First a note on Coldplay: Popular musicians like these have the knack of creating, subtle, psychologically satisfying musical patterns. Whatever it invokes in the listener is just a coincidental effect, so in a way they're a lot like drugs.
Other Responses:
Dylan's lyrics are good!
The Drifters and John Mayer had a tempo in common, who knew?
Regarding Mayer's music being "safe"? The guy's repertoir of music is so big that he could spit out songs like Midas could spit. But, and there is a "but", he is looking for something better than that.
John Mayer took the time as a kid to learn all that music so that in time he could make his own music. He's done exactly what he wanted to so far, but his goal keeps getting higher, and it isn't popularity. I'm modeling myself after THAT, making music that is new to the world, building up to the widest appeal so I can drop back down and either find or MAKE a niche.
For now I'm gonna call his new music "Neo-Beatnik" and the old music is just Junk Pop because there was a shortage of "o"s
You may hate the music he has now, but
Damn, he can play, and man does he pick good music!