Heavier Things

{{quote box|width=310px|align=left|quote=There's a certain swing-for-the-fences feel and a hurried nature that I think you have when you're making your first record and have much to prove. Now that I'm in a higher gear, I don't have to press so hard on the gas, and I'm loving it.|source=John Mayer, Billboard, 2003Newman, Melinda; Whitmire, Margo. (2003-09-13), "John Mayer Gets Heavy". Billboard. 115 (37):1-14}}

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. Mayer took greater control of the creative side with this album; much of it was recorded in his New York City apartment.Eliscu, Jenny (2003-11-27), "Songs in the Key of Mayer". Rolling Stone. (936):52-56 He also got final approval on all radio edits. 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".{{cite web|title=John Mayer at ease with 'Heavier Things'|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/02/mroom.mayer/|website=edition.cnn.com|access-date=29 April 2018|date=3 October 2003}} He further said that he likes the word "things" due to finding it "nondescript and dumb, [...] kind of blunt".

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." 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. 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.{{cite magazine |last1=Newman |first1=Melinda |title=John Mayer Gets Heavy: Columbia Plans Long-Term Push for New Set |magazine=Billboard |volume=115 |issue=37 |date=13 September 2003 |pages=3, 14 |id={{ProQuest|992608}} |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/69216/john-mayer-gets-heavy }}

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.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

"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.{{who|date=March 2020}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r652972|pure_url=yes}} "Heavier Things - John Mayer"]. AllMusic. Retrieved on 2009-12-29.

| rev2 = Blender

| rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}Powers, Ann. [http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=1173 "John Mayer: Heavier Things"]. Blender. Retrieved on 2009-12-29. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041213115320/http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=1173 |date=December 13, 2004 }}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3score = C+Sinclair, Tom (2003-09-12). [http://www.ew.com/article/2003/09/12/heavier-things "Heavier Things Review"]. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2009-12-29.

| rev4 = Los Angeles Times

| rev4score = {{Rating|2.5|4}}Hilburn, Robert (2003-09-07). [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-sep-07-ca-rack7-story.html "Mayer's 'Heavier Things' not quite weighty enough"]. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2009-12-29.

| rev5 = PopMatters

| rev5score = 6/10MacNeil, Jason (2003-12-02). [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/mayerjohn-heavier/ "John Mayer: Heavier Things"]. PopMatters. Retrieved on 2009-12-29.

| rev6 = Robert Christgau

| rev6score = {{Rating-Christgau|hm1}}{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=john+mayer|title=CG: John Mayer|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|publisher=RobertChristgau.com|access-date=2013-03-24}}

| rev7 = Rolling Stone

| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}Hunter, James (2003-09-09). [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/heavier-things-20030909 "Heavier Things"]. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2009-12-29.

| rev8 = Slant Magazine

| rev8score = {{Rating|3|5}}Blanford, Roxanne (2003-09-10). [http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/john-mayer-heavier-things/315 "John Mayer: Heavier Things"]. Slant Magazine. Retrieved on 2009-12-29.

| rev9 = Spin

| rev9score = 5/10

| rev10 = USA Today

| rev10score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}Gardner, Elysa (2003-09-08). [http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2003-09-08-mayer_x.htm "Mayer's 'Heavier Things' has artistic heft"]. USA Today. Retrieved on 2009-12-29.

}}

Upon its release, the album received generally positive reviews from music critics; it holds an aggregate score of 67/100 at Metacritic.{{cite web | url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/heavier-things/john-mayer/critic-reviews | title=Critic Reviews for Heavier Things | work=Metacritic | publisher=CNET Networks, Inc | access-date=September 17, 2009 }} Billboard magazine stated that it "firmly establishes him as a legitimate--albeit still puppy-eyed--singer/songwriter."Ault, Susanne; Paoletta, Michael (2003-09-13), "Heavier Things". Billboard. 115 (37):33 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".Stewart, Allison. "[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/405176891.html?dids=405176891:405176891&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+15%2C+2003&author=Allison+Stewart&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=RECORDINGS&pqatl=google RECORDINGS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024121201/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/405176891.html?dids=405176891:405176891&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+15,+2003&author=Allison+Stewart&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=RECORDINGS&pqatl=google |date=2012-10-24 }}". Chicago Tribune: 3. September 15, 2003. 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.Baillie, Russell. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/music/news/article.cfm?c_id=264&objectid=3526474 "John Mayer: Heavier Things"]. The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved on 2009-12-29. Rolling Stone magazine's James Hunter called Heavier Things an "equally available yet more sophisticated album" than Room for Squares. 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?"Mayer, John (June 2004), "THE RESIDENT ROCK STAR". Esquire. 141 (6):48 Spin said, "Sadly, Mayer's idea of a good time involves hiring jazz musicians to make himself sound like '80s James Taylor."

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.(2006). [http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/award_recipient_detail.asp?ceremonyId=27&awardRecipientId=150 John Mayer] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061001163422/http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/award_recipient_detail.asp?ceremonyId=27&awardRecipientId=150 |date=2006-10-01 }} SongWritersHallofFame.org. Retrieved on September 29, 2006.

{{Track listing

|all_writing = John Mayer except where noted

| title1 = Clarity

|length1 = 4:28

| title2 = Bigger Than My Body

|length2 = 4:26

| title3 = Something's Missing

|length3 = 5:04

| title4 = New Deep

|length4 = 4:07

| title5 = Come Back to Bed

|length5 = 5:23

| title6 = Home Life

|writer6 = Mayer, David LaBruyere

|length6 = 4:14

| title7 = Split Screen Sadness

|length7 = 5:06

| title8 = Daughters

|length8 = 3:58

| title9 = Only Heart

|length9 = 3:52

| title10 = Wheel

|length10 = 5:33

}}

{{Track listing

|headline = Promotional bonus disc

| title1 = Clarity

| note1 = acoustic; recorded live in the Star Lounge on 12/9/03

|length1 = 4:23

| title2 = Neon

| note2 = recorded live at Allstate Arena, Chicago IL on 11/28/03

|length2 = 6:14

| title3 = Come Back to Bed

| note3 = recorded live at The Palace, Detroit MI on 11/29/03

|length3 = 10:47

| title4 = Kid A

|writer4 = Colin Greenwood, Jonathan Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Phil Selway, Thomas Yorke

|length4 = 2:53

| title5 = Clarity

| note5 = single remix

|length5 = 4:15

}}

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

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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

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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

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2003|certyear=2003}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=John Mayer|title=Heavier Things|award=Platinum|relyear=2003}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=album|artist=John Mayer|title=Heavier Things|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2003|certyear=2016|certmonth=11|id=4623}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|type=album|artist=John Mayer|title=Heavier Things|award=Gold|relyear=2003|certyear=2010}}

{{Certification Table Entry|artist=John Mayer|title=Heavier Things|region=New Zealand|type=album|award=Gold|id=2003-10-17|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|relyear=2003}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=John Mayer|title=Heavier Things|award=Silver|id=17927-2890-2|relyear=2003|certyear=2022|access-date=March 12, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=John Mayer|title=Heavier Things|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2003}}

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• List of number-one albums of 2003 (U.S.)

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.discogs.com/John-Mayer-Heavier-Things/master/170455 Heavier Things] at Discogs
• {{Metacritic album}}

{{John Mayer}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2003 albums

Category:John Mayer albums

Category:Columbia Records albums