In Episode 15, Dan and Carl finally hit a record they both adore—John Mayer’s Continuum, ranked #486 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The fanboying is real, but so is the deep analysis. This episode covers Mayer’s transition from pop darling to a serious blues craftsman, from subtle production choices to guitar tone breakdowns and harmony dives. With legendary players like Steve Jordan and Pino Palladino, Continuum serves up soulful grooves, emotional depth, and masterful songwriting.
Key Points- Personal Bias Admitted: Dan and Carl are massive fans of Continuum—this is one of their “desert island” albums.
- Mayer’s Career Shift: Discussion of Mayer’s evolution from Room for Squares pop fame to a blues-rooted, emotionally introspective artist.
- The Trio Effect: Deep appreciation for the influence of the John Mayer Trio (with Steve Jordan and Pino Palladino) on this record’s vibe.
- Guitar Tone & Production: Praise for Steve Jordan’s dry snares, Mayer’s tasteful guitar phrasing, and Charlie Hunter’s influence.
- Lyrical Depth: Songs like “Belief” and “Gravity” reveal Mayer’s internal struggles, philosophical reflection, and social commentary.
- Theory Corner Highlights: Dan breaks down modal shifts, bridge tricks, and harmonic depth in “Gravity” and “Stop This Train.”
- Emotional Arc: The album’s track list flows through apathy, introspection, fame fatigue, relationship collapse, and hard-won wisdom.
- Room for Squares by John Mayer
- Heavier Things by John Mayer
- Battle Studies by John Mayer
- Born and Raised by John Mayer
- The Search for Everything by John Mayer
- Try! by John Mayer
- Your Body Is a Wonderland by John Mayer
- Daughters by John Mayer
- Steve Ray Vaughan
- Jimi Hendrix
- Burn One Down by Ben Harper
- Steal My Kisses by Ben Harper
- Charlie Hunter
- Voodoo by D'Angelo
- Bonnie Raitt
- Coldplay
- Chris Martin
- Never Gonna Be Alone by Jacob Collier
- Lizzy McAlpine
- I've Got Dreams to Remember by Otis Redding
- What I Am by Edie Brickell
- Stay Awhile by Edie Brickell
- More Than Words by Extreme
- Jack Black
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!