Sob Rock

Last updated

Sob Rock
John Mayer - Sob Rock.png
Apple Music digital cover [1]
Studio album by
John Mayer
ReleasedJuly 16, 2021 (2021-07-16)
Recorded2017–2021
Studio Henson Recording Studios (Los Angeles)
Genre
Length38:27
Label Columbia
Producer
John Mayer chronology
The Search for Everything
(2017)		Sob Rock
(2021)
Singles from Sob Rock
  1. "New Light"
    Released: May 10, 2018
  2. "I Guess I Just Feel Like"
    Released: February 22, 2019
  3. "Carry Me Away"
    Released: September 6, 2019
  4. "Last Train Home"
    Released: June 4, 2021
  5. "Shot in the Dark"
    Released: July 16, 2021
  6. "Wild Blue"
    Released: August 18, 2021

Sob Rock is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter John Mayer, released on July 16, 2021, by Columbia Records. The single "New Light", released in May 2018, is included on the album, as are Mayer's two singles from 2019, "I Guess I Just Feel Like" and "Carry Me Away". The lead single [2] "Last Train Home" was released on June 4, 2021, and features guest vocals from Maren Morris. [3] Mayer toured the United States with Dead & Company from August through October 2021 [4] and embarked on a solo tour in support of the album in 2022.

Contents

Background

Mayer has stated that this album was mostly born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, with most of the songs on the album resulting from the time after March 2020 when touring was shut down for many artists. Mayer's goal was to work on a 10-track album that paid homage to the songs he heard in his childhood growing up in the '80s. Mayer said that the idea of this album was meant to "confuse the listeners" and "implant false memories." [5] He also stated in an interview with Zane Lowe that the record was meant to be a shitpost, trying to go against everything he had released up to that point.

Mayer also decided that three of his previous singles were also going to be on the album when it released. These singles ("New Light", "I Guess I Just Feel Like", and "Carry Me Away") had all been released in the time from mid-2018 to late 2019 and were not originally intended to be on an album.

Initially, Mayer claimed that the album was to be released in mid-April 2021. However he later announced the delay of the record to July 16. It was recorded between late 2017 and early 2021. Mayer released "Last Train Home" as a single on June 4, 2021. Before that, clips of the track were released onto Mayer's TikTok account in late March 2021. [6] It was also announced that the album was to be released on physical formats, adding different vinyl and cassette editions.

Promotion

In addition to Mayer himself creating a TikTok account, Columbia Records also pushed a marketing campaign revolving around a 1980s advertising aesthetic. A couple months before the album released or was even formally announced, posters appeared in various locations in cities around the world. They all described the sound of Sob Rock but never explicitly confirmed ties with Mayer releasing an album. A site called sobrock.net went up around the same time, with a newsletter sign up and a copyright for "John Mayer Enterprises".

On June 1, 2021, Mayer finally confirmed that his new album was indeed called Sob Rock, and additionally gave the release date and cover. From there, Columbia went public and posted 1980s themed billboards and posters to promote the album and single, "Last Train Home". Those who had previously signed up for the website newsletter received a zine focused around the album in the mail.

After "Last Train Home" was released, Mayer released a music video for the single and then performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on June 7, 2021.

When the album was officially released, Mayer went on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and performed the songs "Shouldn't Matter but It Does" and "Last Train Home". The day after this he confirmed numerous tour dates across America for a Sob Rock Tour in 2022.

Mayer further went on to release "Wild Blue" as a single, which received an accompanying music video on August 18, 2021. [7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 70/100 [8]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [9]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Pitchfork 6.1/10 [12]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [13]

Sob Rock received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 70 based on 9 reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception.

It was elected by Guitar World 's readers as the best guitar album of 2021. [14] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times derisively wrote that the record draws on 1980's nostalgia to sell new collectables from John Mayer, the brand. [15]

Track listing

All tracks are written by John Mayer, except where noted

No.TitleLength
1."Last Train Home"3:07
2."Shouldn't Matter but It Does"3:56
3."New Light" (John Mayer, Ernest Wilson)3:37
4."Why You No Love Me"4:15
5."Wild Blue"4:12
6."Shot in the Dark"4:09
7."I Guess I Just Feel Like"4:46
8."Til the Right One Comes"3:41
9."Carry Me Away"2:39
10."All I Want Is to Be with You"4:04
Total length:38:27

Personnel

Adapted from album's liner notes. [16]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Sob Rock
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [47] Gold40,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [48] Gold10,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Keep the Faith</i> 1992 studio album by Bon Jovi

Keep the Faith is the fifth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on November 3, 1992, by Mercury Records. It is Bon Jovi's last studio album to feature all five original band members as bass guitarist Alec John Such was dismissed from the band in 1994, though it was not his last release with the band. It is Bon Jovi's first album to not be produced by either Lance Quinn or Bruce Fairbairn. The album was produced by Bob Rock and was recorded at the Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia. Keep the Faith marked a change to a "more serious interpretation of the band's pop-metal groove". It is also Bon Jovi's longest album to date, clocking in at 66 minutes.

<i>One Wild Night Live 1985–2001</i> 2001 live album by Bon Jovi

One Wild Night Live 1985–2001 is the first live album by the American rock band Bon Jovi, released on May 22, 2001. The album includes live covers of Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World" and performance of the Boomtown Rats' "I Don't Like Mondays", with a guest appearance by their lead singer Bob Geldof. The album charted at number 20 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

<i>Smash</i> (The Offspring album) 1994 studio album by the Offspring

Smash is the third studio album by American rock band the Offspring, released on April 8, 1994, through Epitaph Records. After touring in support of their previous album Ignition (1992), the band recorded their next album for nearly two months at Track Record in North Hollywood, California. Smash was the band's final studio album to be produced by Thom Wilson, who had worked with them since their 1989 debut album The Offspring. Smash was put together on the spot in the studio and there was no systematic work behind the recording of the album.

<i>Dire Straits</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Dire Straits

Dire Straits is the debut studio album by the British rock band Dire Straits, released on 9 June 1978 by Vertigo Records internationally, Warner Bros. Records in the United States and Mercury Records in Canada. The album features the hit single "Sultans of Swing", which reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 8 on the UK Singles Chart. The album reached the top of the album charts in Germany, Australia and France, number 2 in the United States and number 5 in the United Kingdom. Dire Straits was later certified double platinum in both the United States and the United Kingdom by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) respectively.

<i>Mutter</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Rammstein

Mutter is the third studio album by German Neue Deutsche Härte band Rammstein. It was released on 2 April 2001 through Motor and Universal Music. The album's cover image is a photograph of a dead fetus, which was taken by Daniel & Geo Fuchs. The album has yielded six singles which, to date, are the most released from any Rammstein album.

<i>To the Faithful Departed</i> 1996 studio album by the Cranberries

To the Faithful Departed is the third studio album by Irish alternative rock band the Cranberries, released on 22 April 1996. The album was made in memory of Denny Cordell who signed the band to Island Records and Joe O'Riordan, who had both died that year. The album reached number one in four countries and became the band's highest-charting album on the US Billboard 200, where it peaked at number four.

<i>Silver Side Up</i> 2001 studio album by Nickelback

Silver Side Up is the third studio album by Canadian rock band Nickelback, released on September 11, 2001. According to AllMusic, Silver Side Up continued Nickelback's tradition of "dark high-octane rock" from the band's first two albums. It reached number one in Canada, Austria, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The album was certified 8× Platinum in Canada, 6× Platinum in the US, and 3× Platinum in the UK.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Tom Petty album) 1993 greatest hits album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Greatest Hits is a compilation album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, released on November 16, 1993. It is Petty's best-selling album to date and was certified 12× Platinum by the RIAA on April 28, 2015. The single "Mary Jane's Last Dance" became one of Petty's most popular songs, reaching No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The other new song on the album is a cover of the Thunderclap Newman hit "Something in the Air". The album contains no songs from 1987's Let Me Up . However, three songs from Petty's 1989 solo album Full Moon Fever were included.

<i>Sing When Youre Winning</i> 2000 studio album by Robbie Williams

Sing When You're Winning is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams. It was released on 28 August 2000 in the United Kingdom by Chrysalis Records and in the United States by Capitol Records. Following the critical and commercial success of I've Been Expecting You (1998), the North American release of The Ego Has Landed (1999) and the subsequent promotional tours for both albums, Williams reteamed with producers Guy Chambers and Steve Power to create new material for his next record. Whereas I've Been Expecting You used the Britpop genre for its overall sound, Sing When You're Winning incorporates a more post-millennial dance-pop approach while utilizing classic British rock elements.

<i>Golden Heart</i> 1996 studio album by Mark Knopfler

Golden Heart is the debut solo studio album by British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, released on 25 March 1996 by Vertigo Records internationally and Warner Bros. Records in the United States. Following a successful career leading British rock band Dire Straits and composing a string of critically acclaimed film soundtrack albums, Knopfler recorded his first solo album, drawing upon the various musical influences he'd engaged since emerging as a major recording artist in 1978. The album reached the top-10 position on charts in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The album peaked at 105 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Lenny Kravitz album) 2000 greatest hits album by Lenny Kravitz

Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released on October 24, 2000.

<i>Shaman</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Santana

Shaman is the nineteenth studio album by Santana. Shaman was released on October 22, 2002, and debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 298,973. It was certified Double Platinum by the RIAA and Gold in Greece.

<i>Long Road Out of Eden</i> 2007 studio album by Eagles

Long Road Out of Eden is the seventh studio album by American rock band the Eagles, released in 2007 on Lost Highway Records as their first ever double album. Nearly six years in production, it is the band's first studio album since 1979's The Long Run. In between that time the band recorded four original studio tracks for the live album Hell Freezes Over (1994), "Hole in the World" for The Very Best Of (2003) and the Joe Walsh-penned "One Day at a Time" for the Farewell 1 Tour: Live from Melbourne DVD (2005), which Walsh later re-recorded for his 2012 album Analog Man.

<i>Minutes to Midnight</i> (Linkin Park album) 2007 studio album by Linkin Park

Minutes to Midnight is the third studio album by American rock band Linkin Park, released on May 14, 2007, through Warner Bros. Records. The album was produced by Mike Shinoda and Rick Rubin; it is Linkin Park's first studio album produced without Don Gilmore, who had produced the band's two previous albums. Minutes to Midnight is the band's follow-up album to Meteora (2003), and features a shift in the group's musical direction. For the band, the album marked a beginning of deviation from their signature nu metal sound. Minutes to Midnight takes its title from the Doomsday Clock symbol. It is also the band's first full-length album to carry a Parental Advisory label.

<i>Mothership</i> (Led Zeppelin album) 2007 greatest hits album by Led Zeppelin

Mothership is a compilation album by English rock band Led Zeppelin, released by Atlantic Records and Rhino Entertainment on 12 November 2007 in the United Kingdom, and 13 November 2007 in the United States. It was released on the same day that Led Zeppelin's entire catalogue became available in digital stores, including the iTunes Store. The cover was designed by artist Shepard Fairey.

<i>Liebe ist für alle da</i> 2009 studio album by Rammstein

Liebe ist für alle da, often abbreviated to LIFAD, is the sixth studio album by German Neue Deutsche Härte band Rammstein. It was released through Universal Music in Europe on 16 October 2009, the United Kingdom on 19 October 2009, and the United States on 20 October 2009.

<i>Mechanical Bull</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Kings of Leon

Mechanical Bull is the sixth studio album by American rock band Kings of Leon, released in Ireland, Germany, Sweden and Australia on September 20, 2013, in the United Kingdom on September 23, 2013, and in North America on September 24, 2013 by RCA Records. In late 2013 the album received a nomination at the 56th Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album.

<i>The Search for Everything</i> 2017 studio album by John Mayer

The Search for Everything is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter John Mayer, released on April 14, 2017 by Columbia Records. It is a loose concept album based on the emotions and thoughts of dealing with a break-up: opening with the initial break-up, and closing with the girl getting married.

<i>Feed the Machine</i> 2017 studio album by Nickelback

Feed the Machine is the ninth studio album by Canadian rock band Nickelback, and was released on June 16, 2017. It is the band's first release through record label BMG. Feed the Machine debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 with 47,000 album-equivalent units.

<i>Evolve</i> (Imagine Dragons album) 2017 studio album by Imagine Dragons

Evolve is the third studio album by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons, released on June 23, 2017, by Kidinakorner and Interscope Records. After the release of their previous album Smoke + Mirrors (2015) and its respective world tour, a self-imposed hiatus for 2016 and cryptic messages from the band through their social media gained anticipation for their third album; it was finally announced on May 9, 2017, along with the initiation of its pre-order. In comparison to Smoke + Mirrors and their 2012 debut Night Visions, frontman Dan Reynolds called the album an "evolution" for the band.

References

  1. ↑ Halperin, Shirley; Amabile Angermiller, Michele (July 16, 2021). "John Mayer's 'Sob Rock': Deconstructing the Album's '80s-Inspired Visuals". Variety.
  2. ↑ Whitaker, Sterling (June 5, 2021). "Maren Morris Joins John Mayer on His New Single 'Last Train Home'". Taste of Country . Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  3. ↑ Holmes, Dave (June 2, 2021). "Decoding John Mayer's Sob Rock, And Its Potential to Lift the National Mood". Esquire . Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  4. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (June 2, 2021). "John Mayer Gives Off 'Miami Vice' Vibes in 'Sob Rock' Album Teaser". Billboard . Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  5. ↑ Atkinson, Katie (July 16, 2021). "Hear It & Weep: John Mayer's 'Sob Rock' Album Has Arrived". Billboard. Penske Media Corporation.
  6. ↑ Clarke, Patrick (June 1, 2021). "John Mayer announces details of new album 'Sob Rock'". NME . Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  7. ↑ Lavin, Will (August 20, 2021). "John Mayer shares comically nostalgic video for new song "Wild Blue"". NME Australia . Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Sob Rock – John Mayer". Metacritic . Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  9. ↑ Wiesel, Andrea. "Sob Rock – John Mayer". AllMusic . Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  10. ↑ Brown, Helen (July 16, 2021). "John Mayer review, Sob Rock: His famous ex-girlfriends might want to reset their home security systems". The Independent . Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  11. ↑ Lavin, Will (July 16, 2021). "John Mayer – 'Sob Rock' review: guitar hero mines nostalgic gold". NME . Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  12. ↑ Sodomsky, Sam (July 16, 2021). "John Mayer: Sob Rock Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  13. ↑ Harris, Keith (July 15, 2021). "John Mayer Makes Eighties Slickness Seem Weirdly Heartfelt on 'Sob Rock'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  14. ↑ Horsley, Jonathan (December 22, 2021). "The 20 best guitar albums of 2021". Guitar World . Future plc . Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  15. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (July 21, 2021). "John Mayer's Empty 1980s Excess". The New York Times. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  16. ↑ Sob Rock (booklet). Columbia. 2021.
  17. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – John Mayer – Sob Rock". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – John Mayer – Sob Rock" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Ultratop.be – John Mayer – Sob Rock" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Ultratop.be – John Mayer – Sob Rock" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  21. ↑ "John Mayer Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Danishcharts.dk – John Mayer – Sob Rock". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – John Mayer – Sob Rock" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Albumit 29/2021" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat . Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Lescharts.com – John Mayer – Sob Rock". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – John Mayer – Sob Rock" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Official IFPI Charts – Top-75 Albums Sales Chart (Week: 2/2024)". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  28. ↑ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – John Mayer – Sob Rock". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  30. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2021/07/28 公開". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  31. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2021–08-02" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  32. ↑ "2021 29-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Charts.nz – John Mayer – Sob Rock". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  34. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – John Mayer – Sob Rock". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  36. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – John Mayer – Sob Rock". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  37. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  38. ↑ "Top 100 Albums: Week 29 (2021)". El portal de Música (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España . Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  39. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – John Mayer – Sob Rock". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  40. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – John Mayer – Sob Rock". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  41. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  42. ↑ "John Mayer Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  43. ↑ "John Mayer Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  44. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2021". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  45. ↑ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  46. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2022". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  47. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – John Mayer – Sob Rock". Music Canada . Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  48. ↑ "Danish album certifications – John Mayer – Sob Rock". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved July 19, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.