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If you happen to have heard a smoky-voiced baritone on the radio recently singing some song with hugely catchy hooks and a chorus about wanting to "run through the halls of my high school," congratulations--you've discovered John Mayer and "No Such Thing," the lead single and first track from Room for Squares.

Past the instantly memorable single, other standout tracks include "83," in which Mayer expresses the universal desire to be a kid again; "My Stupid Mouth," which includes one of the most convincing fake endings you'll hear for a good while; and "Neon," which features another infectious chorus and seems like another good choice for a single.  No tracks are clunkers; instead, it's a matter of which songs will stick in your head after one listen or after five.

Mayer's music is happy but realistic.  You occasionally hear him doubt himself, especially on tracks like "Why Georgia" and the self-effacing "My Stupid Mouth," but the music remains upbeat.  While the album comes across as the vision of Mayer himself--co-writers are listed for only three songs--a talented backing group makes the album feel and sound like more of a band effort.

Filled with hooks that have great lyrics and guitar to back them up, Mayer's album is full of choruses you'll be singing all day--proof that pop need not be a dirty word, especially when mixed with the rock and occasional jazz influences Mayer explores on this disc.  A positive, life-affirming album by a talented emerging artist, it's also a great driving disc, perhaps best experienced with an open sunroof and windows down.  And when you find yourself next to someone at a stoplight (perhaps me) bopping their head around, screaming "I just found out there's no such thing as the real world/Just a lie you got to rise above" at the top of their lungs, you'll know it's Room for Squares.

Matthew Luter 5/22/2002