John Mayer

John Mayer makes a graceful transition from dreamy adult pop to fiery blues, pushing himself out of the tabloid celebrity arena and into deeper waters. He recruited bassist Pino Palladino (sideman for the Who, Robert Plant and Richard Ashcroft, among others) and drummer Steve Jordan, who coproduced with Mayer, to form this steamy blues-rock trio. Recorded while on tour with the Rolling Stones, "Who Did You Think I Was" has the right amount of outrage and brawn, and Ray Charles' ragged "I Got a Woman" is messy, tough and mean, going a long way to dispense with Mayer's sensitive image.