Black Rock

I can't remember when I was last excited waiting for an album to arrive - probably in the 1970s. It came Friday 26th March and I put it straight into the CD player. This album is fantastic and worth the wait. As ever Joe's playing is exceptional. His singing, never a strong point in the past, has improved 100 fold. The use of Greek instruments on the album enhances certain tracks. Joes sound is big and full now he tends to lean towards the use of humbucking pickups and mahogany. Caveman Kevin's production brings out the sound. The band are very strong and the use of horns on Night Live, along with BB's soloing and vocals are fabulous. The track could become a classic if it wasn't a classic already! On Wandering Earth the amplifier hum is evident in the silent bit at the start - was that intentional? Nice to see that Joe explains how to pronounce his name on the sleeve notes. I've never been able to get my mouth around it but it is BOHN-NAH-MAH-SAH. For the geeks there is a list of equipment he used on the album. We truly are witnessing the blooming of one of the worlds finest guitarists and I hope he comes to Manchester UK soon.

kind of falls between a number of stools in that it is a mixture of styles, with blues, rock, acoustic and some Greek folk thrown in for good measure. Because of all this it is a very good album, which continues to get better to more it is listened to. On first listening thought 'Bird on a Wire' was over produced, but third time around it works just perfect. Eric Johnson albums mix styles and somehow don't quite work, but Mr Bonamassa, who by the way can also play a mean guitar, manages to pull it off. Thoroughly recommended

Let me say first that I loved You & Me, Sloe Gin & The Ballad Of John Henry.The last named being my favourite album for a very long time. So the album that follows that was always going to be up against it. I have listened to Black Rock several times now & I have to admit to be being slightly underwhelmed.Quarrymens Lament & Blue & Evil are both excellent tracks but apart from them I am struggling to rate this as high as Joe's previous work. He has a prolific output so perhaps its no surprise that he has been unable to maintain a really high standard.So if you are a fan then buy this,if you are new to Joe's work then you could do better by checking out the 3 albums I have already listed.

Christmas present

After my two best friends who in my opinion know a good singer/songwriter when they hear one. Told me to listen to Joe (who dont know each other & live 200 miles apart). It was like a giant kick in the head. Rock/blues has a new king. That was a few months ago. Black rock is my 3rd buy & so far the best. I was lucky enough to see JO BO live on his latest tour. What joe can do with his fingers..wow. A truly magnificent showman who can only get better.

This is one of my fav Joe Bonamassa albums. It's got a real "live" feel to it. Some superb covers and great own compositions. I'm not going to break it down track by track as i hate that in a review. Lets just say it's a little different with some interesting influences. I love all Joe's stuff but to me this album has a holiday feel, like Joe has gone for a break and played for fun. BUY IT, YOU'LL LOVE IT.

Very good blues album..worth adding to your collection of jb music

Having been impressed with Joe's previous 2 studio albums (Sloe Gin and The Ballad of John Henry) I was looking forward to this one. Certainly you can't accuse Joe of standing still. Although a blues player each of these last 3 albums are very different. In this one he mixes (with variable results) Greek instruments into his sound. Also the sound at times seems a trifle 'strange' (must be the studio electronics in this Greek studio) and curiously 'cold' - my advice to Joe would be find a studio with a good sound! There's a mixture of acoustic blues and heavy/rock blues plus a great duet with BB King but overall I can't help feeling this isn't his best effort.

"Blue and Evil" hit me right away as one gem of this album, while "Athens to Athens" struck me as an energetic breath of fresh air. Joe's vocals are impressive on this album. "Bird on a Wire" is a beautiful piece, just like his live performance of the same song. This album is well rounded, with a variety of styles and moods. Once you give it a full listen, or even a small break between sessions, you might see the immense talent Joe has as both a guitarist and artist, in general. Every Bonamassa fan, especially those who have seen him live, looks forward to something unique from his guitar arsenal. What you get here is clean-sharp, bluesy guitar on "Look over Yonders Wall", British-blues-Beck, gritty guitar on "Spanish Boots", and some deep, bluesy riffs on "I know a Place." "Quarryman's Lament" is a new favorite of mine, blending a Mediterranean feel with Joe's personal style. And if you like that Zeppelin-esque riff in "Blue and Evil", like I do, listen to Joe's live version of "Just Got Paid/Dazed and Confused" from the album "Shepherd's Bush," which is hard to find. It and the album are ridiculous. Anyone who can play Jimmy Paige better than Paige, including the slapping of the strings and incredible wah wah (sorry-no violin bow here), gets my props. Did I mention it's live and that he nails it every time? Now if we can get Joe to cover "How Many More Times," then I would bow down to the master. The only thing I wish Joe would do on a future album is bring back a bit of the Strat that originally made "A New Day Yesterday" a favorite album and concert video of mine. Oh, and more twelve-string work at some point, would be a huge bonus, too. Great album Joe. It was great meeting you in Southern California a few years back. You were very approachable and eager to talk music. Keep it humble and keep it rockin'. What makes you great is your ability to transcend the traditional blues, incorporate your own style (Gibson, acoustic-classic, slide, etc.) while mastering others, and keep it fresh and interesting.

Un album bellissimo di Bonamassa

Après "The ballad of John Henry" (voir ma chronique) encore un opus éblouissant de ce jeune chanteur guitariste de blues. Un blues (très) rock agrémenté ici de quelques instrumentations exotiques car enregistré en Grèce..... rien de choquant tout est très bien intégré et donne à l'ensemble une couleur vraiment unique et parfois magique (l'excellent Blue and Evil). Avec comme invité sur un morceau le mythique mais toujours bien vivant (ah son rire!!) BB King, un maître bien sûr insurpassable mais on devine bien chez Bonammassa ce que le King - qui en 3 notes écrit l'histoire du blues- a apporté au jeu du junior : dépouillement, efficacité directe, le spirit of blues simplement. Un disque toujours plein d'énergie à déguster et écouter en boucle! Je l'ai vu sur scène et je peux vous le dire : ça déménage méchant!!!! Allez : un disque comme ça par an, je suis preneur!!!!

Zugegeben: Nach dem ersten Hören war ich ein wenig enttäuscht. Zwar geht's gleich ziemlich rockig mit "Steal Your Heart Away" los aber es wollte zuerst kein Funke überspringen. Doch man muss einfach penetrant sein und darf nicht aufgeben!!! Denn die CD gewinnt bei jedem Durchlauf. Die Stücke werden mit Zeit immer eingängiger, sind perfekt gespielt und klingen trotzdem nicht zu "trocken", d.h. zu glatt. Die Tatsache, dass B.B. King bei "Nightlife" ein wenig mitgeholfen hat, ist ein weiterer Pluspunkt. Obwohl ich nicht unbedingt ein B.B. King-Fan bin, passen sein Spiel und Stimme perfekt in das Album hinein. Und zum Glück spielt er nur bei einem Lied mit, ist ein wirklicher Gastmusiker (und zwar der Einzige) und nicht ein Zugpferd, um den Verkauf anzukurbeln. Weiterhin ist positiv zu bewerten, dass auf diesem Album 5 Eigenkompositionen von Joe Bonamassa zu finden sind. Hier lohnen sich als Anspiel-Tipps die ruhigeren "Quarryman's Lament" und "Athens to Athens". Wirklich fein gespielt und in Kombination mit Joes Bluesstimme eine "Ohrenweide". Die Interpretation von John Hiatts "I Know A Place" ist meines Erachtens gut gelungen. Man vermisst nicht die unverwechselbare Stimme und das Spiel von Hiatt - man bekommt stattdessen einen satten Bluesrock mit typischem Bonamassa, gespickt mit Bombastelementen (wie auch z.B. bei der Eigenkomposition "Blue And Evil") "Lock Over Yonder Wall", "Night Life" und "Three Times A Fool" beginnen von vornherein unverwechselbar bluesig, weisen deutlich weniger Rockelemente auf und klingen sehr gefällig. Bei diesen Stücken bedarf es kein Eingewöhnen - Blues pur! Leonard Cohens "Bird On A Wire" kommt am Anfang etwas orientalisch 'rüber (lag es am Studio) - gefällt mir aber sogar besser als Cohens Version. Gerade bei den Cover-Versionen habe ich mir angewöhnt, im direkten Vergleich das Original anzuspielen / zu hören, denn häufig habe ich eine falsche akustische Erinnerung an das Original und ein kleines Auffrischen des Originals erleichtert das Urteil über das Cover eindeutig. Genauso laut wie das Album begann, so leise endet es: "Baby You Gotta Change Your Mind" fliesst locker und leicht aus den Boxen. Gekonntes Zupfen an der Akustikgitarre, ein wenig Pfeifen im Hintergrund sowie dezentes Percussion geben einen gekonnten Abklang! Kompliment! Fazit: Geduld ist eine Tugend - und eröffnet den Ohren ein tolles Blues-Rock-Album!

This CD is an amazing disc for the price, Joe Bonamassa is really hitting the market with a storm. He has so many discs out on the market at one time. Each and every one of them a hot and steaming blues wonder, so it is very hard to say that this disc is better than that one, i have been taking a quick and deadly course on Joe Bonamassa and i am beginning to see the chore in front of me...EVERYTHING is great, so simply go at it. IT is sort of saying pick your favorite Clapton disc...they are all great so simply enjoy this era or that era he plays great through his whole life just different at different parts.