Review Summary: One of Bonamassa's best with a wide variety of musical styles.
Joe Bonamassa is one of the best blues guitarist on the scene today. His songwriting is ever growing, and though 8 of the songs are covers, his own works stand among them as classics of their own. Here's a song-by-song analysis:
1. Steal Your Heart Away - Joe wastes no time getting right into it. His voice is just amazing on this. Gone is the raw, shakiness of A New Day Yesterday. He has a masterful control and tone. His guitar playing is definitely up to scratch aswell. 5/5
2. I Know A Place - Joe continues in a similar vein with this track, though not quite as powerful. Another great track. 4.5/5
3. When The Fire Hits the Sea - The first Bonamassa original on the album and a truly great one. A really catchy, bouncy track with great drumming and guitar. 5/5
4. Quarryman's Lament - Another Bonamassa original and the first track to show off the Greek influence (it was recorded at Black Rock Studios in Greece.) This one is a grower and one of the best on the album. 5/5
5. Spanish Boots - A great song, faithful to the original. Perhaps too much so, though. Well, it does definitely update the song, Joe really doesn't a huge amount to the already great song, though still a wonderful listen. 4.5/5
6. Bird On A Wire - The song that made me listen to this album. Just beautiful. This song is a classic that has been covered by everyone, but for me this is the best version. The strange Greek wind instrument which opens it, let by Joe's heartfelt performance. Truly it is perfection. 5/5
7. Three Times A Fool - A really fun song. A real homage to the rock'n'roll of the 50's with the guitar playing. If you like that kind of music, you'll love this one. 5/5
8. Night Life - This one is with B.B King, who Joe first played with at the age of 12. I find this one to be one of the weaker songs, but it's still an enjoyable listen. 4/5
9. Wandering Earth - Another of my favourites. Blues at its best. Great guitar and organ work on this one. 5/5
10. Look Over Yonder's Wall - Another great blues cover. Really fun song with great guitar playing and vocals. 5/5
11. Athens to Athens - A great song, though the melody is "borrowed" from a Ry Cooder song, which name eludes me at the moment. Perhaps, it's a traditional melody though, I'm really not sure. 4.5/5
12. Blue And Evil - One of the best on the album. Starts off with a Spanish sounding acoustic guitar playing a really cool riff, then the electric guitar bursts in and it's just awesome. 5/5
13. Baby You Gotta' Change Your Mind - A simple acoustic blues songs (though with fantastic guitar playing from Joe.) A really fun song (which I believe was recorded after they had had a few drinks, due to the amusing little opening.) A great way to close a great album. 5/5 Overall, this is a fantastic album with wonderful instrumentation and vocals. I would recommend this to any fan of Bonamassa or the blues.
