This special-edition reissue of 'Continuum' is still about as apt a title as it gets for John Mayer's third studio disc. Every element, from the peerless guitar playing to the plainspoken poetry of the lyrics to the breathy-sincere singing, makes a return from previous efforts. But to weakly pronounce this another worthwhile effort from an artist the world has come to expect a whole lot from and then call it a day would be no minor misdeed, because it's also the best, boldest disc he's ever made.

Taking maturity as a theme throughout, Mayer tackles a batch of adulthood's bogeymen: indifference on the uptempo chart-climber "Waiting for the World to Change," aging on the melancholy-sweet "Stop This Train," and emotional trainwreckage on the big-rocking "In Repair." That's not to suggest he's turned overly introspective--check the Jimi Hendrix cover "Bold As Love," where he hits one home for guitarists who've been living in the shadow of legend everywhere, and the hard-charging "Belief," which benefits from a mesmerizing, liquid groove.

'Continuum' may be the third in a series (and now contain the new extra track 'Say'), but a creative cop-out this is not; Mayer is his generation's musical superman--powerful, unassailable, and magnetic. Hand that man a cape!

So, if you would like to win one of these new CDs, just answer this easy question: John began writing a monthly column for the popular men's magazine, Esquire, commencing with the June 2004 issue. What was/is the name of this column?!

Send us your answers and if you're correct you'll be in the running to win one of these new CDs! Just send us an e:mail here before June 1st with your answer and the subject title CONTEST: JOHN MAYER CDs to: exclusivemagazine@flash.net

“Say” Audio Stream

“Say” iTunes Buy Link

CD Reissue Purchase Link