Quick Song Review: If I Ever Get Around To Living, John Mayer

On his latest release, John Mayer channels his inner Neil Young and creates an album that sounds as much a part of the musical landscape from the early 70's as it does from the early 2010's. Mayer, a guitar giant in modern music, draws from the past to create music that will last. Every track speaks to this looking back in order to see what will come. The lead single "Shadow Days" declares "I'm a good man with a good heart, had a tough time, got a rough start. But I finally learned to let it go." "Queen of California" name drops Young and opens with "Goodbye cold, goodbye rain, goodbye sorrow, and goodbye shame." On "If I Ever Get Around To Living", Mayer speaks to the next step in the emotional process embedded in this album.

The song starts with simply strumming reminiscent of Young's "Old Man" from his album Harvest. In fact, both songs are very similar in music and lyrics. Acoustic strumming takes center stage to a backing band of drums, bass, electric guitar, and slide guitar. Both artist sing with backing vocals that not only echo their sound but their message as well. Both Young and Mayer are on the cusp of a new stage in their life and they are reflecting on it. Young addresses an elder who lived on the ranch he bought. Mayer speaks to us, the audience, and lets us into his head space for five minutes and twenty two seconds.

I highly recommend accepting Mayer's invitation and stepping in. It is a song you can tap your foot along to while you think about if you will ever get around to living.