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THE BATTALION
Page 3
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Make room for Mayer
John Mayer talks about his new release, Room for Squares
By John Salerno
THE BATTALION
If you are trying to get where you are
going, you sometimes have to leave the
things and people you are comfortable with
behind and move on to the next step, singer-
song writer John Mayer said.
Mayer has become familiar with this
feeling in the past few years as his career
began to take off rapidly, he said. The
Fairfield. Conn., native first moved to
Boston. Mass., where he attended the
Berklee College of Music for a year before
deciding that he preferred to play music
rather than learn about it. he said.
"I should probably have never gone to
Berklee, from most people's standpoint,” he
said. "I'm at the point now to where 1 can
file it under, ‘You did what you had to do,’
but at the time, 1 don't think
it was the best tiling to do
because 1 wasn’t pre
class. So
stock in
weren’t
my stock
that class
pared to go t<
I put all m\
things that
class. I put al
in those time
was built
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOHNMAYER.COM
so I didn’t use it for what I should have used
it for. But I guess it’s debatable as to
whether I was either a genius or really, real
ly stupid,” Mayer said.
After the decision to begin playing
music, Mayer moved — this time to
Atlanta, Ga. It was there that he found a
more lively music scene and the opportuni
ty to play his music for people who enjoyed
listening to it.
Mayer later played at the South By
Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas,
and was approached by several music
labels. He signed with Aware/Colurnbia
Records and released his first major label
record. Room For Squares.
“I think it’s way ahead of schedule, and
it’s silly,” Mayer said of his quick success.
"I'm 24 years old and I should have gotten
out of Berklee this spring if l were to have
stayed for four years, and I would just be
starting to make my first or second demo
right now. It doesn't happen this fast for
most people, and 1 feel like, to do a service
for those people, that I can't just act like this
is run of the mill, because it’s not. So I have
to do right by it."
With the release of the album ami an
intense touring schedule, Mayer has
“done right."
"At live shows. I try to show-
people that things can go any
where, even out of my own
mmediate control." Mayer
said. “I think if I were
completely in control of
my faculties, that is to
say if 1 knew/
^ how to get
those great
nights, it
wouldn’t be
as fun.
When peo
ple see things
It a p p e n i n g
live that they
know are
happening
at that
moment. I
think that
that’s really, really fun for them to expe
rience.”
If given a choice, Mayer said he prefers
studio work over live shows.
“In the studio, you can paint,” he said.
“With live shows, you only have one color
at a time, but in the studio you have a whole
box of crayons. That hurts some people to
have that much access to that much color,
but I don’t think that it hurts me. I like the
raw, creative part of being in the studio.”
Before the studio work can take place, an
even more raw/ process must occur for
Mayer to create his songs.
“My love is playing the guitar and
freestyling,” Mayer said. “The freestyling is
the pure jolt that keeps me in this. I can go
home after a tour of six weeks and just
freestyle and be so in love with it. So |the
songwriting process] always starts with
playing the guitar and imagining that this is
my new- song. It always starts out with a gui
tar part and a melody, everything t>ut the
lyrics. For the lyrics, |the emphasis] isn't
about the meaning of the w/ords but the
sound of the words. 1 like the words to just
grow out of the music.”
Mayer's love of the guitar stems from his
early exposure to a single Stevie Ray Vaughn
cassette, he said. Mayer said he knew there
was something in the music that he wanted
to be a part of, but he realized that he could
not imitate someone else.
“There was a lot of figuring out what my
true instincts were and what my influences
were,” Mayer said. “You can assimilate your
influences into your instincts, but if your
influences are actually imposing and infring
ing on your instincts, then you’re a hack.”
Mayer decided that the influence of the
great blues guitarists would remain only an
influence. He moved away from their style
of playing and lias focused on melody,
rhythm and the conciseness of his songs.
“For me to have taken all that music in
and to have revered it so much, but then to
deny myself the ability to say that this is
the writer that I really am — l couldn’t do
it for that long,” Mayer said. “It was just a
matter of realizing what was my real voice
as a writer. For me, it’s about the expres
siveness of the song.”
V>LCJlViE
CONTROL
John Mayer
Room for
Squares
Sony Music
John
Mayer’s Room
For Squares opens with the
upbeat “No Such Thing,” but lis
teners still find seeds of doubt
and uncertainty about life and
love. These themes surface
throughout the album, but they
are not meant to bring the listen
er down. The title of the album
suggests that these are problems
people frequently face, and they
can take comfort in hearing
Mayer sing, "I just found out
there’s no such thing as the real
world, just a lie you’ve got to rise
above.”
Mayer himself has commented
on the “seasonality” of the songs
on the album, that is, they are
arranged so that as the album
progresses, the day slowly turns
from morning to night and from
warmth to coldness.
The songs take on new layers
of maturity as the album pro
gresses. “Why Georgia” is
Mayer’s personal question of
how the course of his young life
led him (£) Atlanta, GH, but we
can all find in it our own ques
tions of how we ended up
where we are.
The funky blues sound of
“Neon” evokes the red-light
atmosphere of less savory parts
of town and the excitement of
being involved with the nightlife.
The electric edge of “City Love"
appeals to Mayer’s older guitar
influences like Stevie Ray Vaughn,
and in the track we see a man
who has begun to re-evaluate life
in a big city in the context of a
new-found love.
And now that night has fallen on
the album, it enters the cold and
lonesome world of those who seek
more than they have. The album
ends with “St. Patrick's Day,” a
rich, dark and extremely mature
track that makes perfect use of
Mayer’s moody voice, as a couple
finds excuses to remain together,
at least until the song’s title.
With a combination of acoustic
and electric blues rock, honest
and touching lyrics, and an
evocative voice that reaches chill
ing highs and lows within a mat
ter of syllables, Room For
Squares is one of the most
impressive debuts. (Grade: A)
— John Salerno
Can you tell me how they deter
mine if a school is Division 1-A or
Division 1-AA? Someone told me it
is the size of the stadium ... is that
true? (I thought it was the size of
the school.)
— Courtney Bell
No, the difference between
Division 1A and Division 1-AA is not
the size of the stadium. It is deter
mined by the size of the school and
how well they compete with schools
in their division. This is all deter
mined by the NCAA. If a school
wants to move into a bigger divi
sion, they must apply to the NCAA.
Good question Courtney.
Thanks!
SATTALIO!
idy Creel
ror in Chief
r@thebatt.com
1055-4726) is pubMft
sy during the fell ant! fl
ty through TtuiisdayitoifP
sept University hoft!a|S
is A&M University. Per;;';
tge Station, W 77840. &
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iws department is man#!
1 University in the D#
rnit of the DepaiWJ
is are in 014 Reed W :
'hone: 845-3313; fat ^
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i
i of advertising does nfl'";
ament by 7/ie Baffili)!
tional display adverts#;
id advertising, call 845^ :
in 015 Reed McDwah
i. to 5 p.m. Monday IW
of the Student Senas ^
A student to pick up a#
rst copy free, additional®':
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tester, $17.50 fortes*®'
charge by Visa, Master-
press, call 845-2611.
Use The NEW West Side Entrance!
• Easy Access!—The Rec Center is open as usual, please exer
cise caution around the construction site in front of the Rec
Center and Welbourn Rd. On-campus students are encour
aged to use the bus system to get to the Rec Center. Rec
Members may enter the Rec Center through the Backyard
West Side Entrance (facing Reed Arena) Monday—Friday
from 11:30am-11 :OOpm.
Get Results With Fitness & Classes
•BORED with your workout? Try a unique fitness class!
Body Blaster—This total workout session is offered 5 times a week!
Rec Cycle I/II/I 11—Whatever your fitness level there is a session for you!
•HALF PRICE SALE—Unlimited Fitness Passes—Only $25, avail
able at Member Services. You will have unlimited access to
over 90 fitness offerings a week! Aggiebucks Accepted!
•Personal Training Sessions—Check out our competitive rates
starting at $30 for two sessions for one person. We also offer
partner rates. Drop by Member Services to sign up today.
Before The Semester Is Over!
Fall Days With Golf
Explore With TAMU Outdoors
•GET INVOLVED!-College Football Bowl Challenge—Register
at Member Services for this FREE program December 3rd-11 th.
Get Your Sport On With Sport Clubs
• Interested in competitive sports?
Check out httpy/reesports.tamu.edu/SportClubs
• Discover Us On Campus—Pro shop hours are from dawn till
dusk, seven days a week. Tee times are taken one week in
advance. Friday's and weekend tee times fill up fast, so call
early to reserve your time. Golf carts, pull carts and rental clubs
are available for nine or eighteen holes. The TAMU Golf
Course also has handicapping service available through the
USGA.
• Golf Lessons—Single and group lessons available for begin
ners to those looking to improve skills. Rates are a very
competitive $30 per individual lesson or $50 per group les
son. Discounts are available for 3 lessons or more. Contact
Rick Kahlich at 845-1723 for more information.
Open to the public! We are located on the southside of the
A&M campus. Call the Pro Shop at 845-1723 & visit us online.
Make a Splash With Aquatics
•Use Your World Class Facilities!—Take advantage of these first
class facilities available to you all day long. Check out the
Natatorium with Olympic size pools, dive into a water aerobics
class in our instructional pool or relax in one of our hot tubs.
•FREE!-The Polar Bear Club—The Tolar Bear Club' is our self-
paced aquatics fitness program. To sign up ask ANY aquatics
staff member. After completion of 100 miles or 100 hours of
workout—you will be inducted into the club—great prizes will
be given away in May 2002.
•NEW-MASTERS Swim Program/Polar Bear Club—This pro
gram has workouts that are tailored to meet the individual's
goals. Morning and evening practice times are offered as well
as a Saturday workout. $50 for 25 workout passes.
Upcoming Event
Rock Climbing Day Trip
Intro Climbing Clinic
Winter Break Event
Wilderness First Responder
Registration
Now—Nov. 6
Now-Nov. 7
Registration
Now-Dec. 7
Event Date
Nov. 10
Nov. 11
Event Date
Jan. 3-—Jan. 11
Program cost is $475 w/o lodging and $525 w/lodging. Please visit TAMU Outdoors for
more information about this trip.
•Plan To Escape Now!-SPRING BREAK IN COSTA RICA—Enjoy
hiking, mountain biking, horseback* riding, rafting and
kayaking on this 8 day/7 night adventure. Please drop by
TAMU Outdoors to secure your spot with a deposit or attend
an informational meeting on Nov. 14th at 7pm in 228 MSC.
•Rio Grande Thanksgiving Trip—Join TAMU Outdoors for a
Thanksgiving Break and get away from it all on the Rio
Grande River.We will canoe the scenic wilderness of West
Texas, hike through side canyons, explore the desert and
sleep under the stars. Register through November 9th, you
will travel November 21—25th. Price starts at $241 for Rec
Members.
NEW & Improved Website Soon!
•Everything You Need To Know About Recreation...—Will soon
be presented to you in a new, improved way. Our new web site
has been designed to allow you to get to the information you
need quickly and easily! You can find information about all six
areas of Rec Sports including schedule of events, registration
information, hours of operation, team standings and more!