Blues with a Feeling
Steve Hackett · 1994
46 min · 12 tracks · progressive rock
A fusion of blues-inflected rock and emotive guitar work that captures the essence of American music traditions.
Top tracks — play these first
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Born in Chicago Start here — This track opens the album with an energetic vibe, showcasing Hackett’s adept guitar skills while paying homage to classic blues roots.
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Blues With a Feeling — The title track encapsulates the album's spirit, blending heartfelt lyrics with soulful instrumentation that highlights Hackett's emotional range as a musician.
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So Many Roads — This closing track features introspective lyrics and a poignant melody, demonstrating Hackett’s ability to convey deep emotions through both guitar and vocals.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively blends blues and progressive rock, showcasing Hackett's guitar work but lacks strong cohesion in its flow.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features upbeat tracks with a consistent tempo, while the second half introduces slower, more reflective pieces.
- Several tracks incorporate blues scales and motifs, blending them seamlessly with progressive rock elements.
- 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
Little footprint beyond its audience. 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 emotional exploration
- soothing background for relaxation
- engaging storytelling through music
- inviting sing-along moments
- for late-night drives
Maybe skip if you
- seeking fast-paced excitement
- prefer standalone tracks only
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Experimental — Marks a significant stylistic shift into blues, differing from his progressive rock roots.
- Themes
- Chicago blues legacy· intimate storytelling· emotional guitar solos
- Career context
- By 1994, Steve Hackett had established himself as a prominent figure in progressive rock, moving beyond his Genesis roots. 'Blues with a Feeling' marked a significant stylistic shift for Hackett, as it was his first album focused primarily on blues music, following years of exploring diverse genres including classical and world music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Camel· Mike Oldfield· Genesis
Tracklist
- 1 Born in Chicago Start here 3:57
- 2 The Stumble 2:55
- 3 Love of Another Kind 3:59
- 4 Way Down South 4:28
- 5 A Blue Part of Town 3:03
- 6 Footloose 2:30
- 7 Tombstone Roller 5:17
- 8 Blues With a Feeling 4:22
- 9 Big Dallas Sky 4:47
- 10 The 13th Floor 3:29
- 11 So Many Roads 3:15
- 12 Solid Ground 4:27
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Blues of Desperation
Joe Bonamassa
Shares heartfelt guitar solos and blues storytelling with an emotional weight.
Continuum
John Mayer
Combines bluesy riffs with introspective lyrics, evoking a similar soulful atmosphere.
Still Got the Blues
Gary Moore
Features emotive guitar work and a strong connection to the blues tradition, aligning with Hackett's style.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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