Joe Bonamassa Desperation Blues Review
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Recorded in Nashville just only five
days, Joe serves up 11 original tracks filled with his guitar mastery, use a
speed tempo with dual drummers, Anton Fig and Greg Morrow, bassist Michael
Rhodes, keyboardist Reese Wynans, horn players Lee Thornburg, Paulie Cerra and
Mark Douthit, and background singers Mahalia Barnes, Jade McRae and Juanita
Tippins. There is not a throw away track on this release. They are all great
combination in slightly different ways.
Recorded primarily as power quartet
with dual drummers there is no lack of rock driven swagger in blues style. Joe
seals the deal right out of the station opening things up with some excellent
slide guitar work over the chugging rhythm of “This Train.” Things take a
decidedly more intense turn with the hard riff of “Mountain Climbing” where Joe
delivers a scorcher of a solo. This should quickly become a mainstay of his
live shows like previous hits “Sloe Gin” and “The Ballad of John Henry.” Title
track “Blues of Desperation, along with “How Deep This River Runs” and “Distant
Lonesome Train” provides even more of this excellent heavy ended rhythm section
for Joe to stretch out over.
“You Left Me Nothing but the Bill and The Blues”
is a foot stomper that should have festival goers out of their seats when they
aren’t staring in wonder at Joe’s two separate solos.
This Blues Style is very cool. “No
Good Place For The Lonely” is a heavy slow blues that incorporates some
orchestral strings that would have been better off handled by Reese Wynans’
Hammond organ. Regardless, Joe creates a distorted sliding riff that creates
the undertow for this song that will suck you in.
The first single off this is
“Drive” with it is laid back groove it leads the collection of tracks that are
an effective contrast to the hard edge of rest of the album. Another contrasting
number is the acoustic and soulful “Valley Runs Low.” “Livin’ Easy” evokes a
walk down Maxwell Street with its Chicago style piano, horns and acoustic
groove. Ending this ride is the slow horn laden blues “What I’ve Known For A
Very Long Time.”
With Blues of Desperation, Joe
delivers more of his trademark sound with some surprises while pushing the
envelope of what the blues in this modern age can be.
The Review: 9.5/10
Can’t Miss Tracks
– Mountain Climbing
– Drive
– Blues of Desperation
– The Valley Runs Low
– What I’ve Known For A Very Long
Time
The Big Hit
– Mountain Climbing
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