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Joe Bonamassa: Driving Towards The Daylight Review

Joe Bonamassa is back for his 13th album, Driving Towards The Daylight. The album was produced by Kevin Shirley and saw the dynamic duo return to Las Vegas for a back-to-basics album, which was recorded at the same studio as their first joint album, You & Me. Driving Towards The Daylight is definitely the bluesiest album from Bonamassa in the past few years. The album consists of four originals and seven covers. Kevin Shirley wanted to push Bonamassa out of his comfort zone and did so by bringing in a talented group of session players, including Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford.

The album kicks off with the Bonamassa-penned “Dislocated Boy,” a powerful rocker that is sure to become a fan favorite. Next up is a Robert Johnson cover, “Stones In My Passway,” which is a modern blues rock take on a 75-year-old song. The title-track follows and is one of the strongest songs Bonamassa has written to date. Bonamassa has joked at live performances about never writing a “hit” song, but if he were to, “Driving Towards The Daylight” has as good of a shot as any.

Once “Who’s Been Talkin’,” a Howling Wolf cover begins, the album really moves in that back-to basics direction. “I Got All You Need” and “A Place In My Heart” are amongst the bluesiest tracks on the album before “Lonely Town Lonely Street” hits, which moves back in the blues rock direction, and features a monstrous performance from Anton Fig behind the kit. “Heavenly Soul,” one of the Bonamassa-penned tracks features a great riff and is perhaps the most interesting song vocally. Tom Waits’ “New Coat Of Paint” is next followed by “Somewhere Trouble Don’t Go,” an upbeat rock tune that will get the fans on their feet. The album closes with the Jimmy Barnes classic, “Too Much Ain’t Enough Love,” featuring none other than Jimmy Barnes, who delivers with killer vocals.

Driving Towards The Daylight is yet another fine performance from the blues rock titan. The album sees Joe return to the blues and in a big way. With this being Bonamassa’s 13th album, it may finally be the lucky one that sees Joe driving towards the Grammy.

The Review: 9/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– Dislocated Boy
– Driving Towards The Daylight
– Heavenly Soul
– Somewhere Trouble Don’t Go
– Too Much Ain’t Enough Love (w/ Jimmy Barnes)

The Big Hit

– Driving Towards The Daylight

Review by Pete Francis

Buy the album: Amazon | iTunes

Pete Francis

Pete Francis is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Blues Rock Review. Pete founded Blues Rock Review in 2010 because he felt there was a major void in how the blues rock genre was covered. Pete is the host of Blues Rock Weekly and a co-host on the Blues Rock Show.

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