It’s interesting to think back to over twelve years ago when many of us first heard the music of John Mayer. Fresh-faced and innocent he would become yet another staple in the emergence of acoustic rock joining the likes of Dave Matthews and Jack Johnson. Unlike the aforementioned songwriters, Mayer grabbed as many headlines for his off-stage activities as he did for his music. Controversial interviews and high-profile arm candy may have acted as distractions for critics and fans. But on his fifth studio album Born and Raised, Mayer aims to strike those public perceptions and regain focus on his music. If you’re ready to listen, you’ll find that these songs are some of his best yet.

Is John Mayer the STING of the 00's? Perhaps, in the sense that he is capable of producing consistent, well-produced albums, each with several very appealing songs that combine world-class songcraft with great playing. Accomplishing that is much easier said than done, but Mayer gets it done on Continuum.