Sloe Gin (Audio CD)

Are we listening to the same guy ? I agree with Musicman. I bought Sloe Gin after reading the glowing reviews here and thinking I'd take a chance but I was seriously disappointed. Most of it is moody rather than blues, tending either to the heavy and overblown or the colourless and derivative - often in the same song, probably in the name of 'dynamics'. Joe is obviously not a bad guitarist but he's nowhere near the brilliance claimed for him and on this showing his take on blues rock is weighted 90-10 in favour of the latter, with his slide playing in particular sounding very ordinary. Indeed, arguably the only 'proper' blues on the record is Joe's cover of Charles Brown's 'Black night', which sounds more than a little like the late Jeff Healey...only not quite as good. Joe covers Paul Rodgers' 'Seagull' in a version not as good as the original but I was more surprised by 'Another kind of love' which is almost a straight steal from another Rodgers composition, Free's 'Walk in my shadow' from 'Tons of Sobs' (which I see from YouTube JB includes in his live set using another riff !). OK, it's not a /bad/ record, it's just not that good. As Musicman says, you want to hear this stuff done properly check almost any SRV, Jeff Healey or perhaps Robben Ford, and for slide Sonny Landreth, Derek Trucks or David Lindley.

your usual 12 bar blues Joe is a skilled guitarist and certainly puts some soul into his lengthy guitar solos. I'd recommend this album as well as The Mustangs albums,Nothing Stays The Same and "Split Decision". And if at all possible, experience the music from these blues influenced folk live-by far the most sureal experience.

Not as good as this lot say it is I have nothing against dear old Joe but twenty-seven five star reviews? Come on. I only write this to refute that hype really. I got hold of this album after reading the said rave testaments and have to say the songs are cliched and predictable and Joe isn't anywhere near as good a guitar player as everyone is chuffing on about. The solo's are long and tiresome and he really does not compare with somebody like Jeff Healey or SRV. I recommend purchasing 'See The Light' by Mr Healey or 'Texas Flood' by SRV if you REALLY want to hear outstanding blues guitar playing.

Raw Talent What a fantastic introduction to Bonamassa's work. I bought this on the strength of some of the reviews on Amazon - it just goes to show their worthiness. This truely is an amazing slab of guitar work and I've been touting Bonamassa's talents to anyone who will listen (and John Mayer's too actually..) The title track is the one that stands out for me. How this chap isn't more notorious, I don't know.

my god! this guy is awesome! never heard of him before. thought i would buy some blues. this guy rocks. i have listened to only two tracks so far and the production, sound, and spine tingling 'sound' is right up my street. bit like the decent parts of Clapton - guitar solos, long sustain, with a nice sound. Like the Eagles at their best but better, and a decent bass voice. On the basis of just two tracks - off to buy the rest. The last band i bought which made me 'buy the lot' was Camel - 10 years ago and I have been searching ever since for the 'fix' of music like this.