Heavier Things
{{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |Template:Short description|noreplace}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Room for Squares2001Continuum2006studioHeavier ThingsHeavierthings.johnmayer.albumcover.jpgJohn MayerSeptember 9, 2003April–June 2003Template:UblTemplate:Hlist45:33Template:HlistJack Joseph Puigx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} Heavier Things is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter John Mayer, released on September 9, 2003 by Aware and Columbia Records. It debuted at #1 on the US Billboard 200, selling over 317,000 copies in its first week.<ref>Caulfield, Keith. "John Mayer Snares No. 1 on Busy Billboard 200". billboard.com. November 25, 2009</ref> Despite some criticism towards Mayer's songwriting, Heavier Things received generally positive reviews.
BackgroundEdit
Mayer felt he could be more relaxed focused on his art while making Heavier Things. With Jack Joseph Puig as producer, loops and horns were more prominently featured.<ref name=getheavy/> Mayer took greater control of the creative side with this album; much of it was recorded in his New York City apartment.<ref>Eliscu, Jenny (2003-11-27), "Songs in the Key of Mayer". Rolling Stone. (936):52-56</ref> He also got final approval on all radio edits.<ref name=getheavy/> Mayer explained that he did not want a "big and bold" title for the record and expressed that the name Heavier Things is "what it is" due to its "insignificance".<ref name="CNN">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He further said that he likes the word "things" due to finding it "nondescript and dumb, [...] kind of blunt".<ref name="CNN"/>
Columbia Records used a conservative marketing campaign to promote the album. Columbia Records Group president Will Botwin says, "We think we're being smart. It's a long-term project. We understand what we're creating is a career. Effectively, that's the message: Keep the hype at bay."<ref name=getheavy/> In keeping with that gameplan, the album's first single, "Bigger Than My Body", only went to radio a few weeks before the album's release; promotional broadcasts of the album were limited to MTV.com and Mayer's official site, both of whom began streaming the complete album the September 2 before its release. Scheduled television appearances included Saturday Night Live on October 4 and several late shows.<ref name=getheavy/> Columbia Records thought it was important to put Mayer in talk show-type scenarios before the album release to help bring focus to his art and to his singer/songwriter career, and to steer away from the fame and celebrity hype.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
SinglesEdit
Despite being "delayed" on the radio, the lead single "Bigger Than My Body" gained commercial and critical success. "Clarity" was the second single released from Heavier Things. Although the song receives rare airplay, it is one of Mayer's fan favorites, and is normally performed at Mayer's concerts. The song received very positive reviews from critics, mostly being praised for its relaxing style and beat.Template:Citation needed
"Daughters" was the last single released from Heavier Things. The song has become a huge commercial success, and has received largely positive reviews: several critics called the song as Mayer's best yet.Template:Who
Critical receptionEdit
Template:Album ratings Upon its release, the album received generally positive reviews from music critics; it holds an aggregate score of 67/100 at Metacritic.<ref name="metacritic">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Billboard magazine stated that it "firmly establishes him as a legitimate--albeit still puppy-eyed--singer/songwriter."<ref>Ault, Susanne; Paoletta, Michael (2003-09-13), "Heavier Things". Billboard. 115 (37):33</ref> Chicago Tribune writer Allison Stewart gave the album a favorable review and wrote that Mayer "[has] crafted a sturdy, soulful pop album that credibly expands upon — but never abandons — his core sound".<ref name="Stewart">Stewart, Allison. "RECORDINGS Template:Webarchive". Chicago Tribune: 3. September 15, 2003.</ref> Despite writing that "his self-conscious lyrics can get in the way", Russell Baillie of The New Zealand Herald praised Mayer's musicianship and gave the album 4 out of 5 stars.<ref>Baillie, Russell. "John Mayer: Heavier Things". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved on 2009-12-29.</ref> Rolling Stone magazine's James Hunter called Heavier Things an "equally available yet more sophisticated album" than Room for Squares.<ref name="Hunter"/> In his own review for Esquire, Mayer gave the album a "B minus", adding, "Am I the only one who finds this record creepy to make out to?"<ref>Mayer, John (June 2004), "THE RESIDENT ROCK STAR". Esquire. 141 (6):48</ref> Spin said, "Sadly, Mayer's idea of a good time involves hiring jazz musicians to make himself sound like '80s James Taylor."<ref name="metacritic"/>
AccoladesEdit
Mayer earned his first number-one single with "Daughters" as well as a 2005 Grammy for Song of the Year, beating out fellow contenders Hoobastank, Alicia Keys, Tim McGraw, and Kanye West. He dedicated the award to his grandmother, Annie Hoffman, who died in May 2004. He also won Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, beating Elvis Costello, Josh Groban, Prince, and Seal for the award. At the 37th Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in 2006, Mayer was honored with the Hal David Starlight Award.<ref>(2006). John Mayer Template:Webarchive SongWritersHallofFame.org. Retrieved on September 29, 2006.</ref>
Track listingEdit
PersonnelEdit
Main musicians
- John Mayer – vocals on all tracks, guitars on all tracks
- David LaBruyere – bass guitar on all tracks except 8
- Jamie Muhoberac – keyboards on all tracks except 9
- Lenny Castro – percussion on all tracks except 6, 9 and 10
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2 Additional musicians
- Matt Chamberlain – drums on tracks 1, 2, 3, 6 and 10
- Steve Jordan – drums on tracks 3, 4 and 5
- Greg Leisz – lap steel guitar on tracks 2 and 5
- Questlove – drums on track 1
- Roy Hargrove – trumpet on track 1
- Michael Chaves – guitar on track 3
- Dan Higgins – saxophone on track 5
- Jerry Hey – trumpet on track 5
- Leroy – programming on track 7
- J. J. Johnson – drums on track 9
Additional personnel
- John Mayer – art direction
- Jack Joseph Puig – production, mixing, recording
- Chad Franscoviak – engineering
- Ross Petersen – additional engineering
- Chris Steffen – additional engineering
- Lars Fox – digital engineering
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
- Ames Design – graphic design
- Danny Clinch – photography
- Chapman Baehler – album cover photography
ChartsEdit
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Weekly chartsEdit
Template:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chart| Chart (2003–05) | Peak position |
|---|
Year-end chartsEdit
| Chart (2003) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
65 |
| US Billboard 200<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
67 |
| Chart (2004) | Position | |
| US Billboard 200<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
83 |
| Chart (2005) | Position | |
| US Billboard 200<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
83 |
CertificationsEdit
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