The First Impression series is where we review new albums in just one take. Going track-by-track, we break down the entire project and rate it because we all know first impressions mean everything.
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John Mayer’s new album Sob Rock has been in the making for a long time. Figuratively and literally.
His last record, The Search for Everything, was released in April 2017 making this four year period a wait that was long enough to warrant a new record. At the same time, Mayer has been giving fans a taste of the record ever since he released “New Light” in 2018. He followed that up with the release of “I Guess I Just Feel Like” in February 2019 and “Carry Me Away” in September 2019.
Now that Sob Rock has finally arrived, it’s time to find out our first impression and go through a track-by-track breakdown as we go inside the latest studio album from John Mayer.
The album opens with the song “Last Train Home,” a track that sets the tone for the entire album. Both the song and the music video are a straight flashback to the ‘80s. It’s Toto meets The Breakfast Club as the song is complete with synth stabs and slick guitar. In fact, Mayer recruited two former members of Toto as Greg Phillinganes plays the synth while Lenny Castro lends his hand on percussion. Country star Maren Morris also makes her first of three appearances on the record providing background vocals on “Last Train Home.”
In true John Mayer fashion, he follows up the upbeat opener with a song about heartbreak. “Shouldn’t Matter But It Does” opens with Mayer confessing his list of should haves. “Shoulda been open/Shoulda done more/Shoulda learned a lesson from the year before/Shoulda been honest/Shoulda just cried/Shoulda told me there was nothing left inside,” he sings.
The aforementioned “New Light” picks up the pace as tinges of disco are abound throughout the whole song. The music video has a phenomenal backstory as well. Mayer opened up about it on Instagram saying that he needed to make a video for the song, but no one could agree on a budget. Instead of abandoning the project, he went to a company that does birthday and Bar Mitzvah videos to make it.
The twangy “Why You No Love Me” follows as Mayer once again goes breaking our hearts. The soft rock sound wouldn’t sound out of place on an ‘80s playlist of a similar vein. Maren Morris provides back up vocals on the song as acclaimed pedal steel guitar player Greg Leisz lends his talents as well.
Mayer’s prolific guitar playing is especially prevalent on the next two tracks as “Wild Blue” and “Shot in the Dark” serve as highlights for any listener that was drawn in by his talents on guitar.
Fans have already had a long time to digest the next track “I Guess I Just Feel Like.” It’s a terrific song on its own accord, but it fills in beautifully within the context of the album. On second thought, “I Guess I Just Feel Like” can be added to the list of songs on the record where Mayer’s guitar stands out. The influence from his time with Dead & Company is clear as his guitar sets the emotion for the track.
“Til the Right One Comes” will whisk you away to a beachside cabana. Its breezy sound is like sipping sangria while watching the sun set in Mallorca. Perfect for the summer.
The next track, “Carry Me Away,” is another track Mayer fans have had for some time. The song is pretty introspective as Mayer seemingly yearns for adventure singing “I'm such a bore, I'm such a bummer/There must be more behind the summer/I want someone to make some trouble/Been way too safe inside my bubble, oh/Take me out and keep me up all night/Let me live on the wilder side of the light.”
Sob Rock concludes much like the way prom does in the ‘80s with “All I Want Is to Be With You.” A song where you wrap your arms around your partner as you two sway side-by-side with a curiosity about where things go from here.
There’s a sense of familiarity that comes with Sob Rock. Perhaps it’s an effort on Mayer’s behalf of telling his Millennial and Gen Z listeners, yes, your parents' Toto records are actually cool.
That’s too simple though. Still, Mayer crafts an incredibly nostalgic feel with all aspects of the album. From the music, the visuals, and even “The Nice Price” sticker (a label CBS Records used when re-releasing classic best sellers at a lower price) on the album cover, this album drips in sentimentality for days past.
At the same time, it’s incredibly original. Mayer’s songwriting talents are on full display once again as he proves he can take whatever sound he wants and make it his own. As we look forward to seeing Mayer perform these songs on tour in 2022, Sob Rock shows that Mayer has no qualms about diving head first into ‘80s nostalgia, but doing it in his own way.
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