Had no expectations ... and that was by far exceeded ...

Since at least three studio albums, so since the collaboration with Kevin Shirley (of which another reviewer here has said, "and again a record that has messed Kevin Shirley" ... funny how opinions but may differ), it has in itself I accepted as a rule that you have to let a new Bonamassa only times bag 7-10 days until you definitely can comment on themselves. Well .. definitely ... definitely what is already in life. What I want to say: Kevin Shirley's influence on Joe is certainly the fact that since then his repertoire has been expanded even more, not only blues rock and rock songs (from 7 decades) Covert as on the other releases, but also times when people like Tim Curry, Chris Whiteley or on the recent album Tom Waits rumstöbert. Well, earlier he has already interpreted Yes ... that's nu not necessarily pure blues ... but Kevin Shirley has its bandwidth extended safely again. He has also expanded his sound richness. As we hear ever Streicher ... or as on this new album wind ... In short, it will be interesting to surprises. The safe now leads that one or the other long-established fan (see comments like: "I liked Joe, when he was still" Cradle Rock "(Rory Gallagher) has played as an opener whether there is an omen that he extremely one. tired interpreted "As the Crow Flies" has (also from Rory) chosen as outro? ") is a little disappointed. Personally, I think it's great that an artist does not rest on what he has achieved so far is that he is trying to develop. He will certainly offend fans ... but also other to gain. But in any case better than ever to reproduce themselves. But for this very reason it is necessary to leave the bag albums. The only expectation with which one should approach, is that you should have no expectation of better ... and these non-expectation is exceeded then maybe ... as happened again at the recent album, in more convincing fashion compared to the two predecessors. I was pretty skeptical this time. But this skepticism has thankfully not materialized ...

The Ballad of John Henry: A powerful opener, both of the last concert and the CD. The first fifteen minutes of the concert I've experienced as a hurricane that blows through a brain let it fly. This feeling Joe rescues here on the CD ...

Stop !: Beautiful ballad with interesting arrangements and for the first time Joe with brass.

Last Kiss: right repetitive song structure that was almost too boring at first listen ... now I like it, without having total enthusiasm in my triggers ... but the last 1.5 minutes when the song slowly, gradually, instrument by instrument ausschleicht ... beautiful ...

Jockey Full of Bourbon: the acid test for me. As an old Tom Waits fan, and as Marc Ribot-enthusiast. Marc Ribot played originally by Tom the guitar, and I could not sleep for three months (no, is an exaggeration), after I read that Joe now covert this masterpiece of Tom. How should sound the most? After 30 seconds, Joe, I thought: Is it even the same piece? After 10 days, I say: A masterpiece on the basis of a masterpiece. Joe took the song and made it his own, has done something completely Own it. A prime example of a cover in which one can feel transported to a smoky western saloon, when you hear the bad tuned piano ... fathers of clothes meets power rock. Absolute finest.

Story of a Quarryman: Yes, I like best the heavy riffs, like so many of which here the old Rory Gallagher Joe already nachweint ... and so far Story of a Quarryman has quickly become my favorite listen-only become the album. What is a Power in this song. This a quarry workers and the title track on the hammering points Leger John Henry, those two songs meant Joe probably primarily when he said that he wanted to deal with this album the people a memorial, for whom life is hard work and to believe hard work ....

Lonesome Road Blues: Hmm ... maybe the song, which I stand against the most skeptical. Sounds a little of himself taken ("all I have is my guitar, I'm just 31 years old today" - and I must say in fairness to the fact that I have not listened to the text in its entirety, maybe I'm doing it so wrong ...), but I imagine charged with an artist who is always looking for new ways that he sometimes tosses a not so successful ... The song is me actually a little too smooth, straight out.

Happier Times: One of the big surprises on the CD. To me the song gives the impression as if he would take forever, or at least longer than the 6'40 '', which he takes effective. An always same rhythm in which you can lose yourself ... with many wonderful solo sprinklings ... and a handful of rhythmic-dynamic explosions that break the uniformity ... to then return to it ... and around to end a crescendo. Great songwriting, an enduring masterpiece.

Feelin 'Good: A pleasing cover version. Rather quiet, nice to hear, but now is not the Ripper as the tracks 2, 5, 7 or 10 ....

Than a Mosquito's Tweeter funkier: Well, again, I will stay a little stand with my mouth open. Somehow Joe and Kevin Shirley wanted here for my phrase too much at once. Polycyclic wind, nice to hear, funky rhythms, like we have not heard from Joe ... all in all a little inhomogeneous. But nevertheless, it has something ...

The Great Flood: Even an absolute highlight, a slow, lazy, quite depressive ballad with very sweeping transitions, that underline the sluggish character ... but all this with magnificent dialogues between Joe's guitar and saxophone, with in a very harmonious way, dark, warning bells sounding in the beginning and the end ... make this piece to another masterpiece.

From the Valley: Beautiful acoustic solo piece. Such a must on every Joe album, often you end up like ...

but this time it ends with groovy:
As the Crow Flies: After Eric Sardinas already the second blues guitarist, which closes on his latest album with this classic by Tony Joe White (who is certainly known in the version of Rory Gallagher). The sounds that he thereby sometimes snatches the guitar, just get under your skin ...

Below the line are several masterpieces and definitely a lot more consistent than the previous pieces Sloe Gin, who was now also not bad. Taken a little of themselves sounds Joe already when he writes in the booklet "I really feel this is my strongest work to date". But actually mus say: He's right ... it's his most versatile, mature album to date, and the quote speaks for a healthy self-confidence. At some points he commits even minor aberrations, but if he gives it such great songs like Happier Times and The Great Flood, as well as song-double well funkionierende Jockey Full of Bourbon / Story of a Quarryman then he may also like to times go one or two wrong track ... Joe is the greatest.