Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
It is perhaps hard to imagine that the Godfather of 21st century Blues could be anything but an innovator, a creative reformer, a pioneer of the modern exposure to the craft that has seen him inspire not just his audience, but a legion of musicians who have followed in his wake and whom keep the spirit of the genre alive, keep it kicking, and making absolutely sure it never again falls prey to atrophy, to decay and wasting of talent.
Joe Bonamassa’s innovation and willingness to see each album as a different exchange of emotions, ideas, and passions has always been appreciated, the audience firmly aware that from one album to the next the result will never be the same, sometimes more deep in the Blues, others a firm handshake with the Rock temptations on offer, and so to the dramatic and vivid new studio album that sense of an ever changing virtuoso firmly in command once more stirs the blood and gives thanks as Breakthrough punches out into the world.
Evolution is always the word, to live life threatening to live in the automatic verge of the comfortable rut does no one good, and it is to the effort placed by Mr. Bonamassa, as well as his ever present and creative partner, Kevin Shirley, once more at the producing helm, the appeal of funky blues, Texas swing, the parading strut of hard rock, and from the soul all the heartache and longing that can only be found in the core of the acoustic ballad is justified and on show for all to regale in.
Across tracks such as Trigger Finger, Drive By Exit Sign, Still Walking With Me, You Don’t Own Me, the fantastic I’ll Take The Blame, and the album title track Breakthrough, the sentiments of the vocals and the expressed instruments swing with elegance between beautifully explosive and fiercely exultant
Transformation is forever an ongoing gift, to never tap into such a mind is almost sinful, it is to remark without reflection, and as the adventure of the music holds dear to the D.N.A. of the musician so the listener will envisage a charming confidence thrust itself out into the open, one that is contagious, one that communicates to the soul and beyond without fail.
The continual mission of a musician enthused with one over riding purpose, to bring music to the ears of all, has once again been bountiful, and in Breakthrough that duty is persistent and always precious.
Ian D. Hall