So, It's Like That

Joe Bonamassa | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 13, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Premier Artists
• ASIN: B00006CY40
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,911 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #2 in Music > Indie Music > Rock > Blues Rock

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bonus DVD Makes a Great Album Even Better, January 15, 2005

By 

Philip Snyder (Amherst, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: So, It's Like That (Audio CD)

Joe Bonamassa's sophmore effort holds a few surprises. The first is a slight shift in musical direction. Much like Jeff Healey, Joe opted for a less overt blues approach to his second album. The result is 62 minutes of powerful rock with a focus on original songwriting, strong hooks, and a broader musical landscape. Both Bonamassa's guitar playing and vocals are undeniably sensational, and his band is as tight and unrelenting as ever. Their spectacular performances run the gamot from hard edged grooves ("Lie #1", "No Slack"), to lighter acoustic shades ("Waiting For Me", "Never Say Goodbye", "Mountain Time"), to searing guitar ("Pain and Sorrow"), to hard rock ("Takin' The Hit", "The Hard Way"), and a few points in between. For those fans looking for more straight forward blues tunes, I'm afraid only the title track offers this in the form of a mid-tempo shuffle. But that aside, this is a fantastic album that, on its own would be worthy of four stars. But that's where the second surprise comes in.

Originally, when I bought this a year ago, Amazon listed the second disk as a DVD of "A New Day Yesterday - Live". Since that was all the information offered I assumed it was a promo clip showing Joe and the band performing the title track from his debut album. What this actually is is a phenominal full length live performance taped back on December 21, 2001 while touring behind "A New Day Yesterday". This blinding show displays Bonamassa's blazing chops and mind-numbing tone to a tee. I've played this thing more times than I can count, it's that good. In fact, I was SO impressed I actually bought the same wine red Les Paul Classic Joe starts the show with (yes I know...insane. But you guitar players out there know exactly what I'm talking about). Here're the details:

Cradle Rock - Steppin' Out/Rice Pudding - A New Day Yesterday - Miss You Hate You - Walk In My Shadows - I Know where I Belong - Color & Shape - Trouble Waiting - If Heartaches Were Nickels - Don't Burn Down That Bridge - guitar solo - Are You Experienced? - Had to Cry Today. The total performance runs around 1 hour 52 minutes. Extras include a music video for Miss You, Hate You and a 5-6 minute VH1-style bio. There's also a photo gallery. The DVD by itself is easily worth five stars.

I know there are a lot of fans out there who have very strict views on blues/rock guitarists and what they should and shouldn't do. If you feel you fit into this category you might not like the CD so much but I think you'll love the DVD. It certainly delivers everything you're looking for (assuming you enjoy live concert DVD's of course!). If your tastes are a bit broader, I think this 2 disk set is a grand slam at twice the price. Absolutely.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's About Time!!, September 22, 2002

By 

Chris (Manchester, NH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: So, It's Like That (Audio CD)

I've been waiting a long time for someone who can do the following:
1. Lay down rock, rock blues and blues tunes that will have you picking your jaw up off the floor.
2. Absolutely rip apart the fretboard by applying multilple techniques and blazing chops (this guy is NOT a one trick pony) from song to song and even within a song.
3. Have a voice that supports his guitar work AND can sing within the framework of multiple styles (rock, blues, rock blues etc..). This guy has a great voice!
4. Not just copy his influences, but has the ability (and guts) to move forward and develope a sound and vibe that he can call his own. He may be picking up where SRV left off, but it's not just about the blues. Joe's CD has plenty of straight forward rock and he bridges the gap between the blues and rock styles.

If you love blues and solid "rock" music from SRV to more modern rock artists but are tired of the clones and the noise from Korn etc... then give Joe Bonamassa's new CD a listen. You won't be disappointed.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHERE HAVE I BEEN THE LAST FIVE YEARS????, December 21, 2005

By 

Baberufus (West Jordan, UT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: So, It's Like That (Audio CD)

I don't exactly consider myself an ostrich with my head in the sand, but somehow I never discovered Joe B. until six months ago. Here I've been sitting around all this time waiting for (and then complaining about) new albums by Kenny Wayne S., Jonny Lang, and the like, and then here's this guy who just blows all those guys out of the water sitting right in front of my nose! Amazon even kept recommending him to me with their great little "recommender" that pops up when you get on their website, but I've been ignoring all that like a fool. Then recently I heard a DJ announce a song by Joe Bonamassa, and I was knocked out!

Coincidentally, I saw Joe open up for B.B. King about a week later, and was sold hook line and sinker. I bought one of his CD's right there afterwards, had him sign it, shook his hand and told him he has a new fan.

Amusingly, during his performance he recommended the audience to buy any one of his CDs being sold after his set, jokingly (I hope) adding, "...well, maybe not the second one." Well, I can assure you that it WAS a big joke, because this album is great all the way through. Some hard rock, some acoustic stuff, an amazing Hendrix-style tune (Pain and Sorrow)--all great stuff.

Definitely buy the CD, but try to find package with the bonus DVD if you can.THIS GUY IS INCREDIBLE. He is every guitar player I've been into all rolled up into one, yet he's his own man at the same time. THIS CD/DVD BOX SET IS WORTH TWICE THE PRICE. I thought the DVD might be one, maybe two songs like some of those goofy DVD "singles" that come extra with a CD. Dude, the DVD is almost two hours long, and the music SMOKES! The sound isn't DTS 5.1, and you'll have to turn up the volume on your stereo a little higher than when playing a DTS or Dolby 5.1 concert DVD, but the sound is still very good.

This guy has got it all--amazing, shredding guitar chops, blues feel galore, and a great voice. Don't stay in the dark like I have for the past five years--buy his whole catalog! You won't regret it!!!!!