Artist: Joe Bonamassa
Album: You & Me
Writer: Rick Galusha
Album by album Joe Bonamassa has shown improvement in his vocal and songwriting performances. Already a world class blues-rock guitar player, ‘You & Me’ shows this native New Yorker at the height of his game. Particularly evident are his two primary roots; B.B. King’s and a deep knowledge of the great “Classic Rock” guitar players.
A tireless road warrior Bonamassa is laying the foundation for a successful independent artist career. His latest album ‘You & Me’ is as much Mid-70’s arena rock in sound as it is contemporary electric blues. This latest effort slips into his discography as a earnest side project where Joe covers new ground and breaks away from his strong blues background leaning more towards an up-tempo rock n’ roll record.
As his songwriting skills improve Bonamassa’s skill base round out; allowing him to pull away from the vanilla pack of electric blues guitar players. The third track on the album, ‘Asking Around for You’ is a classic blues song in the finest electric tradition. Bonamassa sings “If I get to heaven, first thing I’m gonna do, before I meet my Maker, I’m gonna ask around for you.” With stretching solo breaks and strong organ backing, Asking Around for You, has all the makings for a “great” blues song that may well graduate into a standard – it is that strong.
Amid a personnel changes in the band Bonamassa used some heavyweights on this latest effort including; Jason Bonham (Healing Sixes) on drums, son of the late John Henry Bonham of Led Zeppelin fame, Carmine Rojas (Rod Stewart, David Bowie) on bass and Rick Melick (Air Supply, Andy Gibb) on organ and tambourine. Pat Thrall (Pat Travers Band, Glenn Hughes, Meatloaf) duets on guitar with Bonamassa on the track, ‘Bridge to Better Days.” Bonamassa covers the Led Zeppelin track, ‘Tea for One’ (from the Presence album) using guest vocalist Doug Henthorn (Healing Sixes).
This is a strong album with one incredible track and ten very good songs which make for an interesting but not yet fully cooked delivery from perhaps one of the blues genres finest players.
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