John Mayer: Paradise Valley [COLUMBIA]

Why you'll love it

This is a 180g pressing with a printed inner sleeve. Paradise Valley debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 145,560 copies sold in its first week.

This edition

• 180g vinyl
• Printed inner sleeve
• Lyrics included

About the album

Some albums are named after a mood; this one is named after a mailing address. In 2012 John Mayer settled along the Yellowstone River in Montana's Paradise Valley, and the record that followed sounds like it: unhurried, sunlit and played by people in no rush to be anywhere else. Mayer promoted it with a performance of "Wildfire" on the Late Show with David Letterman and a full Live on Letterman concert the same night.

Mayer co-produced with Don Was, and the band is first-rate: Chuck Leavell on keys, Paul Franklin's pedal steel recorded in Nashville, Aaron Sterling on drums and Sean Hurley on bass. "Wildfire" rolls along like a summer drive, "Paper Doll" was the lead single, and "Who You Love" is a warm duet with Katy Perry. Frank Ocean adds Wurlitzer and vocals to a short "Wildfire" of his own, and Mayer tips his hat to the J.J. Cale classic "Call Me the Breeze."

Following on from Born and Raised, it trades harmonica for more electric guitar, with Mayer's playing kept generous but never showy. Best heard on a porch, though a Toronto balcony in July will do nicely in a pinch.

Also at Kops: more John Mayer on vinyl · browse Singer-Songwriter

Tracklist

Listen

On Columbia (cat# 88883 75648 1), the 2013 album.