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Paradise Valley Image
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 49 Ratings

  • Summary: Produced by Don Was, the second Americana-influenced release from the singer-songwriter includes guest appearances from Frank Ocean and Katy Perry.
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  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Blues-Rock
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Top Track

Who You Love
You love, who you love, Who you love You love, who you love, Who you love My girl, she ain't the one that I saw coming And sometimes I don't know... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 8
  2. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. While the album doesn’t have the dynamic genre-hopping sensibility that made both Continuum and Born and Raised instant classics, it’s still a solid set of songs that follows one of today’s best songwriters as he establishes a new comfort zone.
  2. Aug 19, 2013
    80
    Ultimately, whether it's Tubb's honky tonk twang, or the twang of Mayer's own heart, the sound of Paradise Valley rings true.
  3. Aug 21, 2013
    80
    The level of growth on Paradise Valley with respect to Mayer’s ability as a singer/songwriter is remarkable, especially considering how the first go-round of this sonic experiment happened only last year.
  4. Aug 20, 2013
    70
    Mayer can get in trouble when he pushes too hard for effect, so the laid-back vibe here works to his advantage, allowing both his talent and his charm to shine.
  5. Aug 19, 2013
    60
    The tender vocals contributed to Wildfire by surprise guest Frank Ocean are easily the most striking 85 seconds on the record. But the biggest talking point here will be Paper Doll. Apparently aimed at another ex, Taylor Swift, it's a washed-out ballad that takes the concept of "too much information" to a new level
  6. 50
    Give Mayer credit for keeping his languid country pop organic and as rootsy as someone with his honeyed voice can sound. Yet that only reveals the mediocre quality of the bulk of this material and is no excuse for his sleepwalking performance of it.
  7. Aug 20, 2013
    50
    These new songs are so amiable that you wonder where they’re meant to take you. Often the breezy journey--while pleasant enough--leads to dead ends.

See all 8 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 12
  2. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. Aug 28, 2020
    10
    Um dos melhores álbuns dele, particularmente gostei muito da sonora colocada nesse álbum, da voz e da incomparável guitarra do John.
  2. Nov 10, 2013
    9
    To me this is a perfect John Mayer album (nothing gets a 10 out of 10 in my books). Of course he has lots of love songs but that's just how heTo me this is a perfect John Mayer album (nothing gets a 10 out of 10 in my books). Of course he has lots of love songs but that's just how he write as do a lot of popular artists. It is very folk and country driven which I find suits him very well and of course he dabbles in a bit of blues also. I was little worried about how this album would sound since he had just released Born and Raised the year before but this is by far a more polished John Mayer and for that i thank him! Expand
  3. Aug 20, 2013
    9
    While people dismiss John Mayer's new album, "Paradise Valley" is surprising me in great ways. Mayer made an album that isn't written to be aWhile people dismiss John Mayer's new album, "Paradise Valley" is surprising me in great ways. Mayer made an album that isn't written to be a hit. It's written for the sake of art. He wrote songs that move him and groove in the purest musical sense. Before you read the iTunes reviews choked with "Go back to Continuum!" and the like, listen to it. It's not the catchiest tune, the most beautiful melody, or the fastest guitar solo that John has written. It puts his life and current worldview into music. Frankly, I'm starting to really like it. The music isn't fast or covered in an impressive zebra-print sheen. It's honest, organic, and wonderful music. Expand
  4. Aug 22, 2013
    8
    While this is not Mayer's best album, (i still rank continuum at the 1 spot) he consistently has shown his ability to create his own genre.While this is not Mayer's best album, (i still rank continuum at the 1 spot) he consistently has shown his ability to create his own genre. Paradise valley takes you to a new place with johns music. Coming off of born and raised we knew this one would have a country feel but what he also did was incorporate some of the old John into it. With his tasteful guitar playing and his clever and relatable lyrics, John took us to a new place called paradise valley. This is some of his most honest work as he looks back at his past and grows as a person, and I think that helps some people relate to what he is doing. This album is great. Expand
  5. Sep 8, 2013
    7
    The evolution of John Mayer's musical styles are seen in full effect in Paradise Valley, where country/ folk undertones are seen paired withThe evolution of John Mayer's musical styles are seen in full effect in Paradise Valley, where country/ folk undertones are seen paired with catchy and smooth hooks. Compared to Continuum and Room For Squares, it lacks a certain star quality and is less memorable, but still shows that, in the music scene, John Mayer can do not wrong. Expand
  6. Aug 20, 2013
    7
    This is a good, not great album by John Mayer. The album is very country and folk driven and doesn't seem to have a purpose. The feature byThis is a good, not great album by John Mayer. The album is very country and folk driven and doesn't seem to have a purpose. The feature by Frank Ocean is great. The feature by Katy is almost useless with a very cheez-y song( almost like Sonnie and Cher). This isn't classic John, but its worth listening to Expand
  7. Nov 15, 2013
    5
    Hoped to give this album a higher score, as always, I try to stay optimistic, although this one did not hook me at all and basically bored meHoped to give this album a higher score, as always, I try to stay optimistic, although this one did not hook me at all and basically bored me to tears. Collapse

See all 12 User Reviews