(09) - Joe Bonamassa - Sloe Gin (2007)

Sloe Gin, the seventh solo studio album from Joe Bonamassa, is scheduled for release by Premier Artists Records (US) and Provogue Records (Europe) on August 20, 2007. This would have been everybody's Summer of 2007 CD had it been on shelves in early June.
On the other hand, Sloe Gin isn't a summer album. It has the makings of a year-round classic that could set a new standard for recorded blues, rock, blues-rock and a few other genres not always associated with "Joe Bonamassa the blues artist". Within the first 20 seconds of the opening track, "Ball Peen Hammer", it's clear we're in the presence of something special.

Tracklist:
01. Ball Peen Hammer - 4:31
02. One of These Days - 2:12
03. Another Kind of Love - 4:22
04. Sloe Gin - 5:15
05. Jelly Roll - 3:10
06. Dirt in My Pocket - 8:13
07. Black Night - 3:49
08. Seagull - 4:54
09. India - 5:40
10. Richmond - 3:27
11. Around the Bend - 3:19

Label: Premier Artists Records / Provogue Records
Genre: Blues
Producer: Kevin Shirley
Country: U.S.A.

(08) - Kenny Wayne Shepherd - The Place You're In (2004)

The Place You're In, Kenny Wayne Shepherd's long-awaited fourth album, marks a stunning stylistic shift for an artist who almost single-handedly introduced blues-rock to a new audience. One of the most acclaimed guitarists of his generation not only leans more heavily toward rock,but also releases his first album featuring his vocals. "We're all growing and changing....We might as well get behind it and enjoy the ride." And enjoy The Place You're In.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd went from the cute kid who could play blues guitar better than any old-time, juke joint veteran to a full-fledged young adult who can play AOR rock riffs as well as Joe Satriani or Steve Vai. The only difference between them is that Shepherd is now singing on his own albums, for the first time ever, and because of that he outdistances the two of them.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd rode in as a blues rocker who drew comparisons to Stevie Ray Vaughn. While critics dismissed the teen protégé as being all technique who lacked soul, he was an instant hit with blues and rock fans alike. Since his debut, Ledbetter Heights, Shepherd has been slowly straying further from the blues into classic album rock. Following a five year absence, he returns in full rock mode, which actually suits him better than the blues ever did.
Dressed in black leather with a gothic cross hanging from his neck on the cover sets the tone for what's inside. With hard driving rock and roll, heavy power chords, and sweltering solos, this record rivals any of the 1970 arena rockers on their best days. Long gone are the days of covering other people's material as Shepherd penned every track in partnership with multi-instrumentalist/ producer/ engineer Marti Frederiksen. While the disc reincarnates the screaming guitar pitches of such groups as Humble Pie, Grand Funk Railroad, and Foghat, Kenny & company update the sound with a Lenny Kravitz-like makeover. Adding a bit of raunchiness to the disc, Kid Rock lends his star power and his unmistakable voice on the rough and ready "Spank". Shepherd blends acoustic with electric on "Believe", giving the tune a 70's power ballad ambiance. Shepherd has not only grown as a guitarist but his vocals have matured as well. However, he still lays low on a couple of tracks. The aggressive "Believe" and heavy handed ballad "Burdens" feature Noah Hunt on lead vocals. With a nod to all the guitar heroes before him, the disc ends with a high volume instrumental - "A Little Bit More". Even though the revamped Kenny Wayne Shepherd will most likely lose his crossover appeal with blues fans, hardcore rock supporters will definitely revel in his new sound.

Tracklist:
01. "Alive" - 3:44
02. "Be Mine" - 4:09
03. "Spank" - 3:01
04. "Let Go" - 5:02
05. "Ain't Selling Out" - 3:15
06. "Believe" - 3:58
07. "The Place You're In" - 3:22
08. "Hey, What Do You Say" - 5:03
09. "Get It Together" - 3:48
10. "Burdens" - 3:39
11. "A Little Bit More" - 5:36

Label: Reprise Records
Genre: Blues / Pop
Producer: Marti Frederikson
Country: U.S.A.

(07) - Boston - Corporate America (2002)

“Corporate America” is the fifth studio album by American rock band Boston, released in 2002.
This album featured important changes to the band's line-up, primarily the return of lead singer Brad Delp, who was absent on the previous full length album Walk On. Also, this album introduced both Anthony Cosmo and Kimberley Dahme, who introduced a fresh writing style to the ever-consistent "Boston" style. The album's titular song "Corporate America" is a criticism of corporate corruption, which it says has pervaded and perverted nearly every aspect of American culture and even daily life.
There's something very curious about Boston's fifth album--and the road the band has traveled from arena-rock heights to its current less-than-lofty status. Here, after all, is a band--really, guitarist-studio wunderkind Tom Scholz and company--that emerged from nowhere and set sales records with their 1976 self-titled debut. Since then, Boston's profile has shrunk with each successive, widely spaced release. Their first indie release may not be causing much of a stir, but it's a strange creation from Scholz and his crew, which includes Brad Delp, the voice behind "More Than a Feeling" and "Don't Look Back." Like the Boston of the '70s, this unit creates polished, epic-scaled rock. Scholz's inimitable icy, soaring leads and polished production (call it heavy steel) remain in the fore. But Scholz has a pretty serious agenda here. The CD jacket champions a vegetarian diet, animal rights, and environmentalism, while the title track is a screed against modern living, business misdeeds, and, well, "DVDs, SUVs, and cyberspace."

Tracklist:
01. "I Had a Good Time" - 4:15
02. "Stare Out Your Window" - 3:19
03. "Corporate America" - 4:37
04. "With You" - 3:28
05. "Someone" - 4:10
06. "Turn it Off" - 4:37
07. "Cryin'" - 5:19
08. "Didn't Mean to Fall in Love" - 5:14
09. "You Gave Up on Love" - 4:22
10. "Livin' for You (Live Version)" - 5:07

Label: Artemis Records
Genre: Hard Rock
Producers: Tom Scholz, Gary Pihl, Fran Cosmo, Anthony Cosmo
Country: U.S.A.

(06) - John Mayer - Heavier Things (2003)

"Heavier Things" is the second major label studio album by singer-songwriter/guitarist John Mayer, released in 2003, and went on to sell over 2 million units in the United States.
John Mayer had gained popularity as a creative and thoughtful songwriter, and this characteristic shines through on Heavier Things. The title of the album itself is a subtle response to certain criticism of Mayer's music.
The style on this album is soft-rock, as this comes from a period before he transitioned into blues. The album consists of 10 tracks, including the Grammy award winning "Daughters". The title of the album appears to be an answer for those who criticized Mayer's music as being too light. Mayer felt he could be more relaxed and focus more on his art while making Heavier Things, with Jack Joseph Puig as producer, loops and horns were more prominently featured. Mayer took greater control of the creative side with this album; much of the album was recorded in his New York City apartment. He also got final approval on all radio-edits.

Tracklist:
01. "Clarity" – 4:32
02. "Bigger Than My Body" – 4:26
03. "Something's Missing" – 5:05
04. "New Deep" – 4:09
05. "Come Back to Bed" – 5:25
06. "Home Life" – 4:13
07. "Split Screen Sadness" – 5:06
08. "Daughters" – 3:59
09. "Only Heart" – 3:50
10. "Wheel" – 5:32

Label: Columbia Records
Genre: Folk, Blues, Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul
Producer: Jack Joseph Puig
Country: U.S.A.

(05) - Walter Trout And Friends - Full Circle (2006)

Walter Trout (born 1951, Ocean City, New Jersey) is a blues guitarist, singer and songwriter of his own band. Trout's career began on the Jersey coast scene of the late 60's and early 70's. He decided to relocate to Los Angeles where he became a sideman for such artists as Percy Mayfield and Deacon Jones. He also worked in the bands of John Lee Hooker and Joe Tex.
In 1981 he became the guitarist for blues rock band Canned Heat. This led to an invitation to play in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers where he shared the stage with guitarist Coco Montoya. He left the Bluesbreakers in 1989 and formed the Walter Trout Band which developed a successful following in Europe.
With the release of “Full Circle”, Walter Trout has realized a long held dream to invite musician friends from his 35+ year career together to compose and play together. His first new studio release in five years, It reflects Walter Trout’s remarkable story, from his humble beginnings as a sideman in many a blues legends’ band through his rising solo star, arriving as one of blues music’s beloved interpreters. The project is a full circle in time and place, a journey through the range of styles that represent the blues music genre a celebration of where the blues world is, where it has been and where it’s going.
Among the 25 musicians appearing are John Mayall, Coco Montoya, Bernard Allison, Jeff Healey, Joe Bonamassa, Eric Sardinas, Guitar Shorty, Finis Tasby, Junior Watson, James Harman and Deacon Jones. "Full Circle" is the most accomplished and satisfying release of Walter Trout’s discography, and demonstrates his passion for music is just as great today as it was when he started playing as a teenager more than 35 years ago. He considers the new album a tribute to the people and the times that have helped shape his musical appreciation, demonstrating how the many styles within the blues genre can co-exist and mutually enhance each other without fight for rank or authenticity.

Tracklist:
01. "She Takes More Than She Gives" (feat. John Mayall) - 8:41
02. "Workin' Overtime" (feat. Jeff Healey) - 5:48
03. "Firehouse Mama" (feat. Eric Sardinas) - 5:07
04. "Who's Listenin' In" (feat. Coco Montoya) - 6:51
05. "Slap Happy" (feat. Junior Watson) - 2:32
06. "Wrapped Around Your Finger" (feat. Guitar Shorty) - 5:01
07. "A Busy Man" (feat. James Harman) - 7:40
08. "Highway Song" (feat. John Mayall) - 2:54
09. "When Will It Ever Change" (feat. Bernard Allison) - 4:57
10. "Can't Help Falling Apart" (feat. Finis Tasby) - 4:00
11. "After Hours" (feat. Deacon Jones) - 6:48
12. "Clouds On The Horizon" (feat. Joe Bonamassa) - 7:51
13. "Full Circle" (feat. Larry Keene) - 2:29

Label: Ruf Records
Genre: Pop / Blues
Producer: Walter Trout
Country: U.S.A.

(04) - Big Head Todd & The Monsters - Crimes Of Passion (2004)

Big Head Todd & the Monsters are a rock band formed in 1986 in Colorado, with Todd Park Mohr on guitar and vocals, Brian Nevin on drums and vocals and Rob Squires on bass and vocals.
The band has developed a sizable live following especially in the Mountain States of the United States. They are known for their powerful live performances and unique sound.
On "Dirty Juice," the opening track from Big Head Todd & the Monsters 8th Album “Crimes Of Passion”, one has to do a double-take to make sure it's not a ZZ Top album in the player. This happens in two other places on the set as well, on "Conquistador" and "Love Transmission." No, this is not a good thing, but there is plenty of good news as well. The other eight cuts here are among the most ambitious and beautiful that Todd Park Mohr and company have ever put to tape. It is shot through the album with the beautifully woven acoustic and electric guitars, the subtle synthesized ambiences and rhythms, and the organic juxtaposed with the electronic on tracks like the streetwise, shuffling, Caribbean-kissed strut of "Beauty Queen"; the sci-fi country music that emanates from "Drought of 2013"; the shimmering soul of "Angela Dangerlove"; the driving, off-kilter funk blues of "Come On"; the wispy, late-night folksy lounge groove of "Imaginary Ships"; the paranoid, post-Boz Scaggs R&B of "ICU in Everything"; the wispy, haunting, elegiac rock of "Lost Child Astronaut"; and the drifting, lilting, poignantly wrought folk song that is "Peacemaker's Blues." In all this is a very strong record that features three tracks that seem more a nod to the ghosts of the boogie jam band that was Big Head Todd rather than having much to do with the cats who laid these other tracks down. This album gives up its secrets slowly, but the payoff is big despite the cloying big rock & roll setbacks.

Tracklist:
01. Dirty Juice - 4:31
02. Beauty Queen - 4:35
03. Conquistador - 3:50
04. Angela Dangerlove - 5:20
05. Come On - 2:49
06. Drought of 2013 - 4:18
07. Love Transmission - 4:41
08. Imaginary Ships - 5:24
09. Icu in Everything - 4:17
10. Lost Child Astronaut - 4:49
11. Peacemaker's Blues - 3:07

Label: Sanctuary Records
Genre: Rock / Pop
Producer: Todd Park Mohr
Country: U.S.A.

(03) - U2 - How Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (2004)

“How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb” is the eleventh studio album by Irish rock band U2, released in November 2004. Much like their previous album, All That You Can't Leave Behind, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb was commercially successful and critically acclaimed and maintains a more traditional rock sound after the band experimented with alternative rock and dance music in the 1990s. The album was produced by Steve Lillywhite, with others involved in the production including Flood, Jacknife Lee, Nellee Hooper, Chris Thomas, Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno, and Carl Glanville. The title of the album derives from a lyric in the song "Fast Cars", which was only available on some versions of the album.
U2 lead singer Bono described the album as "our first rock album. It's taken us twenty years or whatever it is, but this is our first rock album. Although not a concept album in the traditional sense, most of the music on the record deals with the world at the crossroads of its existence. Love and war, peace and harmony, and approaching death are themes of the album.
How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb and its singles won all eight Grammy Awards for which they were nominated. The album also sold over 9 million copies and yielded several successful singles in "Vertigo", "City of Blinding Lights", and "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own".

Tracklist:
01. "Vertigo" (Bono, Edge) - 3:11
02. "Miracle Drug" - 3:54
03. "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" - 5:08
04. "Love and Peace or Else" - 4:48
05. "City of Blinding Lights" - 5:47
06. "All Because of You" - 3:34
07. "A Man and a Woman" - 4:30
08. "Crumbs from Your Table" - 5:03
09. "One Step Closer" - 3:48
10. "Original of the Species" - 4:41
11. "Yahweh" - 4:22
12. "Fast Cars" (bonus track) - 4:07

Label: Island Records
Genre: Rock / Pop
Producers: Steve Lillywhite, Chris Thomas, Jacknife Lee, Nellee Hooper, Flood, Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno, Carl Glanville
Country: Ireland

(02) - Santana - Shaman (2002)

“Shaman” is the 24th album from Santana released on October 22, 2002.
Attempting to duplicate the unexpected mega-success of 1999's 'Supernatural,' the rock veteran returns with the formula intact, loading this disc with numerous guests from various musical genres to appeal to as many potential fans as possible
This album included a mix of hip hop, Pop, and Rap artists.
The parade of guest musicians sets the priorities on Shaman: nineteen-year-old Michelle Branch singing the sunny neo-1960s pop of the leadoff single, "The Game of Love," plus P.O.D. and Chad Kroeger for hard rock, Seal and Citizen Cope for lite rock, Musiq and Dido for ballads, Alejandro Lerner for Latin pop and Placido Domingo for, well, PBS? Santana, a more important musician than any of them will ever be, too often ends up sounding like a sideman.
The first single of the album was "The Game of Love", featuring Michelle Branch. "Why Don't You & I", featuring Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, was also re-recorded as a single in 2003, which featured Alex Band of The Calling.

Tracklist:
01. "Adouma" - 4:15
02. "Nothing at All" (featuring Musiq) - 4:28
03. "The Game of Love" (featuring Michelle Branch) - 4:15
04. "You Are My Kind" (featuring Seal) - 4:19
05. "Amoré (Sexo)" (featuring Macy Gray) - 3:51
06. "Foo Foo" - 6:28
07. "Victory Is Won" - 5:20
08. "Since Supernatural" (feat. Melkie Jean, G. Washington) - 4:32
09. "America" (featuring P.O.D.) - 4:35
10. "Sideways" (featuring Citizen Cope) - 4:41
11. "Why Don't You & I" (featuring Chad Kroeger from Nickelback) - 4:34
12. "Feels Like Fire" (featuring Dido) - 4:39
13. "Aye Aye Aye" - 4:45
14. "Hoy Es Adios" (featuring Alejandro Lerner) - 4:37
15. "One of These Days" (featuring Ozomatli) - 5:51
16. "Novus" (featuring Plácido Domingo) - 4:10

Label: Arista Records
Genre: Rock / Latin Pop
Producer: Clive Davis, Carlos Santana
Country: Mexico

(01) - Bruce Springsteen - Devils & Dust (2005)

“Devils & Dust” is the thirteenth studio album by Bruce Springsteen, and his third folk album (after Nebraska and The Ghost of Tom Joad). It was released on April 25, 2005
Springsteen was very open about the fact that many of the songs from Devils & Dust date back about a decade (or more).
Springsteen wrote the song "All The Way Home" for Southside Johnny to use in his album Better Days which was released in 1991. The songs "Long Time Comin'" and "The Hitter" were written and performed during Springsteen's solo Ghost of Tom Joad Tour in 1996. "Devils & Dust" is also known to have been written previously, and was featured in soundchecks during The Rising Tour beginning in the summer of 2003 and the following year during the Vote for Change Tour in late 2004.

Tracklist:
01. "Devils & Dust" – 4:58
02. "All the Way Home" – 3:38
03. "Reno" – 4:08
04. "Long Time Comin'" – 4:17
05. "Black Cowboys" – 4:08
06. "Maria's Bed" – 5:35
07. "Silver Palomino" – 3:22
08. "Jesus Was an Only Son" – 2:55
09. "Leah" – 3:32
10. "The Hitter" – 5:53
11. "All I'm Thinkin' About" – 4:22
12. "Matamoros Banks" – 4:00

Label: Columbia Records
Genre: Folk / Pop
Producer: Brendan O'Brien
Country: U.S.A.