Review | Joe Bonamassa – Breakthrough

J&R Adventures / MLG

I have often wondered where Joe Bonamassa gets his energy from. He released his first album under his own name in 2000 and in the past 25 years he followed that up with a combined total of some 50 (give or take a few) more, whether it be under his own banner, or with Beth Hart or with his band project Black Country Communion or with Rock Candy Funk Party. Add to that numerous world tours and you can say that his working schedule has been enormous and very extreme. Fresh from a tour with Black Country Communion in Europe he is ready to launch his latest solo studio-album ‘Breakthrough’ on his own label J&R Adventures, a label he started years ago with his manager Roy Weisman.

VOCAL IDENTITY

After all these years I still ask myself how to categorise this singer/guitarist. He is very versatile, that is for sure. But is he a blues man, is he a soul doctor, is he a heavy rocker, is he funky? He is very difficult to pinpoint. Being so broad minded is part of his musical identity. Fact is that during the years his singing has become better and better. On ‘Breakthrough’ his singing is flawless and you can now say that he has (just as his BBC-bandmate Glenn Hughes) become a vocalist that is easily recognisable. He has established his own vocal identity. It has taken him some years and albums but now, as soon as he starts to sing, you know who you are dealing with. That he is a top guitarist became already clear on that first album ‘A New Day Yesterday’ a quarter of a century ago.

BACK TO ROCK

It pleases me that Joe elected to (mainly) go back to his rock roots on ‘Breakthrough’. When you hear the high energy levels that dominate the title-track, ,,Trigger Finger’’ or ,,You Don’t Own Me’’ it is obvious that Joe rocks hard on this album, that is as per usual been produced by Kevin Shirley. Sure, there will be critics who think that a new producer would maybe bring a welcome change into the approach, style, and sound of Joe Bonamassa. Fact is though that Kevin Shirley is the right man for the Bonamassa-job, so why would you disrupt a winning combination?

JOE BONAMASSA – THE CONCLUSION

‘Breakthrough’ is a well-balanced album but this time with a clear emphasis on rock. Although it must be said and clearly stated that also some contemporary moments are represented, as well as the super ballad ,,Broken Record’’, that for me belongs in the category of ,,Sloe Gin’’ (from the ‘Sloe Gin’ album) and ,,Tea For One’’ (can be found on the album ‘You & Me’), complete with a vintage Bonamassa solo. It is seven minutes of pure enjoyment! Also ,,Life After Dark’’ is a strong ballad. All in all, ‘Breakthrough’ is a great album. It has all the ingredients you are looking for on a Joe Bonamassa-album and then some more. The songs are good to excellent, the sound is perfect, the energy level pretty high up at times. It is a complete package delivered by a man with a work ethic that is second to none.

Release date: 18 July 2025