If you've never heard of Joe Bonamassa before, you should be ashamed. Bonamassa's particular brand of blues rock has seen him gain a Number One on the billboard blues chart as well as a headline concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
'Dust Bowl' is Bonamassa's 12th album in almost as many years and it doesn't disappoint. If I could describe the album in a word it would be, diverse. Fortunately I have many more words to use and will continue with the review.
If any fans were left slightly disappointed with last year's effort 'Black Rock', let me assure you that this album is the one that should have followed 'Ballad of John Henry'. In all honesty it was total worth the wait and disappointment.
What Bonamassa does here and what he's always done is strike that awkward balance between rock and blues and pull it off with supercool style. There is a good helping of what we've come to expected right off the bat. 'Slow Train' and title-track 'Dust Bowl' are the kind of rocking blues ballads that have that Bonamassa style to them. While 'Tennessee Plates', 'You Better Watch Yourself' and 'Sweet Rowena' provide more of a honkey-tonk, country sound that i've not really heard from Bonamassa before.
As usual, the album features a couple of guest appearances. Country legend Vince Gill adds his vocal and guitar playing talents on two tracks. Joe has also enlisted the help of fellow Black Country Communion band member, front man Glenn Hughes. Who adds his vocal styling to 'Heartbreaker'.
For me the best track has to be 'Black Lung Heartache'. Its a kind of East meets West ballad, a tune that would feel at home on the soundtrack of the short lived sci-fi series Firefly.
Bonamassa only wrote or co-wrote half the songs on this album, which is a shame as the other six are probably the weaker tracks. Just a note for next time Joe, write your own stuff! Having said that, the weaker songs are still pretty good and I really can't take anything away from this album. Despite its diversity of songs the whole thing gels together really well. 'Dust Bowl' features tracks that expands Bonamassa's range but also shows he hasn't lost sight of his roots.
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If any fans were left slightly disappointed with last year's effort 'Black Rock', let me assure you that this album is the one that should have followed 'Ballad of John Henry'. In all honesty it was total worth the wait and disappointment.
