John Mayer New Album 'Paradise Valley' Review

In an age of technological swoons, the music industry has experienced one of its most rapid shifts since George Beauchamp designed the first electrically amplified guitar in 1931. The focus and trend has changed. No longer are rock bands with booming drums and guitar licks ripe with distortion idolized by the masses. Those sounds are prehistoric and "lame" to the majority of the younger generation. What drives the music industry and culturally relevant pop music are crisp, pitch perfect, computerized tones that are meshed together and compiled into a proven formula for success. The focus has drifted from musicianship to sound engineering and production.

The art is not dead however. There are still musicians whose raw talent permeate the mainstream. They primarily come in the form of vocalists whose vocal chords can make your stomach drop and heart skip a beat, but there is still a rare breed who can express the same sentiments with their instruments.

John Mayer is one of the most successful and prolific guitar players to do so in recent memory. All of his quirks and surrounding hullabaloo aside, he's a fantastic guitarist. That's undeniable. His ability to write a catchy pop tune around versatile chord forms and advanced licks doesn't hurt either. There are plenty of talented musicians who fall into the same category, but Mayer has consistently climbed the industry's hierarchy and staked out his spot in the limelight.

Mayer is currently working on his new album, "Paradise Valley," which is set to drop August 20. Ever since rumors first leaked of his sixth studio album, Mayer has been snagging headlines left and right as fans eagerly await its release. Its first single, "Paper Doll," has received mixed reviews, but his repetitive mellow guitar trills are still reminiscent of what made fans fall for him in the first place and steers clear of modern sounds saturated in over production. The lyrics and soft melody mask the guitar and subtle piano gracefully. melding for a perfect tranquil sound that any Mayer diehard will be pleased to hear.

That being said, one could criticize Mayer for failing to branch out. He's established a sound for himself in the past, and instead of pushing his sound and finding new ways to innovate, he resides where he's comfortable. If that's what works for him, well then that's what works. But something can always be said about an innovator, especially one that has the ability to do so in a music industry that's slowly drifting away from the sound he's so comfortable in.

Give the tune a listen below, but don't be distracted by the odd "prancercising" in the video that seems to take viewers' attention away from what's really important. The music.