Re: Blues of Desperation reviews
First off, I would like to send Joe a personal Thank You for this incredible new piece of music. Thanks, Joe, for again, adding an amazing addition to the "soundtrack of my life" I'm almost beyond words.....no, I'm not..
I'd like to start by saying that, even though I enjoyed the last 2 Joe discs, I thought they were just a tad middle of the road, and not as dynamic as past efforts. Having said that, they were still far better than most of everyone else's work out there, but compared to his own past efforts, I thought they lacked slightly. Having said that, I guess I just need to vent a little here.
This disc is incredible, back to the 6 and 7 and 8 minute songs with solos so long and out there that you often forget what song you are listening to...A Joe trademark.!
This Train, the opening track is incredible, maybe the best opening tune on any album ever. Do a since a slightly harder edge is back ? Yes ! Joe's voice sounds great!
Song number two makes me realize that this disc definitely sounds on the "Rock" side of the Blues. Drive is a great slow burn tune and ..by the way..great female backups on the whole disc. So next I realize as I listen to track 4 that it's over 8 minutes long...Yeah, no 8 minute tunes on the last few discs..more 8 minute tracks please!! Followed by the cool as Dust bowl title track..by the way..what is that waa waa sound...a guitar or keyboard ? I don't care..It's cool as can be. Track 6 reminds me of some stuff from "Sloe Gin" like "Richmond".. A little softer than the rest of the disc, not my favorite type of Joe tune, but actually really well written, and I like it more than most tunes he writes of this nature.
Then Joe channels his best Chuck Berry into the most most fun Joe's had in a while on "You Left Me Nothing But the Bills and the Blues" This one had me dancing around my living room like an idiot...awesome!
At track 8 I realize, again, that many of these tunes are 6 minutes long...that's a good thing! Hmmmm.yes, this could be Joe's best album ! Definitely the best one he's written exclusively !! The left/right channel panning that they did on this song is another stroke of genius by Kevin or Joe. I listen to track 9 and realize that Joe has created a very dark hard edged disc, for the most part, and it's brilliant.
Then there's "Livin' Easy" with Joe and a completely out of the box retro tune with great lyrics and a trumpet with that thingy in it ? Again, Joe this is great stuff!!
The album ends with my favorite Joe blues ballad since "Asking Around for You" and completes what I would like to refer to as Joe's return to what he does best...Give us Blues that Rocks....or Rock with a huge Blues twist..you decide...I'll listen !! This is a 5 on a 5 scale or a 9 on a 10 scale imho...buy immediately...every day you don't have this disc is another day that could have been better !!
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