John Mayer. Now that this humble reviewer has your attention … Paul Christianson has released his first solo endeavor; a tidy little album entitled “Spilling My Weakness.” This album is mistaken too easily for a homage to Mr. Mayer and his bouncy, pop-acoustic, heart-on-the-sleeve-of-my-button-down style.
Christianson hails from Minnesota, where he studied music theory with his mother and played in a few bands while pursuing his real passions in life: singing, songwriting and guitar playing — or, perfecting the art of sounding like John Mayer.
This album has a mere seven songs on it. Seven. That’s two songs too many to be a long single and two songs shy of being a short album. The listener is left somewhere in between wanting to turn it off after the fifth song and wanting more after the last.
The lyrics aren’t terrible, just a little weak.
For example, on one track Christianson sings, “I’m going to take you aside/ Try to clear my thoughts/ But it’s the green in your eyes that makes me drive.”
The scary thing is that after a few listens, the urge to sing along is slightly overwhelming. Christianson’s sweet melodies and tight harmonies lend themselves to sing-alongs. The first time listening to the album, there is a desire to hum with the CD. By the third time, all of those easy-to-remember lyrics have planted themselves firmly in your cranium, and singing along to the entire album is not only fun but necessary.
Christianson plays with a drummer, bass player and lead electric guitarist. The drums sound more like an afterthought but glue the songs together nicely. The bass parts are done well. The electric guitar sounds ridiculous and out of place most of the time.
Of course, Christianson on acoustic guitar and vocals sounds mediocre. He has a nice, mellow voice that demands nothing of the listener and simple acoustic guitar arrangements that are difficult to criticize and even more difficult to praise.
Christianson has not made a terrible album. The songs and band are so-so, but in the end he pulls off that lonely-boy-in-Minnesota sound. It’s a mystery why he only chose to record seven songs. Maybe he doesn’t have any more songs. The caliber of his songwriting does not lend itself to thoughts of prolific song production. Maybe he should have waited until he wrote a few more to record.
Whatever the case may be, Christianson has a way to go before he finds his own voice. Perhaps a few years without the influence of John Mayer will do the trick. Until then, there is no reason anyone should or shouldn’t buy this album. It’s too bland to put down and too bland to recommend.
For more information visit PaulChristianson.com.