Paradise Valley (album)

Release and promotion

On August 19, 2013, Mayer went on the Late Show with David Letterman to promote the album by singing the second single from the release, "Wildfire". In addition, Mayer performed a concert in the Live on Letterman series the same night, which is a web stream event.

Critical reception

Paradise Valley garnered generally positive reception from music critics. Metacritic, a review-aggregator site which assigns a weighted average score based on a number of selected ratings and reviews from mainstream music critics, gave the album 73 out of 100. Brian Mansfield of USA Today commented that the release "may have all the permanence of a summer camp fling". Anthony DeCurtis, writing for Rolling Stone, noted that this release "continues that autobiographical journey" noticeable in Mayer's previous offerings, and showcases Mayer "in a relaxed, joyful frame of mind... Mayer continues to blow down the road, this time carrying far less baggage and all the better for it." At The Oakland Press, Gary Graff noted that the album has an "anything-goes attitude", and felt Mayer had "turned in some of his most peaceful music yet." Matt Collar of Allmusic felt that the sound on the album "rings true." Los Angeles Times reviewer Randall Roberts wrote that "the musician is in charge here, and he keeps his peacocking in check", and that "The best part: When he does reveal his instrumental flair, he does so as someone whose natural-born skill warrants the display."

Writing for the Daily Express, Stephen Unwin wrote that he felt the album needed "more oomph" and that it was "sometimes too formulaic", but that "Paradise Valley is certainly John Mayer on a good day." Glenn Gamboa of Newsday graded the album a B-, and felt that "Mayer may still be a little lost", yet also felt that the release signals that Mayer "may soon find his way." Writing for The Gazette, Mark LePage wrote that the album "is consolidation, soundly done", but felt that Mayer was "not advancing anything in the form", noting that "Paradise Valley is not without soul, but it never stings the way it could." Craig Manning at AbsolutePunk rated the album an 85-percent, and stated it to be "still a solid set of songs that follows one of today's best songwriters as he establishes a new comfort zone." At RedEye, Adam Lukach commented that Mayer's "soundscapes are sweetly arranged, and Mayer's voice, following his throat surgery, sounds as inviting as ever", but did note that this album "could benefit from a little more decisiveness." Melinda Newman of HitFix graded the album an A-, and wrote that the release "has an unrushed, pleasing, timeless feel to it that never sounds forced."

Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian wrote that Mayer may be "his own worst enemy". Writing for the New York Post, Michaelangelo Matos said that the fact that "Mayer had throat surgery before recording this album," and that "it's understandable if he's relaxing", "doesn't make the songs any less dippy." Matthew Horton of Virgin Media rated the album three-stars, and felt that "maybe we're right to be hesitant" about the album, and noted how stylistically "changes could be afoot with this sixth album." Daily News's Jim Farber rated the album three stars, and said that this release "proves more successful than Mayer's last effort at nailing the styles that inspired it."

Commercial performance

The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 145,560 copies in the United States. It is his first album since 2006's Continuum to not debut at #1.

Track listing

All tracks written by John Mayer unless noted below.

Musicians

Production