I’ve always loved Joe Bonamassa’s work, always loved him live onstage and the fact that he mixes things up and keeps things fresh, loved his collaborations and covers and sure there are the songs that I always hope to hear him play live. But you know what? After hearing new album ‘Blues of Desperation’ I’m rather hoping that next time I see him he will be playing this album in full – front to back!
This has to be the album of Joe’s career to date and one of the finest Blues Rock albums I have heard in years. Recorded in just 5 days in Nashville with partner in crime Kevin Shirley handling production it’s hard really to put into words how huge this is.
From the driving, dirty blues of ‘This Train’ to the last notes of stunning closer ‘What I’ve Known for a very Long Time’ this is Bonamassa’s grittiest, most complete work to date. This is an album full of energy and no little swagger, at times it may throw a shadow here and there and take your ear with a snatch of BB King or maybe Muddy but somehow it manages to sound fresh.
‘Mountain Climbing’ for instance is built on a real rock riff, it’s a song made to take its place in the live set and is topped by a stunning solo. It’s one of the very best here nicely juxtaposed alongside ‘Drive’, one of the first mellow tracks that work so well against the hard rock backbone of the album. But if you want that harder edge there’s plenty here from ‘Blues of Desperation’ and the excellent ‘How Deep This River Runs’ and the second train-titled track ‘Distant Lonesome Train’ (my personal favourite track and as hard and driving as the album gets). Another of the best rockers though, seemingly made for crowd participation, is the wonderfully titled ‘You Left Me Nothing but the Bill and The Blues’.
Add to the list of standouts the subtle gentle breeze of the soulful ‘Valley Runs Low’ and you have an album of great songs and some nice contrasts where not a single composition disappoints. This is great Blues, and more than that its Blues that is fresh and relevant, whilst obviously still tipping its hat to history. Joe Bonamassa might just have made the album of his career to date, well we certainly think so.
TRACKLIST
This Train
Mountain Climbing
Drive
No Good Place For The Lonely
Blues Of Desperation
The Valley Runs Low
You Left Me Nothin’ But The Bill And The Blues
Distant Lonesome Train
How Deep This River Runs
Livin’ Easy
What I’ve Known For A Very Long Time
