Singer-songwriter John Mayer fills his debut, Room for Squares , with pep talks to and advertisements for himself. Even when questioning his young life, Mayer's doubts come off glib; not one second of "Why Georgia" convinces that "the stirring in my soul" keeps the artist awake at night. Between his Dave Matthews-wannabe vocals and the accomplished but bland light rock of his band, he could be just as easily offering tunes for hire to a coming-of-age network series as making a stand for himself and his worldview. The premise of "City Love"--that Mayer couldn't find his way around Manhattan until finding a girlfriend to root him to the place--is nice but not edifying. "My Stupid Mouth" is similarly fuzzy; letting us in on just what he said to alienate a dinner partner would've gone a long way toward fleshing out the song's pat self-deprecation. Ultimately, Mayer comes off less like a commiserating friend than a blabbermouth who's forever forgetting there's someone else in the room. --Rickey Wright
Track Listing
No Such Thing Why Georgia My Stupid Mouth Your Body Is A Wonderland Neon City Love 83 3x5 Love Song For No One Back To You Great Indoors Not Myself St. Patrick's Day
