John Mayer

Item: Inside Wants Out
Author: Matthew Luter

Inside Wants Out

(1999)

Reviewed by Matthew Luter

Discogs YouTube

Label Columbia RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2002

acoustic adult alternative pop rock

Mayer's reissued first album is an intimate, acoustic EP that should appeal to current fans and will likely win him some new fans too.

The decision to reissue an artist's early work immediately after he or she breaks on through to the big time can be a risky move. Hardcore fans who supported the artist from day one like to hang onto rarer early tracks as special artifacts for themselves alone to treasure and may be offended by a label's attempt to take the music to a wider audience. Or a fickle record-buying public may have already decided to move on to the next artist of the month.

Or it can reveal an entirely different side of an established artist, as is the case with John Mayer's Inside Wants Out, an intimate, acoustic eight-song EP that predates Mayer's breakout album Room for Squares. The first four songs would later appear on Squares, while the last four remain staples of Mayer's live show.

Of the four tracks that appear on both albums, "No Such Thing" is the strongest. Distilling the tune down to Mayer's guitar and voice alone only helps bring out the true power of his lyrics. Sometimes songs are hits for a reason -- they're just darn good. "Neon," built around a guitar riff that sounded great on Room for Squares, only sounds better (and more difficult to play) in acoustic form on Inside Wants Out. "My Stupid Mouth" is still charming and clever, but the Inside version is considerably slower than the Squares version. My preference is for the latter, faster song, but both are great.

The album's second half, songs that will be new to many listeners, is less consistent. The best of the four is the beautiful "Victoria" with the upbeat "Love Soon" a close second. Yet sometimes Mayer's songs are romantic to a fault. "Comfortable" in particular, a song loved and revered by Mayer fans and part of the EP's second half, has always struck me as a bit too calculated -- not as spontaneous as "Your Body Is a Wonderland," not as lyrically interesting as "Neon," not as realistic as "Why Georgia." I listen to Mayer pine for his old flame and can't help but think, "If it was so perfect then, why aren't you still with her?!?!"

Yet one weak song does not ruin an album by any means, and Inside Wants Out is not just for those listeners who love hearing "No Such Thing" on the radio and bought Room for Squares. Its intimacy and warmth could easily win Mayer some new fans while reminding his old fans why they like this talented singer-songwriter.

3.5 tocks