Joe Bonamassa meets Abbey Road studios? This definitely sounds like an interesting co-production of two legendary parts of music history! The somehow never-relaxing blues rock giant is back with his new Royal Tea album – and he recorded it where the Beatles or Pink Floyd did it as well. The album has been released on 23rd October 2020.
Joe Bonamassa – About The Artist
Joseph Leonard Bonamassa was born on 8th May 1977 in New Hartford, New York, USA. He founded his own band, smokin’ Joe Bonamassa, at the age of twelve and had roughly twenty opening gigs for B.B. King in the same year. Nonetheless, his debut album, A New Day Yesterday has been released some eleven years later, in 2000. The album got quite some reputation in Germany especially, where it peaked 13th in the charts. This was definitely no international breakthrough, as his following four albums all struggled to create measurable chart positions at all – only the last one of them, You & Me ranked in the Top 100 of the Netherlands. With the 2007 album Sloe Gin, this very slowly got better, but Bonamassa had to wait until 2011, when Dust Bowl was the first album to make it into the Top 10 of an international album chart (Germany #10, Norway #7). Even though he is having huge international reputation among the critics, his chart success is limited – his 2016 Blues of Desparation has been the only long player so far which hit the top of any album chart (Switzerland). Royal Tea is Bonamassa’s fourteenth studio album (on top of four albums where he collaborated with other artists and 17 live recordings).
Joe Bonamassa – Royal Tea – Track by Track
The ten song album lasts 53 minutes.
1. When One Door Opens
Royal Tea starts epic: When One Door Opens incepts with orchestral sounds, but more and more turns into a rock slammer with a lot of power – to become nice and quiet in the very final minute. Very final one? Yeah, this tiny little masterpiece lasts more than seven and a half minute.
2. Royal Tea
Blues rock? Blues rock! While the first track has rather been something like an orchestral-rock-symphonic epic track, Joe Bonamassa is doing what you would expect of a Bonamassa track on the title song of an album. Powerful, slow, a touch of marching forward on and on with catching backing vocals. Genius.
3. Why Does It Take So Long To Say Goodbye
The level of blues is increasing, less rock than before: Why Does It Take So Long To Say Goodbye is powerful, rocking, has different parts like a small symphony in its own – to make it short: it is just another fantastic composition, in which Bonamassa deals with the split from his girlfriend.
4. Lookout, Man
Oh, berry in the champagne
Messing up my campaign
No shame in the fame game
Cause look out, here I come
The song has a strong bass line, which gives it a slightly darker touch.
Look out, man, I’m as quick as I am fast
Look out, man, just ask the Caveman
Look out, people, don’t keep me in a cage
Look out, people, the storm’s about to rage
5. High Class Girl
I’m a different breed of brother
Don’t believe me, ask my mother
I’m a stone-crazy roll another girl off my shoulder
As evil as I can be
You’re a high-class girl
Low-class ways
If I stay any longer and I sit and I wonder
Gonna throw it all away
That’s how love affairs sound in the Joe Bonamassa world of music. Reese Wynans on the keyboard has to work a bit harder on this track (and therefore receives a bit more presence).
6. A Conversation With Alice
I’m growing old and I’m weary
Sick and tired of tired and sick
My conversation with Alice
Was the best thing I ever did
The song starts with a guitar intro but then turns into a rather soft track. The song strongly reminds me of some Mike & the Mechanics songs: very melodic, but still powerful – and all of that in the just-expected Joe Bonamassa musical quality.
7. I Didn’t Think She Would Do It
Angry, powerful – I Didn’t Think She Would Do It is blues rock at its best. Really amazing sounds on the guitar as well as on the keyboard. The track is just at top level.
8. Beyond The Silence
Quite a contrast to the track before: after so much power in I Didn’t Think She Would Do It, Bonamassa takes us on a trip Beyond The Silence. The first two minutes of this route are very quiet, before scattered powerful elements break into these silent atmosphere. Beautiful.
9. Lonely Boy
Being in some sort of meditation mood after Beyond the Silence, I had to smile when Lonely Boy started – the rock’n’roll, swinging style of this song has just been such an surprising atmospherical change to me. WIth 4:06 minutes, it is the shortest song on the album – but it just makes you move and smile, so it is some sort of hidden hero of the whole Royal Tea collection.
10. Savannah
For sure, I am open to any kind of surprise now – and Savannah just hits another genre on Royal Tea – it is just a beautiful country song. This guy can play all kind of tunes. Yee-hah, Mr Bonamassa!
Joe Bonamassa – Royal Tea – Spotify
Here is the Spotify widget to Royal Tea:
Joe Bonamassa – Royal Tea – My View
Wow, this is just a statement of outstanding talent! Joe Bonamassa just does not have his typical genres blues and rock in his Royal Tea, but is even touching hard rock elements in the opener or country music in the final track of his album. He is a globally successful artist, but somehow this album makes me feel again that he even deserves more love from the world of music listeners than he actually is receiving already. Close to a masterpiece, for sure.
Top Pick US Media Reviews
Here are all other US media reviews, which have been awarded with Top Pick! status:

Durry – Suburban Legend

Alice Cooper – Road

Bobby Rush – All My Love For You

Atreyu – The Moment You Find Your Flame EP

Mammoth WVH – Mammoth II

Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway – City of Gold

Lori McKenna – 1988

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real – Sticks and Stones

Sean Patrick McGraw – Hillbilly Hippie

1476 – In Exile

Lucinda Williams – Stories From A Rock N Roll Heart

Ayron Jones – Chronicles Of The Kid

Steve Lukather – Bridges

Deer Tick – Emotional Contracts

Ron Pope – Inside Voices

Oryad – Sacred & Profane

Brandy Clark – Brandy Clark

Dave Hause – Drive It Like It’s Stolen

Esther Rose – Safe To Run

Texas Hippie Coalition – The Name Lives On

Jennifer K. Austin – Cards EP

Sophie B. Hawkins – Free Myself

Night Demon – Outsider

Stephen Jay – understatement

Timesbold – Not Still Here

Brian Falduto – Gay Country

Drayton Farley- Twenty on High

Dierks Bentley – Gravel & Gold

P!nk – Trustfall

Joe Henry – All The Eye Can See

Richard Lynch – Radio Friend

Gabbie Hanna – This Time Next Year

Adam Warner – What We’re Known For

Upsahl – Sagittarius EP

Myle – Sad Boy Summer EP

Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver (Various Artists)

Seth Avett – Seth Avett Sings Greg Brown

Stephanie Quayle – On The Edge

The Moon City Masters – The Famous Moon City Masters

Russell Dickerson – Russell Dickerson

Kenny Foster – Somewhere in Middle America

Taylor Swift – Midnights

Alex Williams – Waging Peace

Ashley McBryde – Lindeville

Richard Marx – Songwriter

Dr. John – Things Happen That Way

Kelsea Ballerini – Subject To Change

LeAnn Rimes – God’s Work

Kane Brown – Different Man

Charley Crockett – The Man From Waco

Jon Pardi – Mr. Saturday Night

Megadeth – The Sick, The Dying… and The Dead!

Watkins Family Hour – Vol. 2

Wade Bowen – Somewhere Between The Secret and The Truth

Brooke Eden – Choosing You EP

Whiskey Myers – Tornillo

Journey – Freedom

Jonny Houlihan – Coffee and Jesus

Kylie Morgan – P.S. EP

Luke Combs – Growin’ Up

Brett Eldredge – Songs About You

Carrie Underwood – Denim & Rhinestones

Kyle Daniel – Following the Rain

Avi Kaplan – Floating On A Dream

mxmtoon – rising

Dana Fuchs – Borrowed Time

Stephen Jay – Vita Beata

Old Crow Medicine Show – Paint This Town

Joshua Hedley – Neon Blue

Cole Swindell – Stereotype

Joe Satriani – The Elephants of Mars

Ian Noe – River Fools & Mountain Saints

Tiffany Woys – All About Love EP

Doug Adkins – A Cowboys’ Life

Curtis Stigers – This Life

Goodbye June – See Where The Night Goes

Amos Lee – Dreamland

Erin Rae – Lighten Up

Katie Henry – On My Way

Keb’ Mo’ – Good To Be …

Conner Smith – Didn’t Go Too Far EP

Noah Guthrie – Blue Wall

Jacob Bryant – Bar Stool Preacher

Rachel Bradshaw – Rachel Bradshaw EP

Carolyn Miller – Thank You EP

Nick Walker – It’s All South From Here EP

Lucinda Williams – Have Yourself A Rockin’ Little Christmas (Lu’s Jukebox Vol. 5)

Wade Bowen – Where Phones Don’t Work EP

Gov’t Mule – Heavy Load Blues

Michael Patrick Kelly – B.O.A.T.S

Emily Scott Robinson – American Siren

Dave Hause – Blood Harmony

Alcatrazz – V

Ryan Hurd – Pelago

Tom Morello – The Atlas Underground Fire

Toby Keith – Peso In My Pocket

The Record Company – Play Loud

Logan Mize – Welcome To Prairieville

Billy Strings – Renewal

Nox Holloway – If Only The World Didn’t Spin So Much EP

Charley Crockett – Music City USA

Samantha Fish – Faster

Riddy Arman – Riddy Arman

Ashland Craft – Travelin’ Kind

Echo Bloom – Wake

Kool & The Gang – Perfect Union

James McMurtry – The Horses And The Hounds

The Killers – Pressure Machine

Chris Young – Famous Friends

Laci Kaye Booth – Laci Kaye Booth

Jim Lauderdale – Hope

Grizfolk – Grizfolk

Ryan Kinder – Room To Dream

Clay Walker – Texas To Tennessee

Los Lobos – Native Sons

Lauren Jenkins – Miles On Me, Part 1 EP

The Wallflowers – Exit Wounds

Riley Green – Behind The Bar EP

Gary Allan – Ruthless

Buckcherry – Hellbound

Kylie Morgan – Love, Kylie EP

Joe Bonamassa – Now Serving: Royal Tea Live From The Ryman

Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real – A Few Stars Apart

Blackberry Smoke – You Hear Georgia

Pop Evil – Versatile

Blake Shelton – Body Laguage

Jesse Keith Whitley – Breakin’ Ground

Dillon Carmichael – Hot Beer EP

Levara – Levara

The Steel Woods – All Of Your Stones

Thomas Rhett – Country Again: Side A

Priscilla Block – Priscilla Block EP

Elvie Shane – County Roads EP

Eric Church – Soul

Eric Church – &

Eric Church – Heart

Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band – Dance Songs For The Hard Times

Canaan Smith – High Country Sound

Tyler Braden – What Do They Know EP

Adrian Smith & Richie Kotzen – Smith / Kotzen

Hayden Joseph – Different

Willie Nelson – That’s Life

Alice Cooper – Detroit Stories

Cassadra Jenkins – An Overview On Phenomenal Nature EP

Carly Pearce – 29 EP

Lainey Wilson – Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’

Tobacco Rd Band – Worth Fighting For

Aaron Lee Tasjan – Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!

Jake Hoot – Love Out Of Time EP

Jimmy Weber – Black & Blue Heart

Willie Jones – Right Now

John Diva & The Rockets Of Love – American Amadeus

Aaron Watson – American Soul

Understanding Train Station – A Podcast on Living Abroad and Cultural Differences

Steve Earle & The Dukes – J.T.

Cody Weaver – Southern Noise EP

Russell Dickerson – Southern Symphony

Granger Smith – Country Things, Vol. 2

Miley Cyrus – Plastic Hearts

Ward Davis – Black Cats and Crows

Kameron Marlowe – EP

Chris Stapleton – Starting Over

Trace Adkins – Ain’t That Kind Of Cowboy EP

mxmtoon – dusk EP

Dolly Parton – A Holly Dolly Christmas

The Nude Party – Midnight Manor

Hardy – A Rock

Lauren Alaina – Getting Over Him EP

Tennessee Jet – The Country

Josh Turner – Country State of Mind

Jim “Kimo” West – More Guitar Stories

Taylor Swift – folklore

Kansas – The Absence of Presence

Donna Missal – Lighter

Jonny Houlihan – Hey Girl EP

Eric Paslay – Heartbeat Higher EP

Kyle Nix – Lightning On The Mountain & Other Little Stories

Bob Dylan – Rough and Rowdy Ways

Gabby Barrett – Goldmine

Lady Gaga – Chromatica

Kip Moore – Wild World

Florida Georgia Line – 6-Pack EP

Steve Earle & The Dukes – Ghosts of West Virginia

Travis Denning – Beer’s Better Cold EP

Hailee Steinfeld – Half Written Story EP

Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen – Hold My Beer, Vol. 2

Dramarama – Color TV

Kenny Chesney – Here and Now

Hot Country Knights – The K Is Silent

Tim Dugger – Signs Of A Good Time EP

Drake White – Stars EP

Julia Cole – Honey Child EP

Joe Satriani – Shapeshifting

Maddie & Tae – The Way It Feels

Ashley McBryde – Never Will

Brett James – I am Now EP

Delta Rae – The Light

Kelsea Ballerini – Kelsea

Lauren Alaina – Getting Good EP

Seven Spires – Emerald Seas

Carly Pearce – Carly Pearce

The Cadillac Three – Country Fuzz

Richard Marx – Limitless

Celeste Kellogg – Keep It On Repeat EP

Richie Kotzen – 50 for 50

Cody Hibbard – Memory and A Dirt Road

Little Big Town – Nightfall

Dustin Lynch – Tullahoma

Cassadee Pope – Stages (with Track by Track Commentary)

Luke Combs – What You See Is What You Get (Review)

Luke Combs – This One’s For You – The Record-Breaking Album

Miranda Lambert – Wildcard

Jon Langston – Now You Know EP

Old Dominion (Album Review)

Chris Janson – Real Friends

Chris Knight – Almost Daylight

Brantley Gilbert – Fire & Brimstone

Sturgill Simpson – Sound & Fury

Sheryl Crow – Threads

Tanya Tucker – While I’m Livin’

Tyler Childers – Country Squire

Willie Nelson – Ride Me Back Home

Bruce Springsteen – Western Stars

Lauren Jenkins – No Saint (Album Review)
Flyctory.com in Amsterdam
Here are all Flyctory.com postings related to Amsterdam:

Eyelar – Mistakes & Contradictions EP

Aspire Lounge Amsterdam-Schiphol (AMS) Non-Schengen (Lounge 41)

Luna Morgenstern – Taking The Blow EP

Resistance Museum Amsterdam

Heineken Experience Amsterdam

Flyctory.com Best Ones 2020

Rembrandt House Museum (Rembrandthuis), Amsterdam

Madame Tussauds Amsterdam

Lovers Canal Cruises Amsterdam

Vleminckx – The Best French Fries in Amsterdam?

Gracht / Channel Museum Amsterdam

ibis Styles Amsterdam Central Station

Brett Eldregde / Lauren Jenkins (29th January 2020, Amsterdam)

Brandy Clark (29th January 2020, Amsterdam)

Lauren Jenkins & Austin Jenckes (16th September 2019, Amsterdam)

ibis Amsterdam Centre
