Category Archives: Albums

A soulful explanation from Beth Hart, Joe Bonamassa on Don’t Explain

There’s no denying Joe Bonamassa has done some pretty interesting stuff in recent years, between his own best-selling albums such as Dust Bowl, Black Rock, and Live from the Royal Albert Hall, among others, and being a part of the hard-hitting British-American supergroup Black Country Communion. … Continue reading

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The Bright Lights – and sounds – of Gary Clark Jr.

We may not have gotten to see singer-guitarist Gary Clark Jr. during his recent visit to Pittsburgh’s Hard Rock Cafe (that’s a picture of him from last year’s Crossroads Guitar Festival), but far be it for us to argue with Rolling Stone magazine that … Continue reading

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Chicago Blues: A Living History returns with another blues (R)evolution

You may recall 2009’s much-acclaimed two-disc collection Chicago Blues: A Living History, which featured Billy Branch, Lurrie Bell, John Primer, and Billy Boy Arnold performing their interpretations of songs representing the evolution of the Chicago blues, from early 1940s tunes like Sonny Boy Williamson’s “My Little … Continue reading

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Bonamassa dusts it up on Dust Bowl

With both his 2010 releases (Live from the Royal Albert Hall and Black Rock) still riding high on Billboard’s blues album charts, no one could blame Joe Bonamassa if he had decided to spend the first part of the new year taking … Continue reading

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A chompin’ good time: 40 years on, Alligator still rockin’ the house

Just as the Queen of the Blues Koko Taylor belts out in the opening lines of her “I’m a Woman” that starts the album, you know “everything gonna’ be alright” about the 40th Anniversary Collection from Alligator Records. From the indie label’s … Continue reading

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Celebrating Robert Johnson, the Big Head way

When it comes to the history of the blues, few names are better recognized than that of Robert Johnson, almost as much for the myth that surrounds him (you’ll recall the tale of Johnson having sold his soul to the devil … Continue reading

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Gregg Allman flies high with Low Country Blues

It’s been quite some time – 14 years in fact – since we’ve heard a new solo album from legendary southern rocker Gregg Allman. But 2011 finds Allman back in a big, bluesy way with his Low Country Blues, out … Continue reading

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With Diamonds, another fine gem from Joanne Shaw Taylor

If it’s true what many say (and we’re certainly not arguing it) about British blues-rock guitarist Joanne Shaw Taylor having taken the music world by storm with her 2009 debut album White Sugar – an effort that earned her both a British Blues Award … Continue reading

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Joe Louis Walker goes cruisin’ for some bluesin’

We at the BluesPowR Blog have never had the good fortune of being aboard the floating stage they call a blues cruise, but would imagine it’s difficult to get much closer to the musical part of the experience than Joe Louis … Continue reading

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No Losers on Oli Brown’s Heads I Win Tails You Lose

It’s pretty clear from the opening notes of Oli Brown‘s Heads I Win Tails You Lose (Ruf Records) that the British blues rocker’s latest album is another win-win for the artist and his fans. Back with his fresh, vibrant sound and accomplished guitar, … Continue reading

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