Although John Mayer’s later work is somewhat lacking in originality, Room for Squares remains a high point in his musical career. In 2014, Mayer shared an acoustic cover of Beyoncé’s XO on his SoundCloud account. This is the closest thing to Room for Squares we have heard since, and it is beautiful.
Many of Mayer’s most celebrated tracks come off this album, perhaps the most famous of which is the über romantic, Your Body is a Wonderland. Mayer’s history with more than a few A-list stars is unsurprising in light of the lyrical and vocal abilities displayed on this song. Mayer has an incredible ability to combine rhythmic acoustic guitar with minimal percussion to create an instrumental that works equally well as background music and as an interesting focused listen. Lyrically, Room for Squares consists of such relatable lyrics that listeners may feel that they know the singer on a personal level after listening.
The wonderful thing about this album is that it doesn’t try to be anything other than what it is. The lyrics have a personal feel to them, and the instrumentation is uncomplicated despite its excellent execution. The album consists of electric and acoustic guitar, percussion played at a satisfyingly consistent tempo and intermittent bass melodies. Mayer’s vocal is often layered with beautiful harmonies that create a musical depth in the album.
A personal favourite moment on the album is the layering of the lyric “I’m never speaking up again” over the final two verses in Your Body is a Wonderland. It is always nice to see little moments of continuity in an album as they tie it together to create a musical journey or story in the album.
St Patrick’s Day is home to some of my favourite lyrics on the album. “Your cheeks a shade of pink, and the rest of you is powder blue”. The realism of this song is refreshing. It speaks of the transience of relationship and the loneliness of adult life without one. Somehow, Mayer manages to do this without delving into anything too depressing. The ¾ time of the song keeps it soothing and this is the mood of the album as a whole.
Neon is memorable for its catchy electric guitar riff that runs throughout the song.Not Myself is another great track on Room for Squares and features a beautifully repetitive and catchy vocal melody as well as an acoustic riff and rhythm that follow the shape of the lyrics flawlessly. There is something very satisfying about the subtle introductions, interesting bodies and well-timed conclusions of the songs on this album. It is a moment of calm in a world of music that is anxiously trying too hard.
There is definitely something to be said of Mayer’s musicianship as both a vocalist and a guitarist. The combination of these two elements creates a beautiful fusion throughout Room for Squares that is missing in Mayer’s later offerings. Room for Squares is adult alternative at its very best due to its simplicity and excellence. It is my hope that John Mayer will return to his roots in his future albums.
