Despite his statement in the liner notes that "In an era where it is best to play it safe, I chose to take a risk...," there isn't much surprising or risky about young guitarist
Joe Bonamassa's fifth studio album. Most of his previous releases have mixed blues covers with his own originals, all played with a rocker's attitude, volume and less-than-subtle approach. This one follows suit and even though he goes on to say that he "wanted to make a blues album, not a rock album that has blues on it," as in the past; it's impossible to claim that he has succeeded with
You & Me. That doesn't make this a bad or disappointing disc; quite the contrary, it's a solid blues-rock release and arguably his best work to date. But as early as the second track, an original rocker titled "Bridge to Better Days,"
Bonamassa takes off on an early
Free/
Savoy Brown-styled stomper. Things settle down and get more rootsy on the following two slow blues tracks, although a lovely
Bonamassa original, "Asking Around for You," adds strings, not exactly a touch most would associate with pure blues. Regardless, it's extremely effective and when the strings return on a nine-and-a-half-minute cover of
Led Zeppelin's "Tea for One," it is a spine-tingling experience and possibly this album's finest moment. Drummer
Jason Bonham, who is excellent throughout, brings additional authenticity to the song his dad first played on.
Bonamassa unplugs for a few mid-disc tracks, including a cover of "Tamp 'Em Up Solid" (oddly credited to
Ry Cooder but typically known as a traditional piece, even on
Cooder's version). Twelve-year-old harmonica whiz L.D. Miller does his best
John Popper imitation on a hyperactive version of
Sonny Boy Williamson's "Your Funeral and My Trial" (someone needs to inform the kid that playing lots of notes really fast doesn't mean he has soul), and the instrumental titled "Django" shows that
Bonamassa has been listening to
Gary Moore's "Parisienne Walkways." It adds up to a quality
Bonamassa disc that will please existing fans and might bring some new ones into the fold, but it's also one that doesn't take the chances that he claims might push the guitarist into uncharted territory. [
You & Me was released on LP in 2016.] ~ Hal Horowitz