Best John Mayer Album

Mac, there's a big difference between suggesting that Stevie Ray fans might enjoy "Try", and implying that I hold the two on the same plane. The reason I mentioned it is that Mayer has been quoted as saying that SRV was a hero of his, and that he's inspired him. I'd kinda put it in the vein of "If you're a Deadhead, then you might get a kick out of Phish". Cheers,

Spencer

I received "Continuum" today. It has a nice groove, and I particularly enjoy the warm tone of the recording. Rare these days.

Do any of Mayer's other releases have more edge to the songwriting and playing?

Not really. His early stuff is more hit conscious, sorta some place where SteelyDan, Hall&Oates and frosted PopTarts collide.

The "Try" album has more bluesy feel, some nice solos, and with live ambience plus Jordan & Palladino. IMHO worth getting, especially on vinyl.

Sbank, on the contrary, I am a Deadhead and that is precisely why I have never even heard a Phish recording. Imitation is indeed the strongest form of flattery but I have no desire to here an over-rated cover band capitalizing on what only the Dead can do. After all the Grateful Dead are the originators of what they did and some young punks from Vermont born years after the fact don't really have the ingredients or make up, do they?.

Dreadhead I've been to 65 Dead shows and felt that way about Phish back in 1989. I then caught a few Phish shows and was hooked. I've seen about 30 shows since. You should really give them a shot, particularly live stuff from 1990-1996. They are a jam band yes, but not at all a cover band. They are super talented and play unique and inventive music. It's pretty easy to dismiss something that you've never checked out yourself, do yourself a favor, open your mind and your ears.