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==Reception==
==Reception==
===Commercial performance===
===Commercial performance===
The album debuted at number 1 on the U.S. [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, selling 286,000 copies in its first week.<ref>Sisario, Ben. [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/arts/music/26arts-JOHNMAYERISN_BRF.html John Mayer Is No. 1 in Pre-Holiday Week]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.</ref> In its second week, it sold an additional 93,000 copies and fell to number 13 on the chart.<ref>Sisario, Ben. [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/arts/music/03sales.html Susan Boyle, Top Seller, Shakes Up CD Trends]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.</ref> On December 9, 2009, ''Battle Studies'' was certified [[RIAA certification|gold]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] and as of of February 2010, has sold 792,000 copies in the U.S.<ref name="Herrera">Herrera, Monica. [http://www.billboard.com/#/news/john-mayer-s-sexually-racially-charged-playboy-1004066337.story "John Mayer's Sexually, Racially Charged Playboy Interview Sparks Outrage"]. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. February 10, 2010.</ref>.<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web| url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Battle%20Studies&artist=John%20Mayer&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25| title=RIAA Gold and Platinum Database Search| accessdate=2010-01-15}}</ref>
The album debuted at number 1 on the U.S. [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, selling 286,000 copies in its first week.<ref>Sisario, Ben. [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/arts/music/26arts-JOHNMAYERISN_BRF.html John Mayer Is No. 1 in Pre-Holiday Week]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.</ref> In its second week, it sold an additional 93,000 copies and fell to number 13 on the chart.<ref>Sisario, Ben. [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/arts/music/03sales.html Susan Boyle, Top Seller, Shakes Up CD Trends]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.</ref> On December 9, 2009, ''Battle Studies'' was certified [[RIAA certification|gold]] in sales by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]], following sales in excess of 500,000 copies in the United States.<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web| url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Battle%20Studies&artist=John%20Mayer&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25| title=RIAA Gold and Platinum Database Search| accessdate=2010-01-15}}</ref> As of February 2010, it has sold 792,000 copies in the U.S.<ref name="Herrera">Herrera, Monica. [http://www.billboard.com/#/news/john-mayer-s-sexually-racially-charged-playboy-1004066337.story "John Mayer's Sexually, Racially Charged Playboy Interview Sparks Outrage"]. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. February 10, 2010.</ref>


===Critical response===
===Critical response===

Revision as of 20:14, 11 February 2010

Untitled

Battle Studies is the fourth studio album by American rock musician John Mayer, released November 17, 2009 on Columbia Records in the United States. Recording sessions for the album took place during February to August 2009 at Battle Studies in Calabasas, California, Capitol Studios in Hollywood, California, and The Village in West Los Angeles, California. Production was handled by Mayer and Steve Jordan. The album debuted at number 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 286,000 copies in its first week. Upon its release, Battle Studies received generally mixed to positive reviews from most music critics.

Background

During a live performance in June of 2009 Mayer said, "The album is called Battle Studies and that's because it incorporates a lot of the lessons, a lot of the observations, and a little bit of advice. Like a handbook, like a heartbreak handbook."[1] On October 1, 2009, Mayer posted via twitter: "Track listing on Battle Studies is complete! Very interesting order... 11 songs. 45 minutes. Hit 'em hard and get out."[2]

The album was leaked just hours before Mayer was scheduled to perform an official "radio leak" on 103.7 Sophie in San Diego.[3] However, Mayer gave his listeners permission to download the leak, as long as they "registered" their copies by ordering the album.[4]

Mayer will hit the road in 2010 on his Battle Studies World Tour. The tour begins on February 4, 2010 in Sunrise, FL at the Bank Atlantic Center and ends on June 2, 2010 in Amsterdam, NL at the Heineken Music Hall.

Singles

Noted on John Mayer's official Twitter profile, "Who Says" is the first single off the album.[5] It was released for preview September 25, 2009 at www.johnmayer.com. The official release for the single was October 13, 2009. The second single was "Heartbreak Warfare", which began being previewed on October 19, 2009. The first ever augmented reality video accompanies the second single, which was released on the same date on Mayer's website.[6]

Reception

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 286,000 copies in its first week.[7] In its second week, it sold an additional 93,000 copies and fell to number 13 on the chart.[8] On December 9, 2009, Battle Studies was certified gold in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America, following sales in excess of 500,000 copies in the United States.[9] As of February 2010, it has sold 792,000 copies in the U.S.[10]

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[11]
The Boston Globe(favorable)[12]
Entertainment Weekly(B-)[13]
Los Angeles Times[14]
New York Times(mixed)[15]
PopMatters(6/10)[16]
Rolling Stone[17]
Slant[18]
Sputnikmusic[19]
Washington Post(unfavorable)[20]

Upon its release, Battle Studies received generally mixed to positive reviews from most music critics, based on an aggregate score of 64/100 from Metacritic.[21] Billboard magazine called Battle Studies "the best and most adventurous of his four studio albums".[22] Despite stating that "Mayer dips too heavily toward the texture", Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album 3½ out of 5 stars and commended Mayer for his musicianship.[11] The Boston Globe's Sarah Rodman wrote favorably of Mayer's intimate expression on the album and wrote that he "continues to strip away the twinkly radio lacquer of his earlier work without sacrificing his pop sensibilities".[12] Jackie Hayden of Hot Press gave Battle Studies a rating of 3.5/5 and called it a "classy pop opus for grown-ups".[23] Los Angeles Times writer Randy Lewis gave it 2½ out of 4 stars and praised its production and Mayer's melodies.[14] However, Lewis viewed its lyrical content as subpar to its music and wrote that "For the most part, he expresses himself more eloquently through his guitar than his lyrics".[14] The Independent writer Andy Gill gave Battle Studies 3 out of 5 stars and found its lyrical detail "ultimately tiresome".[24]

Sputnikmusic critic Alex Silveri viewed Mayer's songwriting depth as flawed and called the album "about as scholastically violent as a bunny in a pile of hay".[19] However, Silveri commended Mayer for his "knack for dealing with universal themes in thoroughly down to earth ways, and without the layering of pop cheese that so many of his contemporaries indulge in".[19] Despite writing favorably of the album's craftsmanship, Rolling Stone's Jody Rosen gave it 3 out of 5 stars and perceived the subject matter's seriousness as a weakness.[17] Entertainment Weekly critic Leah Greenblatt gave Battle Studies a B- rating and shared a similar sentiment, writing "Mostly, he noodles amiably toward Studies' conclusion, apparently content to stay within the confines of the Dave Matthews/Jason Mraz (and yes, John Mayer) sensitive-dude rock template. In this Battle, it seems, one side never really stood a chance".[13] The New York Post's Dan Aquilante called it a "gritless record that’s too smooth for its own good" and gave it 2½ stars.[25] USA Today's Edna Gundersen gave the album 2½ out of 4 stars and wrote "While his guitar chops are impeccable on this well-crafted blues-pop album, the gravity and cautious noodling cry out for some input from that other Mayer: his cunning, irreverent public persona".[26]

Both Slant Magazine's Jonathan Keefe and The Washington Post's Allison Stewart gave the album generally negative reviews and panned Mayer's stylistic choice for Battle Studies.[18][20] Chicago Sun-Times critic Jim DeRogatis gave the album ½ out of 4 stars, stating "Laden with laughable romantic-schlock lyrics and trite, sappy melodies, these songs aim for the pathos of classic Carpenters but come closer to maudlin Barry Manilow".[27] Tom Hughes of The Guardian gave it 2 out of 5 stars and wrote "Mayer's talents are obvious, but there's so much more cheese than charm here that he would seem like a hard sell outside the Billboard heartland".[28] The Village Voice columnist Zach Baron stated that it "somehow avoids including any of the myriad things that actually make John Mayer interesting".[29] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times wrote that "the album highlights the extremely blatant chasm between John Mayer the musician and John Mayer the public character, a divide Mr. Mayer said he was eager to maintain".[15]

Track listing

All songs written by John Mayer, except where noted.

  1. "Heartbreak Warfare" – 4:30
  2. "All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye" – 4:35
  3. "Half of My Heart" (with Taylor Swift) – 4:10
  4. "Who Says" – 2:56
  5. "Perfectly Lonely" – 4:28
  6. "Assassin" – 5:14
  7. "Crossroads" (Robert Johnson cover) – 2:29
  8. "War of My Life" – 4:15
  9. "Edge of Desire" – 5:32
  10. "Do You Know Me" – 2:30
  11. "Friends, Lovers or Nothing" – 5:59
iTunes bonus track version
  2. "I'm on Fire" (Bruce Springsteen cover) – 2:52

Personnel

Additional personnel
  • Jeri Heiden – art direction; graphic design
  • Albert Watson – photography
  • Gari Askew – photography
  • Carlos Hurtado – tracking

Chart history

Chart positions and certifications
Chart (2009) Providers Peak
position 		Certification Sales
Billboard 200 Billboard 1 Gold[9] 792,000[10]
Australian Albums Chart ARIA 3 Gold
Canadian Albums Chart Nielsen SoundScan 4
Danish Albums Chart IFPI Danmark & ACNielsen AIM A/S 7
German Albums Chart [30] IFPI 39
Irish Albums Chart IRMA 48
Swedish Albums Chart Sverigetopplistan 5
UK Albums Chart The Official Charts Company 35
New Zealand Albums Chart RIANZ 11
Netherlands Top 100 Albums Chart GfK Mega Charts 1 Gold
Chart procession and succession
Preceded by U.S. Billboard 200 number-one album
December 5, 2009 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTZZ76vqV7U#t=5m2s
  2. ^ http://twitter.com/johncmayer/status/4540383246
  3. ^ http://tryjm.com/2009/11/battle-studies-to-stream-live-on-radio-sophie/
  4. ^ http://twitter.com/johncmayer/status/5572615215
  5. ^ "John Mayer on Twitter: "Battles Studies will be released..."". Twitter.com. 2009-08-24. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
  6. ^ "John Mayer releases first music video to use augmented reality, "Heartbreak Warfare" - VIDEO HERE". examiner.com. 2009-10-19. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
  7. ^ Sisario, Ben. John Mayer Is No. 1 in Pre-Holiday Week. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.
  8. ^ Sisario, Ben. Susan Boyle, Top Seller, Shakes Up CD Trends. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.
  9. ^ a b "RIAA Gold and Platinum Database Search". Retrieved 2010-01-15.
  10. ^ a b Herrera, Monica. "John Mayer's Sexually, Racially Charged Playboy Interview Sparks Outrage". Billboard. February 10, 2010.
  11. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Review: Battle Studies". Allmusic. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  12. ^ a b Rodman, Sarah (November 17, 2009). "Mayer gets intimate in 'Battle Studies'". Retrieved November 17, 2009.
  13. ^ a b Greenblatt, Leah (November 11, 2009). "Battle Studies (2009)". Music Reviews. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 17, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ a b c Lewis, Randy (November 16, 2009). "Album review: John Mayer's 'Battle Studies'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 17, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ a b Caramanica, Jon. Review: Battle Studies. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.
  16. ^ Lombardi, Anthony. Review: Battle Studies. PopMatters. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.
  17. ^ a b Rosen, Jody (November 10, 2009). "John Mayer: Battle Studies". Music Reviews. Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 17, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ a b Keefe, Jonathan (November 22, 2009). "John Mayer: Battle Studies". Music Reviews. Slant Magazine. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  19. ^ a b c Silveri, Alex (November 17, 2009). "John Mayer - Battle Studies". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
  20. ^ a b Stewart, Allison (November 17, 2009). "Caught in the middle". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 17, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  21. ^ "Battle Studies (2009): Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2009-11-26.
  22. ^ Graff, Gary (November 14, 2009), "Battle Studies". Billboard. 121 (45):32
  23. ^ Hayden, Jackie. "Review: Battle Studies". Hot Press: December 14, 2009.
  24. ^ Gill, Andy (November 13, 2009). "Album: John Mayer, Battle Studies, (Columbia)". The Independent. Retrieved November 17, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  25. ^ Aquilante, Dan. Review: Battle Studies. The New York Post. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.
  26. ^ Gundersen, Edna. Review: Battle Studies. USA Today. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.
  27. ^ DeRogatis, Jim. Review: Battle Studies. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.
  28. ^ Hughes, Tom. Review: Battle Studies. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.
  29. ^ Baron, Zach. John Mayer Is #1; 50 Cent Is Definitely Not. The Village Voice. Retrieved on 2009-12-28.
  30. ^ http://www.mtv.de/charts/album50
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