Blues Deluxe Vol. 2
Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 finds Joe Bonamassa sounding comfortable with the music that first shaped his playing. The record follows the broad idea of his 2003 Blues Deluxe album, bringing eight covers together with two new songs. With Josh Smith producing, the emphasis is on strong grooves, clear singing and guitar work that fits easily inside each arrangement.
Twenty-Four Hour Blues gives the album an expressive opening. It's Hard But It's Fair keeps the band moving, with enough energy to establish the set's welcoming character. The playing is confident throughout, but the record's appeal comes from its ease: Bonamassa sounds able to let a song settle before deciding how hard to push it.
Well, I Done Got Over It adds a light, lively turn, while Lazy Poker Blues brings a firmer drive. I Want To Shout About It is another obvious lift, using its upbeat feel to make the words' excitement convincing. The changes in rhythm help the collection feel like a programme, even as it returns to familiar blues subjects.
The new songs fit naturally among the covers. Hope You Realize It (Goodbye Again) has an especially strong funk groove, with emphatic drums and a guitar solo that gives the arrangement an extra burst of movement. Is It Safe To Go Home closes in a more reflective mood, using the voice and guitar to leave a sense of uncertainty behind the earlier good humour.
Win-O shows the value of a measured pace, and You Sure Drive A Hard Bargain gives Bonamassa room to shape the tension within a solo. These moments are less about speed than control. Horn accents and the band's steady support make it easy to hear how the guitar belongs to the wider sound.
The record offers limited surprise in its basic forms, so listeners seeking a major stylistic change may prefer his more expansive albums. Within this shorter, focused setting, however, Bonamassa makes a persuasive case for the familiar. Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 is an enjoyable collection with warmth, purpose and enough personality in the playing to make its return to older material feel worthwhile.
