John Mayer's two-disc set, "Where the Light Is," reveals a complex musician steadily working to expand his musical vocabulary.

Any critique of John Mayer's work requires a caveat. Yes, John Mayer is cute. He dates beautiful, famous women, and he has cultivated a fan base of young women who scream uncontrollably at the mention of the words "Your Body Is a Wonderland." He is also a darling of the pop music genre, having garnered surprising support among Grammy voters in recent years. In short, Everybody Loves John Mayer.

Having said that, it would be folly to dismiss his popularity as the result of just another pretty face and palatable set of lyrics. Simply put, Mayer is a talented musician and songwriter who does not seem to relish the pretty boy label. As evidence, consider Where the Light Is, Mayer's new two-disc concert set recorded in Los Angeles. Over the course of twenty-two tracks, Mayer demonstrates his skills as a pop star, a rock guitarist, and a burgeoning bluesman.

Mayer the Pop Star

Despite the absence of "Wonderland" Mayer's female following will not be disappointed by the concert's set list. "Daughters" makes the list, although longtime fans and more adventurous listeners likely will prefer the more experimental version that appears on the John Mayer Trio album, Try!

Mayer shines on solo guitar tracks such as "Stop This Train," an impressive, stripped-down cover of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'," and, most notably, "In Your Atmosphere," one of the concert's most memorable moments. His radio-friendly "Waiting on the World to Change" is another high point of the album. In concert, he brings to life a track whose studio version lacked the intangible quality to separate a pleasent tune from a classic one.

John Mayer Rocks Out

Mayer does not overlook his rock influences (as evidenced by the aforementioned Petty cover). However, it is as a rock guitarist that his work leaves the most room for improvement. "Wait Until Tomorrow" and "Who Did You Think I Was" reveal considerable potential, but guitar aficianados will be left wanting more and wondering what Mayer will be able to do with these songs after a few more years of live performances.

"Gravity," on the other hand, is a track that seems more familar to him. (It appeared on his trio's CD.) Hence, he seems more at ease venturing into new territory with it, and most listeners will enjoy the ride. The blues-rock tune "I Don't Need No Doctor" also suggests a bright future for Mayer as a rocker.

John Mayer Sings the Blues

It is here that Mayer's greatest growth has occurred. Recent collaborations with artists such as B. B. King have broadened his musical range, and the growth is a pleasant addition to his musical catalogue.

"Out of My Mind" is an example of Mayer as a potential blues star on the rise. The best illustration of his potential, however, occurs on his live version of "I'm Gonna Find Another You," which is so vastly superior to the studio version (from his Continuum CD) that it is barely recognizable.

Professor Arrington's Grade

Too often, live CDs are lifeless efforts that may as well have borrowed the title of Tony Kornheiser's book, I'm Back for More Cash. Where the Light Is is an exception, illustrating the artist's musical growth since the material was originally recorded. Although the rock-influenced moments show less development from his other live efforts (Any Given Thursday and As Is), Mayer more than compensates for this minimal growth by showing off his mastery of pop stylings and his integration of the blues into his work. Such effort is worthy of an A-.