Black Rock
Joe Bonamassa · 2010
53 min · 13 tracks · blues
A vibrant fusion of blues rock laced with soulful melodies and electric guitar bravado, capturing Bonamassa's dynamic artistry.
Top tracks — play these first
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Steal Your Heart Away Start here — This opening track sets the tone with its infectious groove and catchy chorus, showcasing Bonamassa's signature guitar work and vocal prowess.
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Quarryman's Lament — With its reflective lyrics and haunting melody, this song exemplifies Bonamassa's storytelling ability and emotional depth, standing out as a highlight of the album.
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Blue and Evil — This track features an intense instrumental section that highlights Bonamassa's virtuosic guitar skills, making it a powerful showcase of his musical range.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends energetic performances with thoughtful arrangements, showcasing Bonamassa's guitar prowess within a cohesive blues framework.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features high-energy tracks with prominent guitar solos, while the second half shifts to more reflective and slower-paced songs.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady, consistent energy levels
- dynamic emotional journeys
- long, immersive listening sessions
- introspective evening reflections
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart, solidifying his reputation.
- Career context
- When 'Black Rock' was released in January 2010, Joe Bonamassa was building on the momentum of his previous album, 'The Ballad of John Henry', which had solidified his reputation as a leading force in contemporary blues. This release marked his continued evolution, showcasing a blend of original compositions and classic influences while appealing to both longstanding fans and new listeners.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Gary Clark Jr.· Keb' Mo'· Susan Tedeschi
Tracklist
- 1 Steal Your Heart Away Start here 3:48
- 2 I Know a Place 4:19
- 3 When the Fire Hits the Sea 3:55
- 4 Quarryman's Lament 5:22
- 5 Spanish Boots 4:38
- 6 Bird on a Wire 5:21
- 7 Three Times a Fool 2:02
- 8 Night Life 3:26
- 9 Wandering Earth 4:19
- 10 Look Over Yonder's Wall 3:27
- 11 Athens to Athens 2:26
- 12 Blue and Evil 5:44
- 13 Baby You Gotta Change Your Mind 4:25
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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