When I heard Mayer's first song (the high school one) I thought 'well, he 
sounds a bit like Dave Matthews, but that's a pretty good song.'  His 
following single didn't really grab me though and I think that's where the 
problem lies.  Mayer is a decent artist and talent but a little on the bland 
side.  I've read some funny nicknames for him elsewhere on the internet such 
as John Mayernaise or Dave Matthews Lite.

As for Norah Jones, her sound is a through back.  She had me thinking Carole 
King "Tapestry."   In this day and age of histrionic, bombastic, vocal 
gymnastic singers such as Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and all 
the up and coming/American Idol types who copy their styles, Norah Jones is a 
breath of fresh air.  Her grammy sweep may have been a bit much but I think 
that's just a reflection of the music biz's usual myopia that when something 
different and refreshing comes along, its treated like the second coming.

Laurie Collins
http://www.lulastream.com