Blues of Desperation
Blues of Desperation puts a substantial band behind Joe Bonamassa's guitar, giving the record a heavier character than its title alone might suggest. The songs use blues as their starting point, then draw on hard rock, soul and older rhythm-and-blues arrangements. The best moments come when that variety changes the direction of the music rather than simply enlarging it.
This Train starts with a firm, rolling rhythm and slide guitar. Mountain Climbing follows with a harder riff and a forceful lead performance, making the opening feel built for a rock audience. The rhythm section provides enough weight for Bonamassa to play with intensity without carrying the whole arrangement himself.
The title track pushes further into that heavy sound. It is effective at creating pressure, though the album's biggest riffs can become less interesting than its changes of pace. Distant Lonesome Train has a similar problem: the force is clear, but the approach feels more familiar than the quieter details elsewhere.
Drive supplies one of the most useful contrasts. Its relaxed groove leaves room around the guitar, letting a more controlled mood develop. The Valley Runs Low moves towards acoustic soul, bringing a warmer and lighter sound into a record that can otherwise feel quite dense. These departures show how much Bonamassa gains from varying the setting of his playing.
No Good Place for the Lonely combines slow blues with a broader arrangement. The strings add drama, although the song might have benefited from leaving more of that space to the organ. It remains an expressive performance, with the guitar finding a strong line through the heavier production.
Livin' Easy is another welcome turn, using piano and horns to loosen the atmosphere. What I've Known for a Very Long Time closes with a slower, horn-backed blues, allowing the record to finish through feeling as well as power.
There is ample skill throughout Blues of Desperation, but skill is only part of its appeal. The more soulful passages and changes in rhythm give the strong guitar work a reason to matter. A few heavy sections repeat familiar strengths; the better departures suggest a musician whose range is wider than the loudest songs make clear.
