Customer Reviews

So, It's Like That

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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!!!!!

I bought Joe's new CD, "So It's Like That" with the BONUS DVD (2 hours of great, live music) and his guitar mastery, versatility, and vocals were freakish...like a cat up on his hind legs! I haven't seen or heard anything like him since the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan and I do not exaggerate. My neck is still stiff from shaking my head in disbelief. Joe Bonamassa is blues, blues-rock, rock, and pop all rolled into one...the album is fresh, exciting, and exhilirating. And the BONUS DVD is awesome, if you can find it in a package deal as I did. Buy this album and his first album, "A New Day Yesterday". They are both worth their weight in gold. And if you can get to see Joe LIVE as I did in Huntington, WV this past June (opened for Lynyrd Skynyrd), then you'll know that you are seeing a once-in-a-lifetime artist. The future is even brighter for Joe Bonamassa and all that get to know him.

Many years ago, I saw an ad for a concert club appearance by 13-year-old child prodigy Smokin' Joe Bonamassa - replete with a picture of a smiling fresh-faced little kid who looked like your paperboy, dwarfed by the electric guitar he was holding. A couple of years later I finally heard some of his guitar work on a benefit album, was totally blown away, and have been waiting impatiently for him to grow up ever since. Now is his time.

This second album is great stuff, but the real treat is a bonus DVD on at least some versions of this album with concert footage from Joe's 2001 tour - two hours of nonstop raw energy and pure joy. He and his trio of Eric Czar and Kenny Kramme just keep pumping and pumping. Think about the peak moments in power guitar - The Who Live at Leeds, Hendrix at Woodstock, whatever - compare them with what you see here, and you'll know that new royalty has arrived. This is nothing less than one of the greatest guitarists to walk the face of the earth.

Buy this album. Catch this man in concert. You're going to be hearing a lot from him for a long time to come. It's not often that someone comes along who redefines the whole genre of power blues and hard rock. With all due respect to people like Johnny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shephard, and the rest of today's generation of new guitarists, Joe is the man.

It's been a while since I bought a CD of this quality. I came across Joe Bonamassa in a search for Blues artists, read the reviews of his current release and his bio and bought this CD. I was immediately impressed and after listening closely for a week, even more so.
Several songs quickly became favorites - "So It's Like That" (a masterpiece), "Never Say Goodbye", and "Pain and Sorrow". "Waiting For Me" has to be one of the most beautiful and hopeful rock ballads I've heard in years - I've been playing it over and over. This is the real deal: words that tell a real story and make sense, excellent vocals, music that is both gritty and melodic (it's got that Blues edge), great instrumental tracks, and the CD is well produced (sharp, clear, quality tracks). It's the "Total Package" all strive for but few achieve.
While not all the songs are my favorites, they are all good tracks, not filler, (even some of his "lesser" tracks seem better than a lot of what you hear today) and I'd say I like most of the tracks, not just 2 or 3. That makes it a good buy.
You'll hear a wide variety of instruments used, tastefully mixed, and Joe lays down some powerful guitar licks. At times his music will be quiet, melodic, and thoughtful, morphing into edgy, loud and rowdy. You can't listen to "Unbroken" and not be moved and impressed.
Joe has paid his dues (his bio is pretty amazing), done his homework, and produced a CD any musician would be proud of, at a very young age. He's talented in many ways (he proves it, too) and this CD is/will be in the future a classic, showcasing a truly amazing young musician.
I would recommend this CD to virtually anyone who likes Blues or Rock. Personally, I will buy anything Joe Bonamassa puts out.

Though we've much in common otherwise, my husband and I have rarely seen eye-to-eye when it comes to musical tastes in our two and a half years together. He's more a fan of the G3 set, while I tend towards groups like The Waterboys. The first time we saw Joe Bonamassa in concert, and the times we've seen him since, have been incredible. He's a master guitarist and one of the best I've seen live. This album captures the intensity of his live performances. You must add it to your collection.

I ordered this CD after having the good fortune of having picked up NEW DAY YESTERDAY on someones recommendation. It blew me away and is one of my favourites at the moment. This new one is totally different. Less Blues, more power POP and ROCK and every song is an original. I reviewed this after only a few listens and got it totally wrong. Every song on this CD is first class and a few of them almost classics. It took me about a dozen listens before I fell in love with this CD, but now it gets continuous play. There is no one out there at the moment who can play guitar at this level, write great songs and have a great voice as well. Joe Bonamassa delivers on all counts. Simply a must CD for any music fan.
PAIN AND SORROW alone is worth the price, rarely does a song of such power come along.

I just picked up the new release and must agree with everyone - this is a great album. I have over 500 cd's in my collection - about 30% are blues rock - and this guy rates right up there with the best. The most inspiring thing about Joe, and the one key to his long success, he wrote every song. The songs have meaning and the words are more than just cliches and rhymes. After listening to some of the harder blues numbers you're left feeling like you just heard a classic blues song but can't place the title - quit trying, you won't - it's a Bonamassa original done in the best blues rock tradition. Just as Clapton said when he first heard SRV - he plays the blues without forcing it - Bonamassa does it the same way, it feels natural and real.

One song from the album that sumed it for me: Pain and Sorrow - 10:36 minutes short...a great song with great blues rock guitar work. Even after 10 minutes you don't want it to end...

I stumbled on Bonamassa right after the first CD (A New Day Yesterday) was released, it was featured on the "under $8.99" Tower Record listening station - what a great find! This follow-up really expands the bands horizons. They may well explode in the next year, re-energizing blues rock into the main stream. Let's hope.

Last weekend on Father's Day my 15 year old daughter and I went to the Denver Blues and Bones Festival. A mellow crowd of older hippie types in tie dye smoking cigs and hitting the booze. About 6:00 a group I had never heard of began warming up and I knew something special was about to happen. I took my daughter to center stage about 10 feet back and then it happened. Joe Bonamassa is without a doubt the best guitar player I've heard in 30 years. The group was tight, bold and amazingly gifted. The joy on their faces at the music they were playing made me feel young again and watching my daughter next to me made it the best Father's day ever. This was a power group at its peak. It reminded me of Alvin Lee of 10 Years After and Hendrix at his best. Bonamassa closed out his set with an awesome guitar solo that went into Hendrix's "Are you Experienced" We bought all the cd's and can't wait to hear his next blues album on Aug23. See him live if you get a chance for a once in a lifetime experience.