The hardest working artist in music today, Joe Bonamassa, is back with his 12th studio solo album, and once again he's delivered all original material this time around on Blues of Desperation. The guitarist/vocalist has a stellar cast surrounding him, including drummers Anton Fig & Greg Morrow, former Stevie Ray Vaughn keyboard player Reese Wynans, bassist Michael Rhodes, Lee Thornburg on trumpet, sax players Paulie Cerra & Mark Douthit, and backing vocalists Mahalia Barnes, Jade McRae, and Juanita Tippins. Blues of Desperation again dips into blues, rock, and soul, featuring a wealth of red hot Bonamassa guitar work and the gritty, emotional vocals we've come to expect from this now veteran musician.
Continuing on with the variety we saw on 2014's Different Shades of Blue, this latest album features some shuffling blues ("This Train", "No Good Place for the Lonely", "You Left Me Nothing But the Bill and the Blues"), crunchy hard rock ("Mountain Climbing", "Distant Lonesome Train", "Blues of Desperation"), and atmospheric, R&B tinged numbers ("Drive", The Valley Runs Low", "How Deep This River Runs"). Having the backup singers on board adds a richness to the vocal melodies alongside Joe's already strong delivery, and with Reese's smoky organ & piano, as well as the horns, the gun slinger has a great framework to fire off some impressive solos throughout. Standout tracks are easily the snarling hard rock of "Mountain Climbing", the heartfelt blues of "What I've Known For a Very Long Time", and the moody but somewhat heavy title cut, but it's all quite strong and enjoyable, Bonamassa seemingly getting very confident with his own compositions as there are no cover tunes again to be found here. Though we do get more titles with 'trains' in them, but I guess we can live what that.
Whether you call him a bluesman or rocker, guitarist & vocalist Joe Bonamassa has entertained audiences for close to 20 years with a dozen solo albums, numerous live releases, collaborations with Beth Hart, Black Country Communion, and Rock Candy Funk Party. Blues of Desperation is further proof that there is no slowing down this hard working musician. The 'train' keeps on rolling...
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
1) This Train
2) Mountain Climbing
3) Drive
4) No Good Place for the Lonely
5) Blues of Desperation
6) The Valley Runs Low
7) You Left Me Nothin' But the Bill and the Blues
8) Distant Lonesome Train
9) How Deep this River Runs
10) Livin' Easy
11) What I've Know For a Very Long Time
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