A Review: John Mayer and The Search for Everything...found.

It doesn't surprise me that my future-second husband, John Mayer is what it took to inspire me to write again. His new album titled: "The Search for Everything" has been partially released as Wave One and delivers solace, beauty, introspection and the kind of ethereal longing and living true fans have come to know him for.

I watched live on Facebook when he answered questions and spoke about what and why he is here now singing from this active voice of love and growth. He didn't answer anything I asked, but that is par for me.

The four songs on Wave One have everything you (read: I) could need. To me, it feels like a cross between Battle Studies, (but less over-produced and more authentic.) and Room for Squares.  Don't get me wrong, I love Battle Studies; but I love his true voice as-is rather than when it gets a bit remastered. I'm the gal that likes to hear his pauses, the breath in-take and the little grovels that appear and disappear like tides in the ocean of effervescence in his voice.

The weight is like that of Battle Studies, but it has the depth and "balls-out" energy of his early days in 2001's album "Room for Squares." His music, nearly sixteen years later, solidly stands in that initial innocence of purity, or how I see it, the rediscovered awakened innocence of having lived, loved, lost and learned more.

"Moving on and Getting Over" has the funk of his insatiable hunger for true jazz and blues but he manages to keep it commercial enough for the masses that don't appreciate how hard and dirty some of the true blues he's played and pulled off like the old-timers. The song is a bit forlorn, yet anthemic and feels like you've just put on that cherished old sweet-smelly sweater you thought you had lost. I love it. I play it on repeat while practicing my recurve bow and arrow or when I'm trying not to cry in the shower.

"Changing" has the whiny-guitar folksy sound that only he resonates. It starts out like a singer-songwriter's dream and then smacks you with his magical fingers manipulating the guitar and your heart. His ability to write music that speaks love and affirmation astounds me. "I am not done...changing." are words to live by whether you are nine or ninety. It is a permissive song to himself, but also to those of us who find our lives toggling between thirty and forty and taking stock unapologetically making tweaks to see what serves our purpose best.

"Love on the Weekend" will be the first chart-topper. He released this one when he did the live Q&A on Facebook. It's pop-y, but still stands true to his voice and melody of Continiuum and some songs off my favorite album of all times: "Born and Raised." He sings with adoration and that lust-drunk place when you finally love yourself enough to share that love with someone else. It's catchy and happy and 100% John Mayer. Listen for it, you'll be slow-dancing with someone or making love to it in the near future...on some weekend, no less.

"You're Gonna Live Forever In Me" is a song that sounds like he merged with Billy Joel, Nick Drake, and channeled some Simon and Garfunkel. The lyricism is poetic.  The scratchy strained voice is wholesome and melancholic whilst still staying in that contemplative upbeat place of walking through New York City with both hands in pockets, whistling in surrender with a touch of hope.

There is no good reason, arguably, or otherwise, NOT to buy, listen to and love this first portion of "The Search for Everything." There just isn't. If you can't relate or connect with either the words, perfect musicality or vibration he is putting out into the world then your soul is perhaps in the lemming-line of false music or just lost...your soul is lost.

Let it be found here with him.

John, I love you the way a child loves a teddy bear that got them through life's ugliness and awkward days. Your voice teaches me, hurts me, and heals me...it always has. I feel like I grew up with you since your first album and now, still, in the single, somedays-very sad new life I'm forging, you bring sound-snuggles and light. Thank you.


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"Shimmer with a smile. Life is hard, bloom anyway."