2014 CD Reviews - Joe Bonamassa - Different Shades of Blue

[TageRyche]

Joe Bonamassa

Different Shades of Blue

J & R Adventures - 2014

http://www.jbonamassa.com

I've repeatedly raved about musical projects that guitarist Joe Bonamassa has been involved with from three albums with Black Country Communion to his two cover album collaborations with Beth Hart.

Those albums have been superb through and through, but until now, I've never actually sunk my teeth into his solo blues career. Given that this is what he is best known for, it seems like a rather large oversight on my part. So when I saw the video for the title track to this Different Shades of Blue release, I knew that I had to check it out. Repeated viewings of said video (which you can see below) only served to further whet the appetite for this disc. By the way, the title cut is simply phenomenal in all respects. But the chorus of "When you got nothing left to lose / Might Sound good but I'm not sure that's true / You carry the pain around and that sees you through / The different shades of blue" really hit home with me.

I have to say that neither I nor anyone else who listens to the album will come away disappointed.  While I'm not quite the blues aficionado, I do know what I like and the blues of Joe Bonamassa is delivered in an epic fashion that manages to incorporate both traditional blues and more theatrical rock and roll vibe. There are also  a few songs on the disc that took me back to something reminiscent of big band.

While Joe Bonamassa is always going to be more renowned for his guitar pyrotechnics (and fiery licks are in abundance), his vocals are really quite superb as well. He even manages to harken back a bit to the early days of Bad Company with the song "Never Give All Your Heart". The song, co-written by Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain, has a slow-to-mid-tempo feel with an edgy vocal turn that made it sound like Paul Rodgers himself had done a guest vocal turn on the track.

The album opens with a cover of the Hendrix instrumental "Hey Baby (New Rising Sun") featuring some very chunky guitar lines and setting the stage for the rest of the album.

The various song styles employed really give a nice mix to the track listing. "Heartache Follows Wherever I Go" teases and draws you in with a mid-tempo slink, while the tension fraught performance of "Get Back My Tomorrow" has an edge that could cut glass. The guitar work on this track is as nimble as it is subtle, building tension over the course of the track.

I mentioned that there is a big band sound on a few of the album cuts. On "I Gave Up Everything For You, 'Cept The Blues" finds Bonamassa singing about everything done to please the object of his affection. Meanwhile, "Trouble Town" (co-written by Gary Nicholson) features a slick guitar solo combined with a bouncy musical accompaniment. Both songs, along with "Living On The Moon" had me bouncing my head along and if I had any dancing ability at all, I probably would've been moving my whole body. Yes, Bonamassa, along with main co-writers James House, Jerry Flowers and Jeffrey Steele, created songs you can move to.

As a side note, the album's liner notes are a well executed package. Containing an introductory essay from Bonamassa detailing the origins of the album, to a listing of the gear (guitars and amps) used to record the CD, it gives you a lot of information to help guide you as you listen. The album was produced by Bonamassa's long time musical collaborator Kevin Shirley who has also worked with notables like Iron Maiden, Journey and Dream Theater amongst his extensive credits.

The song "Oh Beautiful!" mixes a sedate vocal delivery with a thrilling electrically charged music stomp. The guitar solo for the song is outstanding. The album's closing track "So, What Would I Do" slows the pace down with a reflective lyrical take that manages to bring things to a close and makes you want to spin the disc all over again.

Besides the title track, my personal favorite song was "Love Ain't A Love Song", which features a nasty little foot stomping boogie with Bonamassa's guitars digging into your brain as he sings "All I know is the woman I knew didn't get me too far / Ain't nobody love you better, ain't nobody but me / All I want is a fair shake at love, get a little something for free / Ain't nobody work harder / Ain't nobody love you more / All I know it's the fall of a man wearing the crown of thorns". The song burns with that expected bluesy vibe and adds in a fiery mix of rock and roll that makes the song work that much more.

Whether it is blues, rock and roll, big band or whatever other musical genre distinctions you want to toss out, Joe Bonamassa has shown over the course of his career that he is extremely adept at crossing genre lines while maintaining a high level of artistic integrity. With Different Shades of Blue, he comes back to his home base of the blues for the first time in two years and we as music lovers are richer for the experience.

To sum it up as briefly as I can, Joe Bonamassa's Different Shades of Blue is what a musical experience should be: An all encompassing journey that entertains, thrills and energizes any music lover who hears what the artist in full bloom has to offer.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Pretty spot on with that review Jay.  The title track, Love Ain't A Love Song and Oh Beautiful are absolutely terrific songs.  This one is fighting a couple of worthy adversaries to make my Top 10 of 2014 list.

[Gordon Williams]

Forgot to add that it is very interesting on the video. It shows Joe playing rhythm guitar on the Strat, but he used a Les Paul for his lead fills. If I ever get into a real studio, I plan on doing the same. Mixing and matching guitar types, sounds, and tones. Fun to do and adds sonic richness!!

[Gordon Williams]

Excellent review, TageRyche. In fact, the review is good enough to where now this release is on my purchase radar. I went elsewhere and heard some additional sound bites. Perhaps Mr. Bonamassa will send you a royalty check???

I'd like to add a few more comments. I too think Bonamassa is a great singer, as well as guitarist. In fact, I've been thinking that since I heard Joe's vocals on the BCC stuff, of which I am a big fan and have all 3 discs. I also thought it was cool to see the two pictures that are with your review.

Being an amatuer player, but a lover of guitars, it was interesting to see the first picture. This is the first time I've ever seen Joe holding a guitar other than a Gibson Les Paul. Most blues players play the Fender Stratocaster, which Joe has in the first picture. The other picture on the couch shows him with several guitar types, including a Gibson Flying V.

I did also read elsewhere that he used 20 different, vintage guitars on this new record, so it has a lot of different guitar tones. And he used 13 different amps during the recording. Very cool.

[TageRyche]

Gordon,

I appreciate the thought, but I doubt JB is going to be cutting me a check!

On the BCC albums, I can't really recall Bonamassa's vocal tracks that much because I was so focused both on his guitar playing and the singing of Glenn Hughes. It's been a while since I've listened to the discs, so probably time I take them out and give them another spin.

First time I've ever had feedback on the pictures I've used in a review. But both pics are from the album or still shot from the video. I try to make sure that I match up non-album art pictures to the right timeframes.

Glad  you liked the review and I hope you enjoy the album when you get it in your hands.