Joanne Shaw Taylor: Black and Gold Review
Joanne Shaw Taylor’s 10th studio album Black and Gold, releases on the 6th of June, and blues rock fans are in for a real treat this summer. The album features an excellent lineup of backing musicians: Anton Fig on drums, Alison Prestwood on bass, Jimmy Wallace on keys, Doug Lancio and Audley Freed on guitar, Joe Bonamassa guests on “All the Things I Said” and “Who’s Gonna Love Me Now?”, and Savannah Hadigan and Sheridan Gates on backup vocals. It’s a stellar lineup that puts together a very respectable album, continuing the excellent track record of releases for our genre in the first half of 2025.
Black and Gold features 11 tracks that can best be described as eclectic, in a great way. The album features a heavy focus on blending the trappings of blues rock with indie, 80s pop, and Americana. The album’s first third is the least powerful, with “Hold of My Heart,” “All The Things I Said,” and the title track “Black & Gold” being interesting tracks with country, pop, and soul influences (in that order) but they don’t quite reach the heights of the later parts of the record. “Who’s Gonna Love Me Now” stands out in particular, almost sounding like a Kate Bush track with the synths.
The last half of the album is an absolute knockout, tracks five through 11 are all stellar. It’s no coincidence that most of the rock-heavy side of the album is the side with the most impact and dynamic themes. The other genre influences make the record interesting and innovative, but Taylor is really at her best here when she’s rocking out on tracks like “Hell of a Good Time” and “Look What I’ve Become.” While the title track is good and the recent single “Grayer Shade Of Blue” is an interesting pop-infused tune, the real stars of the album are the two closing numbers, “What Are You Gonna Do Now” and “Love Lives Here.”
“What Are You Gonna Do Now” is the the most fun and moving track on the record for my money, while the closer “Love Lives Here” is the best example on the record of blending different genres with blues rock, using lots of keys work and sound landscapes reminiscent of gospel including an uplifting call and response in the chorus.
Black and Gold might take a couple tracks to really get into its groove, but once it gets going, it’s really firing on all cylinders, showcasing some of the best of Taylor’s playing, writing, and style. Listening to Black and Gold, it’s easy to see why she’s among the leading musicians in the genre today. This is a very strong entry in Taylor’s discography, and all of her best qualities as a musician are on display here, perfectly accompanied by a fantastic band and guests.
The Review: 9/10
Can’t Miss Tracks
– Love Lives Her
-Hell of a Good Time
– Look What I’ve Become
– What Are You Gonna Do Now
The Big Hit
– What Are You Gonna Do Now
Joanne Shaw Taylor’s “Black and Gold” offers a diverse blues rock experience. While the initial tracks explore pop and country influences, the album truly shines later. Tracks 5-11 deliver a powerful, rock-heavy punch. The eclectic mix keeps things fresh, but Taylor excels when rocking out. It’s a rollercoaster of sounds, not unlike the levels in Geometry Dash , some challenging, some smooth, but always engaging. A solid addition to the 2025 music scene.
This is probably the most stylistic diverse album she has done. I actually like the more pop oriented tracks 1-4. It sounds like she wanted to take a stab at the more melodic side of rock and for me it works well. I can understand why most long-time fans will prefer the later songs which is why she probably didn’t want to get too bold and produce an entire album that deviates so dramatically from what fans expect.
Has JST lost her mojo and become overproduced?
I just saw an amazing show at the Blue Ocean in Salisbury, ma. Joanne loves her guitar as if it were a beautiful lover. She is the incarnation of Stevie Ray on guitar! She sings as though Janice and Bonnie are channeling through her, but with a sound all of her own! She has a black soul that is exposed in her amazing blues style! Watching her love her guitar with a spine tingling,ecstatic experience!
Just read this review of Joanne Shaw Taylor’s “Black and Gold” on Blues Rock Review. Sounds like a solid album, especially the latter half! Definitely gonna give this a listen. I’m really interested in the eclectic blend of blues rock and other genres. I’m excited to experience all the goodness with this blues rock album!
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Great review of Joanne Shaw Taylor’s Black and Gold. I appreciate the note on how the album’s eclectic blend of blues rock, pop, and Americana really showcases her versatility. The second half especially seems to capture a raw energy that fits her style. Music often gives us a window into an artist’s personality, and that depth is part of what makes albums like this so engaging. On a related note, if you’re curious about exploring personality in a different way, an AI palm reader can provide intriguing insights just from a photo of your palm. It’s a fun tool for self-discovery.
Great review – I completely agree that the rock-heavy tracks in the second half are where Joanne Shaw Taylor really shines. The blend of genres is impressive, and the synths on “Who’s Gonna Love Me Now” add an unexpected layer. For those interested in how technology can analyze musical patterns or study genre evolution, there’s a growing intersection of AI and music research. I’ve been following a hub that aggregates the latest news and tools for AI in science and research, which often covers fascinating applications in audio processing and musicology. If that sounds useful, check out AI for scientific research tools to stay updated on how artificial intelligence is transforming fields like music theory and production. It’s a valuable resource for anyone looking beyond the surface of creative work.
Having Joe Bonamassa guest on two tracks while Anton Fig holds down the drums makes Black and Gold feel like a reunion of that Bonamassa-adjacent circle. I agree the indie and 80s pop touches are a bold move for a 10th album, though I’d push back slightly on the opening third being weakest, since “All the Things I Said” grew on me after a few listens.
Great review. Ten albums in and Joanne Shaw Taylor still sounds hungry, and Black and Gold seems to balance her blues roots with bigger rock moments. Her guitar tone alone is worth the listen.