Where the Light Is: Live In Los Angeles - John Mayer (Sony BMG)

CD review A dense, two-hour reaffirmation of Mayer's redoubtable skill, both as a guitarist and songwriter, writes Katie Boucher.

With his Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Aniston dalliances recently filling tabloid inches, it is easy to forget that John Mayer plays the guitar, but this double album is a dense, two-hour reaffirmation of the 31-year-old's redoubtable skill, both as a guitarist and songwriter. Split into three sections, the first is an acoustic set of folksy guitar solos, the second a trio set of moody, jazz-tinged blues, and the third a band set of carefully crafted rock anthems. Guitar solos can be wearing, but Mayer manages to fill the stage with soaring melodies, poetic lyrics (mostly about dysfunctional relationships - Jessica must have done a number on him) and smoking guitar riffs. From the falsetto pitch and Hendrix-esque chords of Vultures to the life-affirming notes of Waiting on the World to Change and The Heart of Life, Mayer excels on stage to rapturous applause. It is during his masterful final set of rock laced with funk, when he really comes into his own, building to a pulsating crescendo in I Don't Trust Myself (With Loving You). Bar the overlong spoken word confessional Bold as Love, this is a magnificent album which will gratify Mayer's fans and have his sceptics eating their words.
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