caught John Mayer on Letterman last night. Made it past Janet Jackson (is everyone in that family f***ed up, or what?) only to witness a Dave Mathews imitation. I thought someone said he was a picker. Guess he was just trying to move product or something. Very boring stuff.
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sting
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 6:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You can not knock success.
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kirk95
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 7:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Talent and success would be nice for a change....

How about talent leading to succes for change!!

How about a real artist with real talent leading to success for a change!!

How do you explain this stuff to your kids? Wink
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Marc Greeson
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 4:43 am    Post subject: Mayer Reply with quote

I saw John Mayer on Austin City LImits about a month ago.Had to sit thru a selection of his "hits".As I was about to go to bed Double Trouble came out and played some really cool texas blues stuff.I was shocked.The kid can play.He also did a number with Buddy Guy.They traded riffs back and forth.Pretty good stuff but I still wouldn't go out and buy any of his records.
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scottl
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 4:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

He was incredibly arrogant in his Guitar Player interview. He basically said he was all that before going to Berklee and his chops were all there. I have heard him play blues and it is nothing that 1000000 people could not do. It is derivative and weak imo.

On the other hand, he is one of the better pop acts.

Scott
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BlueRunner
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 9:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cool The one thing I DID like about the GP interview was Mayer's description of setting up a guitar solo as being like one of those glue-and-glitter kid's craft projects where you shake the paper and 99% of the glitter falls onto the floor, but the 1% left on the paper is beautiful. I bought his "Heavy" CD for my 22-year-old daughter and just had to "preview" it before giving it to her (just too make sure it wasn't defective, you understand), and some of the solos left me wanting more.

I thought about Mayer when I first heard Robben's 8-bar solo on "Riley B. King," on Keb' Mo's latest CD. Definitely the best 1% of the glitter, and really left you wantin' more. (On the opposite end of the scale, decades ago when I was in a band I'd do these trippy 30-minute solos ... and then wonder how come the joint had cleared out before I'd finished.)
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Aeolian
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 10:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mayer writes songs that speak to me (how at his age he can relate to middle age experience I don't know, but I guess some things are universal) so I enjoy him on that level.

I also think that there is more to playing guitar than searing fusion/blues solos. When I listen to "Luck of the Draw" I'm embarassed for my favorite guitar players parts on "Slow Ride". I can recognize that it is Robben, but it sounds like it could be any number of people and doesn't really add that much to the song other than fill in some space. It may actually be that he was just asked to noodle over some basic tracks to fill in space, and the producers just left it all in there when they got the rest of the song put together. Who knows with modern production "techniques".
On the other hand, John Jorgensen's parts on this record contribute mightily to each songs feel and individuality . Wonderful tone colors and perfectly placed partial chords that fit with the whole of the song.

When I listen to the guitar parts on John Mayer's songs, I'm reminded of Jorgensen or some other great session guy who knows how to play just what's needed, get a great tone, and phrase it musically. Every so often the taste of single line soloing peeks out and while I've never heard it, I'd suspect John can hold his own. But that's not what the songs are about and I admire his restraint in not forcing something inconsistent in there. Maybe someday, when he's proved his pop credentials, he'll surprise the general public and make a guitar record that we'd all like to hear.
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kirk95
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 1:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Reality check guys.......I like to stay positive on people's music and art, I really do...

Are we talking about the same John Mayer? Yikes....I must be missing something...'cause I don't get it?

Shocked
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scottl
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

kirk95 wrote:
Reality check guys.......I like to stay positive on people's music and art, I really do...

Are we talking about the same John Mayer? Yikes....I must be missing something...'cause I don't get it?

Shocked


Get the Guitar Player mag with Mayer on the cover. One of the most arrogant interviews I have ever read.

I understand he just totally dissed his fans this week as well. Big scandel going on.

What a pompous prick.
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Bluelobster
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 11:12 pm    Post subject: Good prick, bad prick Reply with quote

Never listened to the guy, never seen his face.

Better a pompous prick doing interviews for GP than a pompous prick doin' nothing.
Blob.
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scottl
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 6:52 am    Post subject: Re: Good prick, bad prick Reply with quote

Bluelobster wrote:
Never listened to the guy, never seen his face.

Better a pompous prick doing interviews for GP than a pompous prick doin' nothing.
Blob.


No excuse for Mayer to be such an a$$hole. His ego is WAY bigger than his guitar playing ability. There is no defense for someone like him. He should be thankful he has his 15 minutes of fame. Here today and gone tomorrow (not soon enough).

Robben would NEVER act in this manner.

Scott
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Bluelobster
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2004 2:36 am    Post subject: Re: Good prick, bad prick Reply with quote

[quote =......../...

...Robben would NEVER act in this manner.

Scott[/quote]

Robben is Blues ( At least one of his many avatars) Razz

Edited : i've been on the guy web site, Great Site lot of bucks involved,
obviously he is surfing on a wave, i heard a tune but that was not electric guitar, seems like he is taking Jeff Buckley shoes with a melting of america meets Shawn phillips.
I wish the very best achievement in all the ways for Mr R.FORD artistry , Music, & craftmanship(Mega bucks included), and i do hope he will never open for String (Xcuz me), Stink (Oh s..t), Oh my god STING.

So he might be like you said but Be sure that when they'll start to tour together, they will be 2 pompous pricks or testa di cazzo............... Cool
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Aeolian
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2004 11:45 am    Post subject: Re: Good prick, bad prick Reply with quote

scottl wrote:
Robben would NEVER act in this manner.


At the October clinic, Robben came right out and laughingly said that in his youth he was an arrogant a**hole. He wasn't advocating it, but he said that that gave him the conviction to try all the notes (his famous "try all the notes and throw out the bad ones" line) and try to make them fit. The humility came later. I think the point he was trying to make was that "knowing" cool notes was only half the picture, that as Bruce Lee said in "Enter the Dragon", "We need EMOTIONAL CONTENT" (also remember, the next line was "not anger"). This was during Robben's "shouting at the waves" speech, quoting from the Zen Guitar book. Commitment to the muse.

I would submit that each musician at some point feels like they've got it going on. Then something comes along to take the wind out of their sails. Usually hearing someone else who is able to play what they hear in their heads. Or maybe it's disapointment with the industry, and lack of "progress". And that in this disillusionment certain other folks become "lightning rods" for our disappointment. There's a supposed news cliping in the album jacket of Deep Purple's Who Do We Think We Are? that goes: "I can't stand pretension, especially when it's based on limited talent". Every time I see some kid writhing on the floor wanking SRV licks, I think of this quote. Then I have to remember, that they're opening for Robben and I'm lucky to be asked to open for Corby Yates (turned it down as he's one of my lightning rods, should have taken it and just done my thing).

I think Robben was counsuling us to find the middle ground between the arrogant AH he saw himself as in his youth, and the passive person who lets the music pass them by. Young bucks are not the problem. They will always be there. It's up to each of us to find the music within and find a way to share it with the world, whether they accept it or not. But I submit that the more we let out what is truly within us, as opposed to showing off with what we think they should like, they more the world will get it. Results show that a significant portion get John Mayer.
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kirk95
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2004 5:45 pm    Post subject: Re: Good prick, bad prick Reply with quote

Aeolian wrote:
scottl wrote:
Robben would NEVER act in this manner.


Results show that a significant portion get John Mayer.


Would that be the same significant portion that get Britney and Justin? Like I said, I just don't get it...at all!

What's the point -- record sales = talent? I don't think so...... Wink

And what's wrong with SRV licks? Talk about a significant portion getting it?

I'm just not getting the argument here.....???? Crying or Very sad
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scottl
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 04, 2004 7:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have no problem with Mayer's music.

First, his Guitar Player interview.... So arrogant. He says he had all the chops and did not need Berklee for his playing since he was already all that. He then puts down virtuistic playing as being inferior to his heartfealt playing. Implying, btw, that he could do the hard stuff too.

That is my interpretation btw.

Then, last week, he writes a letter to his fan club and tells them to get their noses out of his ass! Unreal story...

The man is in a fantasy world afaic

Scott
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