Columbia

Finally, a collection of live songs made more annoying by a stadium of screaming morons and improvisational guitar noodling.

"Where the Light Is" is split into two CDs, as John Mayer plays acoustic guitar and leads a trio on the first disc, and performs with a full band on the second.

The hit "Waiting on the World to Change" is somehow more horrifying live. On the acoustic front, Mayer opens the album with "Neon," peppered with ferocious string jabbing. The torch of guitar tragedy has been handed off, and in some dark corner, Carlos Santana sits huddled and weeping.

Just before launching into his acoustic version of "Daughters," some gushing nitwit screams out, "We love you! Thank you so much!" to which Mayer responds with a breathless whisper, "I love you, too," which is much too much. He then goes on to cover Tom Petty's "Free Fallin,'" which is disgracefully dull and sweet, containing none of the aching struggle in which the original version was steeped.

"Where the Light Is" is light fare for music lightweights.

"”Joe Wertz