Posted by Two years after Joe Bonamassa’s feisty but faithful covers and standards album Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 he is back in the saddle with Breakthrough. Produced, like most of his others, by Kevin Shirley his 17th record is a dynamic and melodious 45 minutes of rock and roll.
The choice of singles demonstrate the albums focus on song craft and its varied sound. The title track is the latest single and is a classic slice of Bonamassa bluesy rock with an emphatic riff and a hearty chorus espousing a typical I’m glad we are through message. ‘Still Walking With Me’ is a foot tapping, honky tonk good time with an irresistible joie de vivre. This focus on the song also shines through in the flashy but restrained guitar solos, which are miles away from the indulgent noodling he is sometimes guilty of. The first single ‘Shake This Ground’ is a left field choice, a light and breezy pop song with a rich vein of melancholy – it is a bit lightweight but makes for a refreshing change of pace.
Despite the array of sounds, it is homogenous LP with a natural ebb and flow and at 45 minutes the perfect runtime. From fiery, driving rockers like ‘Trigger Finger’, with its Stevie Ray Vaughan solo, and the bottled Led Zep lightning of ‘You Don’t Own Me’ to the taut, funky swing and Blackberry Smoke shuffle of ‘Drive By The Exit Sign’. It ticks the big bluesy ballad box as well in ‘Broken Record’, which is slow and heartfelt but at nigh on 7 minutes outstays its welcome. The album’s changeability is reflected in its international recording, with sessions in Egypt, Greece, Los Angeles and Nashville.
Breakthrough is a catchy and well crafted collection of blues infused rock and roll, with a hearty amount of funk, soul and swing. The histrionics and lengthy guitar work is dialled down, and the album is all the better for it.
8/10
Lofty Music and Film 