Top tracks — play these first
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Blues Don't Lie — This title track encapsulates the album’s essence, blending poignant storytelling with rich musicality, showcasing Guy's mastery in conveying deep emotions through the blues.
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I Let My Guitar Do The Talking Start here — A powerful opener that highlights Guy's legendary guitar skills and sets the tone for the entire album with its energetic riff and confident delivery.
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Follow The Money — This track stands out for its critical social commentary delivered through a catchy blues melody, demonstrating Guy's ability to weave relevant issues into his music.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends traditional blues with modern storytelling, showcasing strong guitar work and varied pacing.
What we noticed
- Several tracks incorporate spoken word segments that blend seamlessly with the music, adding a narrative layer to the traditional blues format.
- 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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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. 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 pacing for reflective moments
- vibrant storytelling through guitar
- soulful themes of love and
- for evening gatherings
- balanced flow across all tracks
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of instant gratification
- prefer standalone hits only
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality and relevance in blues at age 86.
- Career context
- Released on September 30, 2022, The Blues Don't Lie is Buddy Guy's first album of original material since The Blues Is Alive and Well in 2018. At 86 years old, Guy continues to assert his place as a vital force in the blues genre, showcasing his evolution while honoring his roots. This album arrives during a celebrated career that has spanned over six decades, marking a significant moment as he reflects on his legacy.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Albert King· Freddie King· Johnny Winter
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 I Let My Guitar Do The Talking Start here 4:27
- 2 Blues Don't Lie 3:54
- 3 The World Needs Love 5:30
- 4 We Go Back 4:40
- 5 Symptoms Of Love 3:37
- 6 Follow The Money 3:42
- 7 Well Enough Alone 4:13
- 8 What's Wrong With That 5:26
Disc 2
- 1 Gunsmoke Blues 3:09
- 2 House Party 3:00
- 3 Sweet Thing 3:00
- 4 Backdoor Scratchin' 3:54
- 5 I've Got A Feeling 4:02
- 6 Rabbit Blood 4:43
- 7 Last Call 3:33
- 8 King Bee 2:44
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Blues of Desperation
Joe Bonamassa
Combines contemporary blues-rock with heartfelt storytelling and powerful guitar work.
Good to Be...
Keb' Mo'
Merges traditional blues with modern themes, showcasing soulful vocals and rich guitar textures.
This Land
Gary Clark Jr.
Explores personal and societal themes through a blend of blues, rock, and introspective lyrics.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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