The seven-time Grammy Award winner, John Mayer, has a new album Born and Raised which is slated for release on May 22, 2012. The album’s first single, “Shadow Days,” which debuted March 5, received very good reviews from multiple sources. If you are already a fan of the singer, the song shouldn’t be much of a surprise, as it has the usual elements of a typical John Mayer song: a cozy sound, easy going melody and a catchy hook.
In the single “Shadow Days,” which is a little bit of rock n’ roll and a little bit of country, Mayer sings “Hard times help me see/I’m a good man with a good heart/Had a tough time, got a rough start.” We can safely interpret it as Mayer self-reflecting on his past mistreatment of women and all the tabloid history he made because of it. In his southern rock, mellowed out tune he goes on to say that he has matured and that he has learned from his mistakes.
He declares on the chorus, “My shadow days are over now.” Only time will tell whether this bad boy has really developed a change in character or he is singing those delightfully apologetic lines merely because it sounds good in the chorus and to win some more fans.
John Mayer has already had to disappoint his fans as he had to recently cancel his U.S. tour due to the return of the granuloma in his throat. (A granuloma is a small area of inflammation in tissue due to injury or infection. John Mayer was treated for the same condition and placed on extensive vocal rest on 2011.) Even though John is cancelling the 18-city tour which was to be his first in the United States in two years and taking an indefinite hiatus, fans will be pleased to know that he is going to use the time to start writing his next album.
In the meantime, here is a tracklist of the new album:
1. Queen of California
2. The Age of Worry
3. Shadow Days
4. Speak for Me
5. Something Like Olivia
6. Born and Raised
7. If I Ever Get Around To Living
8. Love is a Verb
9. Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967
10. Whisky, Whisky, Whisky
11. A Face To Call Home
12. Born and Raised (Reprise)