After two successful albums ‘Room for Squares’ (2001) and ‘Heavier Things’ (2003), 28-year-old Mayer comes out with his most soulful effort to date. It also incorporates soft funk, R & B, folk and pop in a sound that is totally owned by Mayer.

At first listen the laid back tone gets to you after a while seeming dull and monotonous, but singer – guitarist wizard Mayer who was always written off as a Dave Mathews wannabe gives off a fairly decent offering of soul into his peculiar style of blues. Himesh Reshamiya has company for the slightly nasal singing style Mayer, is well sung, melodic and impeccably well orchestrated.

The best of the 12 would be the balladic jazz effect in Belief and Gravity, to songs of war in Waiting on the world to change. Damaged relationships are talked about in I Don’t trust myself (with loving you), Slow dancing in a burning room, Heart of life and Dreaming with a broken heart, while Vultures has some great falsetto choruses that is a must hear. Thus it can be said that Mayer ‘continues’ to mesmerize.

Tune in. Lyrics included.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira