Joanne Shaw Taylor: The Trouble With Love Review

Joanne Shaw Taylor can stand toe-to-toe with the best guitarists in the business today, and pay careful attention that I didn’t make that comparison with only female guitarists. She can flat-out play, and she possesses that smoky, bluesy voice that stands out among the very best vocalists. Plus, she’s a great songwriter. In short, she’s got it all going on.

Taylor also has a brand-new album, The Trouble With Love, dropping on October 23. For those unfamiliar (if that is even possible) with Joanne Shaw Taylor, let’s explore a little background about how she ascended to her current notoriety.

Born in Wednesbury, England (in the West Midlands area known as the “Black Country”), she grew up in a family that was musically influenced by a guitar- and harmonica-playing father who enjoyed the blues and a mother who enjoyed Motown and soul music. She spent time listening to her parents’ record collection as a youngster and played classical guitar while in school.

At the age of sixteen, she was discovered by Dave Stewart (Eurythmics). In 2009, Taylor’s first official album, White Sugar, was released, and since then, she has released ten more (including this new release), a couple of live projects, and a string of singles and EPs.

She is a multi-award-winning blues artist who has worked with artists such as Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Joe Bonamassa, Dave Stewart, Josh Smith, and others. Joanne Shaw Taylor continues to explore new territory in the blues music world, especially with this brand-new album release.

The Trouble With Love kicks off with the attention-grabbing title track, “The Trouble With Love,” which features Joanne Shaw Taylor’s close friend, Joe Bonamassa. What a great opening this tune is because it showcases some masterful guitar playing and Taylor’s sometimes-overlooked, outstanding vocal ability.

This song addresses the sad facts of failing love and how it is sometimes harder to stay than it is to leave. “And I wish I hadn’t had it, ’cause I can’t quit this habit. That’s the trouble with love.” This great piece has also been released as a video that you can find on YouTube.

The second track of this ten-song recording is “Hell Or High Water,” and it’s a great one. Do you love those gospel blues sounds? Well, it’s working here in a huge way! I love Taylor’s soulful guitar solo in this number.

She sings, “I feel no sorrow, I feel no shame. I’ve walked through fire and back again.” Taylor continues with, “Now I’m on my knees begging; Lord don’t let me falter; come hell or high water.”

The voices at the very end are such a nice touch to this well-done song that you’ll want to make sure to check out.

“What Good Is My Love” is an upbeat, happy song with negative, depressing subject matter. “No I don’t care, that you changed your mind. Baby that’s what lovers do all the time. But maybe next around, you could save somebody the fall. For now I’ll take the hit, and just call this another close call.”

She continues with, “What good is my love; what good is my love? If I’m not the one you’re thinking of?”

More great guitar work can be found on this track as Taylor sings about bad relationships that most of us can, unfortunately, relate to.

Track eight of The Trouble With Love is “Never Gonna Please ‘Em All,” and I’m just about betting that she might be referring to fans and critics of her music in this one. The opening guitar lead is “gonna” make you nod your head in rhythm. “Betcha”!

Taylor sings, “Played it safe and I played it sweet. Even sugar burns, left under the heat. Ain’t never gonna please them all.”

This is a real shake-the-walls rocker that might get you up and dancing a little “boogity, boogity, boo” around the room, especially if you crank up that volume dial.

The bottom line is that Joanne Shaw Taylor is, as Joe Bonamassa has been quoted as saying, “the total package.” I don’t disagree.

Joanne Shaw Taylor has been quoted as saying this about herself: “I’ll always be a blues guitarist at heart.” She has consistently stayed true to that quote, mixing in brief diversions to keep her music interesting to her listeners, as well as herself.

But make no mistake, she is a “true” blues artist, as bluesy as they come.

You can catch her on tour during October and November. Just check her schedule through her social media. You can also check out lots of her prior work on YouTube. Joanne Shaw Taylor just keeps getting better and better.

Grab a copy of The Trouble With Love. You will not be sorry.

The Review: 9.5/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– The Trouble With Love
– Hell Or High Water
– This Is Who I Am
– Never Gonna Please ‘Em All

The Big Hit

– Hell Or High Water