Joe Bonamassa “Breakthrough” Single Review
Artwork by Hugh Syme
Joe Bonamassa has just announced Breakthrough, his most adventurous and genre-blending studio album to date, out July 18th via his own J&R Adventures. At the heart of the announcement is the release of the album’s powerful title track—“Breakthrough”—a soulful, hard-hitting anthem about letting go, moving forward, and finding your fire again, available today on all streaming platforms.
Wonderfully produced by longtime creative partner Kevin Shirley (Iron Maiden, The Black Crowes, Journey), the album was shaped by sessions in Greece, Egypt, Nashville, and Los Angeles.
When you see Joe Bonamassa live it's his name above the door but he has a wonderful band every one of them a world class musician and this single has every ingredient of that all rolled into 4 minutes and 29 seconds of sublime mastery.
It grooves it rocks it blues and it has a huge chorus and all underpinned by bass and drums and backing vocals from heaven. Reese Wynans on keys also adds a quick solo before verse 2 with the style and grace only he can add to the palate. Each musician has a place and the production gives them all place to breathe and showcase all of their talents.
At the heart of the single is the hardest working musician on the planet.
His world class vocal melody line in the verse shows poise and control and the chorus is built for the freeway and the hood down.
The diamond in a smorgasbord of musical joy is Joe's guitar playing that he never ceases to amaze.
The heavy blues riff is a thing of beauty and I love solo's that blast out of the speakers.
Breakthrough has plenty of add lib soloing whether in the verse and whether it's a few short seconds or the mid song break out nothing goes to waste.
It all comes together in the last 30 seconds with Joe soloing under and alongside the chorus with band and backing vocals in perfect unison.
You run out of superlatives to describe Joe's music and with Breakthrough this is up their with the best output of his stellar career and I can't wait to see this song played on the live stage asap.
