CONTINUUM is the third in a series of albums from John Mayer - singer/songwriter/guitarist extraordinaire. His third studio album follows the multi-platinum ROOM FOR SQUARES (2001) and HEAVIER THINGS (2003) and marks his first turn as producer.
It is his most soulful, cohesive collection yet and he says it's no accident that this project is where all of his efforts, his potential, and his disparate influences fully come together.
The album had its starting point the night Mayer won a Grammy for his song, "Daughters".
It's a culmination of Mayer's most recent experiences, writing, recording and touring as a solo artist, as well as collaborating with the likes of Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Herbie Hancock, as well as Kanye West, the Dixie Chicks and Alicia Keys.
Mayer also credits his collaboration with Steve Jordan and Pino Palladino (collectively known as the John Mayer Trio) and the intimate-venue tour that produced the 2005 live album TRY! with helping to recalibrate his musical priorities.
"As a songwriter, the Trio helped me focus on being more raw," he says. "As a guitar player, it helped me get a lot out of my system. If it wasn't for the Trio, CONTINUUM would have been less accessible."
CONTINUUM is heralded by the single "Waiting On The World To Change", a comment on the inactivity and inaction that his generation tends towards. Another standout is "Gravity" which Mayer describes as a sparse piece of music that "might be the most important song I ever wrote".
Having just announced a co-headlining tour with Sheryl Crow to help launch CONTINUUM, Mayer is raring to start playing his new material for an audience.
"This record is infinitely playable," he says. "I built somany corners into these songs I cannot wait to play them live."
Ultimately, CONTINUUM represents maturity, both musically and thematically, for John Mayer - a concept that he wasn't comfortable with until now.