Joe Bonamassa's new album "Breakthrough" (released by J&R Adventures on July 18) Review
Joe Bonamassa’s new album “Breakthrough” is released by J&R Adventures on July 18th and is available from https://lnk.to/JoeBonamassa (UK) and www.jbonamassa.com (USA).
Produced by long time creative partner Kevin Shirley (Iron Maiden, The Black Crowes, Journey) who has 3 writing credits too, the album was shaped by sessions in Santorini Greece, Egypt, Nashville, and Los Angeles with writing contributions from Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd) , James House, and Gary Nicholson.
Breakthrough is Joe's 17th studio album and marks his 25th year as a solo artist and sees him playing with his live band of Reese Wynans on keys, Josh Smith on guitar, Lemar Carter on on drums, Calvin Turner on bass and Jade McRae Danielle DeAndrea on backing vocals.
Apart from Broken Record which sees Stephen Massey on bass and Greg Morrow on drums.
Starting with the title track Breakthrough that was released as a single and is a soulful, hard hitting anthem about letting go and moving forward.
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.
Simply wonderful.
Trigger Finger hits hard from the word go with Lemar and Calvin driving the song on with the deep rock guitar riff a new sound from Joe. I like the way the main guitar riff is replaced in the verse with a stop start guitar riff that is then replaced in the big chorus with the original and the backing vocals fit in just so well. The guitar solo mid song sees Joe without the main riff underneath and sounding alone but it cleverly re appears as it builds back to the next chorus.
Another sure fire live on stage winner.
I'll Take The Blame is a swinging bluesy number full of everything we expect from Joe with add lib soloing and the band all playing their part with Kevin Shirley's fantastic production meaning every instrument has it's place whether it being the rhythm section, Reese keys improvisation or the backing vocals fitting in perfectly.
Drive By The Exit Sign is a mid paced number with Joe on slide guitar duties and the backing vocals more prominent and you can imagine this number stretching out in the live setting with Joe's slide add libs seeing a different side to his playing.
Photo Credit: © Ian Potter
Broken Record is the albums big ballad and one of Joe's finest ever and a showcase to his world class vocal delivery that he has developed over the last 25 years.
Slow paced with a breathless Joe vocal and held notes a plenty that leads into a big chorus with backing vocal back up and Reese adding keys depth.
Joe's slower paced guitar solo tells it's own story mid song before in the outro he opens up with a held note barrage of beautiful notes which will develop live I am sure into a showstopper.
Shake This Ground is an swinging acoustic led number with a great chorus and shows the versatility in the album that this number that shows another side to Joe's music where the music just does the talking.
Still Walking With Me is a bluesy number with Calvin's bass to the forefront as Joe ad libs effortlessly during the verse and chorus.
Life After Dark is a wonderful number with a darker edged guitar riff and slower pace that again showcases Joe's vocal melodies alongside the light and shade of the song as it dips and increases to the chorus.
A slight increase in pace as the rhythm team underpin Joe's mid song solo that is beautiful in it's simplicity and the tone impeccable.
You Don't Own Me sees the pace increase dramatically with Lemar on drums at full throttle alongside the big guitar riff and the chorus melody line is simple and to the point with the vocals just said and stopped with no lead up.
Pain's On Me ends the album on a high with a melancholic vocal delivery with Joe lamenting in the chorus I haven't had the blues this bad and all the pains on me.
A blues background beat sits well with Joe's fiery guitar pyrotechnics and the longest mid song guitar solo on the album before back to the main chorus.
The album ends on a near 2 minute guitar solo that sadly fades out as Joe shows us he is trying to let go of his pain through his guitar playing.
Every Joe Bonamassa new album is an event and Breakthrough adds it's name to the long list of majestic releases from a career catalogue that few can match.
Photo Credit: © Haluk Gurer
