He's got the blues

John Mayer - "Continuum"

Do you remember the grandiose "Your body is a wonderland"? Four years ago, a young American with a distinctive soul voice entered the charts and especially the concert halls with this cuddly single - the live qualities of the singer, guitarist and songwriter John Mayer are legendary. Why was the boy with the Babyface for a long time only as an insider tip, is inexplicable. It could not have been the quality, because in the USA he released six times US Platinum and two Grammys, the most important music awards in the world, with his first two studio albums "Room for Squares" and "Heavier Things". But as Mr. Mayer himself says, "With every trilogy, it's the third part that matters."

Accordingly, the now 28-year-old brings these days with his "Continuum" his third album on the market. And that certainly has the potential for the big breakthrough. The record abounds with excellently played R'nB and shows - according to the title - which change the American has gone through. In particular, the first single release "Wanting on the world to change" is an attempt to explain the attitude of his generation on the subject of politics: "It should bring a little clarity on why largely inertia and inactivity prevail," says John Mayer.

In order to make his songs seem clear and structured, the singer takes out the speed in almost every song, only a few pieces go out of John. This is a bit of a pity, as one knows from the already mentioned live gigs, how much the American can sink into wild guitars and entrain the audience. This shortcoming, however, makes up for pearls such as "The Heart of Life". Close your eyes to the sounds of the song - you almost have the feeling of lying on a sunny Hawaiian beach in a hammock and taking a break from everyday life. Real gems are also songs like "Gravity", which John calls himself the perhaps "most important song [...] I've ever written". "Dreaming With A Broken Heart" or "Vultures" are also included. With these, but also with all other songs, the following applies: The man has soul and blues. This, in combination with sophisticated and sophisticated lyrics, makes John Mayer one of the best and most modern singers worldwide.

Carla Bruni - "No Promises"

Through tons of poetry, Carla Bruni rummaged before she found the right lyrics for the songs of her new album "No Promises". The former model has taken on Emily Dickinson's "I went to Heaven," where she feels it has just been written. "I can not believe it's more than a hundred years old," she muses. "When I delve into the lyrics, I think: 'Emily Dickinson just woke up and wrote down her dream.'" How well these set dreams sound is indescribable: The dark melancholic voice of Carla Bruni is superficial in all songs, The simple guitar sound makes the pieces sound pure - and above all they convey such deep relaxation that it is best to cuddle up and dream in the armchair with a good glass of red wine.

Marlango - "Automatic Imperfection"

What a wonderfully melancholic album. The Spanish trio of singer, pianist and trumpeter delivers with "Automatic Imperfection" a sometimes gloomy, worn-out record. The style of Marlango could be confidently called blues-soaked soft jazz - the voice of singer Leonor Watling flatters the ear. The twelve songs are reminiscent of the classical music education of the band members - the piano-based songs are built up by orchestral accompaniment to pearls with very beautiful melodies. Just the thing for a stormy winter day!

Finkenauer - "Best World"

Finkenauer? Is not that the guy who recorded the song "On Days Like This" with Fettes Brot? Exactly that! However, Pascal Finkenauer is no longer a stranger to inveterate music fans. After his self-titled album from 2004, the eloquent man now lays down with his record "Best World". The result is a varied CD, which brings all music styles from R'n'B, Rock to Swing. Time and again in the foreground: the piano, which perfectly stages the diverse emotions such as suffering, euphoria and despondency. Special Schmankl is the song "shards" - heartbreaking beautiful!

Sam Myers - I Got The Blues (April 2024).