This came out in 2003 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
One can only assume that the Heavier Things John Mayer is referring to have something do with emotional weights. Because he sure doesn’t come out much heavier musically on this latest studio album.
Granted, the Atlanta singer-songwriter takes full advantage of his recent commercial success to produce a fuller and richer-sounding followup. But once you strip away all the overdubs and slick production, he’s still following the same musical template of first-person confessional lyrics, easy-flowing roots-pop and a voice that crosses the marble-mouthed hipsterism of Dave Matthews with the sandy gloss of Sting. The horny, lazy soul of Come Back To Bed is even a worthy successor to his breakthrough single Your Body Is A Wonderland. And even though titles like Clarity, Something’s Missing and Split Screen Sadness hint at the heaviness Mayer alludes to, there’s not getting around the fact that Heavier Things is sometimes disappointingly lightweight.
