Review by Taf Rock for MPM
Joe Bonamassa – there can’t be many music fans out there who haven’t heard of the 48 year old American guitarist who never seems to stop recording and releasing material in a swathe of guises be it as a solo artist, alongside other stars of the music world or as part of a supergroup. Such is the prolific nature of Joe that Breakthrough (produced by Kevin Shirley) becomes his seventeenth solo studio album. Cast aside all preconceived ideas you may have as Breakthrough sees Joe herald a fresh approach. The horns and orchestration of recent albums are nowhere to be found as Joe delights with ten brand new original songs, each one delivering a story with soulful heartfelt vocals encased in a rocky outer shell.
The opening title track sees Joe ‘take a hammer… knock down the walls’ with a big chunky riff-filled sonic explosion. Guitar, keyboards, driving rhythm section in unison create a vibrant catchy tune. Joe’s guitar duelling with the keys midpoint. ‘The blues can pull you down and leave you empty’ but this song has quite the opposite effect, Joe’s quality vocals delivering an uplifting encouraging message, grabbing the listeners attention, setting us up for an enjoyable journey.
There’s no let up in the pace as Joe takes aim and Trigger Finger releases multiple rounds of lethal bullets in quick succession. ‘I’ve got a lot of words – might just write a song’, Joe is certainly true to his word throughout this album as he partakes in the creation of each of Breakthrough’s ten tracks. Tom Hambridge is co-writer of this particular gem. Joe assisted by his female backing singers creating a gang fight style sing-a-long chorus ‘when one door slams… baby I’m free’.
Joe reminds us he’s a blues guitarist at heart during I’ll Take The Blame. A typical blues riff ensues as Joe holds his hand up and admits his errors. ‘She’s the one I took for granted’ he confesses as he begs for forgiveness – not in a down n out manner but with a jovial acceptance of his wrong doing. Just in case his pleas fall on deaf ears Joe delivers a magical, enchanting solo. That should do the trick!!
Scintillating slide guitar distracts, causing us to daydream and Drive By The Exit Sign. ‘Not a care in the world’ as Joe and the band enthral us once again with an intoxicating infusion of keyboards and southern rock. Aided by his backing singers Joe’s upbeat vocals perform a magical act employing smoke and mirrors to disguise the message of missed opportunities and emotional baggage left by the roadside.
Take a seat and allow yourself to marvel at seven minutes of Bonamassa magic. Broken Record harks back to yesteryear and has an almost Sloe Gin feel to it. A true epic of a ballad. The sheer beauty as the guitar caresses your senses, the orchestral keyboards combine with Joe’s soulful vocals to bring a calm to the choppiest of seas, raging bulls will be reduced to purring pussycats by this performance. ‘Lost on this road for too long… Lost in the wilderness.’ A track that sees you take leave of your senses as ‘the whole world stops’.
Let go of the past and look to the future is the message behind Shake This Ground a song co-written with James House. ‘Turn things around … Lose these clouds’. Joe ‘ain’t saying I have all the answers’ but he encourages positive thoughts in a bid to save a relationship.
A funky edge ensues as Joe pays tribute to friendship and loyalty throughout Still Walking With Me filling the air with good-time vibes. Demonstrating a fresh approach to his sound this song has a groovy air of danceability to it enhanced by handclaps, a gang vocal and plentiful tinkling of the ivories.
Life After Dark ebbs and flows like the tides of the greatest oceans. ‘New beginnings await’ with the crashing of each wave against the shore reflecting our journey through this ‘dark and dirty world’.
The staccato opening riff of You Don’t Own Me heralds a return to the fast paced out n out rock of our album openers. A defiant Joe exclaims ‘don’t tell me how to play the blues’ amidst a barrage of drums, keys and bass which propel us down the track faster than the Japanese bullet train as we head towards an explosion of guitar histrionics.
Another storm is about to rage’ as Pain’s On Me brings this superb exhibition of musical dexterity to a close with a trademark Bonamassa blues. ‘I haven’t had the blues this bad’ sings Joe reminding us of his musical roots, Joe’s guitar appropriately bringing the album to a close.
With over 50 albums to choose from it would be inappropriate and unfair to proclaim this as Joe’s best ever album but Breakthrough is certainly up there as one of his best, demonstrating the constant evolution of his sound. Joe’s vocals, storytelling and songwriting walking hand in hand with his six string skills to make this album the success story it is destined to be.
Breakthrough is released by J&R Adventures on July 18th and is available from https://lnk.to/JoeBonamassa in the UK
Joe-Bonamassa_photo by Mike Savoia
