The Unbearable Banishment: is it okay to like John Mayer? i'm looking for a little guidance here

Saturday, May 16, 2009

is it okay to like John Mayer? i'm looking for a little guidance here

I just watched John Mayer on Austin City Limits. I didn't know anything about the guy except what I read in the tabloids. I guess he likes to tramp around. He periodically dates Jennifer Aniston and dumps her. That seems to happen to Jennifer a lot. She must be a monumental pain in the ass.

But I digress. I thought he was great. The guy's a hell of a guitar player. His style reminded me of Stevie Ray Vaughn, if you can imagine that! Did you know he could play? I didn't! I thought he wrote songs you hear on Lite FM.

Is that okay? You know what I mean. Is it okay to like John Mayer or does that make me...I don't know...kind of...girly. During an extended guitar solo they cut to three girls in the audience who all wore matching green t-shirts that said "John." They looked like lonely, middle-aged Catholic girls who wanted to cuddle him. So I'm feeling a little unsure about liking John Mayer.

16 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

i wouldn't go out and buy the t-shirt, but it's ok to like what you like... jason mraz? shhhh... one of my guilty pleasures...

May 17, 2009 at 12:46 AM  
Blogger Ellie said...

Better than Michael Bolton.

May 17, 2009 at 1:27 AM  
Blogger A Free Man said...

It's a little bit girly, but who you trying to impress?

;)

May 17, 2009 at 9:02 AM  
Blogger The Unbearable Banishment said...

Daisy: I'm not sure who Jason Mraz is, but I'm sure you should be ashamed of yourself.

Elle: Yes, better than him, but is it okay?

AFM: Hey, buddy, I've got a reputation to protect.

May 17, 2009 at 9:22 AM  
Blogger Jason Quinones said...

i feel the same as you man!!!

i HATED john mayer when he fisrt came on the scene with his syrupy sweet pop ballads which were continually whored out for tv and movie rom-coms. but then i gave his album "continuum" a chance.

pretty cool and kinda bluesy.

the entire album's not a winner but there are a few great tracks on there.

the tracks "vultures", "gravity" and "i don't trust myself" are especially cool, imho

but john mayer personally...does seem like a bit of a cocky douchebag.

and on a side note...if you haven't seen "offices", the new ethan coen play at the atlantic theater, SEE IT!!!!

hilarious! and worth the ticket price! closes early june i believe. (june 7??)

May 17, 2009 at 10:34 AM  
Blogger The Unbearable Banishment said...

jason: You're right. Mayer performed "Gravity" on Austin City Limits and it was pretty good stuff. Thx for the tip on "Offices." I saw Coen's "Almost an Evening" at the Bleecker St. and liked it a lot more than the critics did, so I'll put "Offices" on my list. F. Murray is always worth a look.

May 17, 2009 at 10:44 AM  
Anonymous Rob said...

Dude,

I don't know who John Mayer is and I've only a passing acknowledgement of Jennifer Aniston. And I could give a rat's ass about who dumps who.

Personally, I would never poll anyone, much less the internet, about whether it was okay to like something.

I think if you have to ask then maybe it's not okay. It's a little like asking, "Is it okay if I dress up in women's clothing now and then?"

I mean it might be okay, but I wouldn't advertise it. Kind of like my peculiar guilty pleasure...ABBA.

Aww, did I just say that out loud? Doh!

;-)

May 17, 2009 at 10:45 AM  
Blogger Jason Quinones said...

DAMN that was quick!! i just remarked on the post below this one as well!

i missed that first play of ethan's so i made sure to get on this one. mostly because it was about offices.

and f. murray abraham is AWESOME in this!!!!

May 17, 2009 at 10:45 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It is perfectly acceptable to like someone's music without giving a rat's ass about that person personally.

John Mayer is a girly man. He twitters about his break-ups and his penis remember, but if he can play the hell out of a guitar that's enough reason to discard the former.

I like Nickelback, broadway showtunes and 70's bubblegum (okay bubblegum period). I even bought my daugther the Hanna Montana movie soundtrack so I could listen to it. So what? I still write great zombie stories.

May 17, 2009 at 12:29 PM  
Blogger SWFirewoman said...

Stevie Ray Vaughn? Blasphemy!!!

May 17, 2009 at 1:43 PM  
Blogger Please Don't Eat With Your Mouth Open said...

I saw John Mayer in concert last September at the Royal Albert Hall with my ex. He did some immense guitar solos. My ex used to like him, so did his guitar playing friends (all male), so that means you're allowed too.

Unfortunately I can't listen to him without feeling a bit sad. My next boyfriend is going to have completely different music tastes to me, I've decided.

May 17, 2009 at 2:00 PM  
Blogger JZ said...

No, its not O.K. to like John Mayer. Cracker blues prodigies don't get off easy and JM shouldn't either. His music is derivative and he hasn't lived the lifestyle. But since there ain't much left except cracker blues prodigies, I recommend you check out the North Mississippi All-Stars, their self-titled debut mostly. Luther Dickinson is quite talented having grown up in the backyards of Mississippi Hill Country heavies like Junior Kimbrough and RL Burnside.

Also, Junior Brown, other than being placed in the country category, could blow JM out of the water.

Don't be fooled, TUB, don't be fooled.

May 17, 2009 at 7:37 PM  
Blogger The Unbearable Banishment said...

Rob: You gave the best answer. Looking to the internet for validation is a loser’s game. And, yes, your suspicions are correct. ABBA is horrible.

Annie: I’d say it pays to have eclectic tastes like yours.

SWF: It is a blasphemous statement but I swear I heard traces of SRV in the solos.

Jo: I hate it when a piece of music or a book is ruined by association. You should date guys who only listen to opera. No big loss there.

Jon: How do you really feel about Mayer?!

May 17, 2009 at 8:38 PM  
Blogger JZ said...

Limp-d*#ked blues (see, I can go on and on and on....). Guitar Virtuosity does not equal substance. He's writing Spears-like pop songs under a thin cover of the blues (aka, roots music?):

I won't listen to him because he's dumb,
I won't listen to him just for fun.

I won't listen to Mayer the Sham
I won't listen to him, snobby-music-listener I am....

May 18, 2009 at 7:44 AM  
Blogger ~E said...

Yes it's ok. Even though he always looks like he just rolled out of bed and could use a good shower...and even though you can't understand a damn word he sings most the time...It's gonna be ok!

May 19, 2009 at 5:05 AM  
Anonymous poker rakeback said...

I cant wait for Johns new album in November. I already love "Taking on Water" and "Half of My Heart" Im sure this will follow in line with his previous albums and stay in my cd player for months after the release.

September 7, 2009 at 5:28 PM  

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