My Favorite Blues Albums Of 2022

The Black Keys – ‘Dropout Boogie’
APPLE MUSIC

The Black Keys make some of the most interesting music on the scene today. And on this album they kept that vibe going. Here, they took the swamp and steam from their 2021 Delta Kream tribute album and stirred it into their original tunes. The result creates a mesmerizing mood that makes for some serious head-bobbing. Really good stuff. [PREVIEW]

Edgar Winter – ‘Brother Johnny’
APPLE MUSIC

Any time you can get a dozen or more first-call musicians to help you with an album, you’ve got a good shot to record something great. And that’s what Edgar Winter did on both fronts. This tribute album to his brother Johnny makes you love his music all over again. It’s 17 excellent takes on Johnny’s tunes. Part love letter, part celebration, and 100% Blues Rockin’ ear candy. [PREVIEW]

Eric Gales – ‘Crown’
APPLE MUSIC

His name is Eric Gales, any questions? Well if you had any, this album has the answers. Always a true virtuoso on guitar, Eric also co-wrote several of the songs on this record. So what we get is a deeply personal work. You can feel the investment Eric’s made in every song and you get large slices of the man as you listen. And it all fits together into a musical tasty treat of an album. Eric’s a one-of-a-kind. [PREVIEW]

Ghost Hounds – ‘You Broke Me’
APPLE MUSIC

This is a record that will make you pay attention real quick!. It’s the latest from Ghost Hounds and it’s a great mix of covers and originals. Tré Nation’s the lead singer and he has one of those voices that can carry an entire album. But this band is strong so he’s got lots of help. Not a beat dropped or a note nicked. They own every tune! You’re gonna want to crank up the volume on this one. [PREVIEW]

Joanne Shaw Taylor – ‘Blues From the Heart Live (Live)’
APPLE MUSIC

This is the year Joanne Shaw Taylor got busy. This album (the second of three in a 12 month period) was produced as a live Album/Concert DVD and it’s pretty slick. She gives us 16 strong, well-paced, Blues Rock tunes here, and she shines. Even more so on the DVD. Joanne’s long been a great guitarist and singer and this record shows she plays second fiddle to no one. [PREVIEW]

Keb’ Mo’ – ‘Good To Be…’
APPLE MUSIC

Here, we have a little genre-bending gem from Keb’ Mo’. Some folks just know how to make a record and Keb’s one of them. I swear I started smiling when the first notes started to play! This album’s just too well done to ignore. I don’t think there’s a sonic element out of place here. And songwriting doesn’t get any better than this. This one might just clear up a cloudy day. [PREVIEW]

Larry McCray – ‘Blues Without You’
APPLE MUSIC

A man of experience; that’s Larry McCray. You feel it in his voice, you see it in his writing, and you definitely hear it in his guitar. All of this comes together on this album. All Larry needed was a couple terrific guest stars and some top-shelf production to show it all off to a larger audience. A layered and enjoyable album from top-to-bottom and side-to-side. [PREVIEW]

Peter Veteska & Blues Train – ‘So Far So Good’
APPLE MUSIC

I originally called this one from Peter Veteska & Blues Train, “a party of an album.” That’s because it sounds like everyone was having a blast when they recorded it. The band’s razor-sharp and Bluesy to the core. The songs are catchy and hooky. And I loved the organ and the harmonica work. A great album from a great Jersey band. [PREVIEW]

Shemekia Copeland – ‘Done Come Too Far’
APPLE MUSIC

There’s no two ways around it, Shemekia Copeland is a force! Her voice and presence elevate every social and interpersonal issue she tackles in song. Even the lighter-edged songs pack a punch. She commands your attention when she sings and you just gotta listen. This album is an important one and Shemekia is at her unstoppable best. [PREVIEW]

The Wicked Lo-Down – ‘We Hot’
APPLE MUSIC

I love it when I discover something new. That’s what I got when I stumbled over this little album from The Wicked Lo-Down. (A new band for me…yay.) The album’s just 34 minutes long. it’s a little raw. But it’s fresh as hell. The band self-describes as “Texas Blues & East Coast Attitude,” and they *bring it* on this, their debut album. [PREVIEW]

The Wildroots – ‘Wildroots Sessions, Vol. 2’
APPLE MUSIC

This album plays a lot more like an all-star concert than a single band’s album. But I guess that’s The Wildroots in a nutshell – more than a couple dozen musicians went into the making of this record and their talent shows. The album drips with variety, from Blues Rock to Old-School Blues. Last year’s Vol. 1 was terrific, Vol. 2 is even better. [PREVIEW]

ZZ Top – ‘Raw’ (That Little Ol’ Band From Texas Original Soundtrack)
APPLE MUSIC

This music was recorded in 2019 as part of a Netflix documentary (but released in 2022) – meant to be an example of ZZ Top’s early days. It’s *supposed* to be the product of an unplanned jam that came out of a photo shoot. If that’s true, this is a fantastic record. And if it’s not true, it’s still pretty damn fantastic. It’s ZZ at the *top* of their game, playing their best tunes. (Loved it.) [PREVIEW]

My Honorable Mentions

• Buddy Guy – ‘The Blues Don’t Lie‘
• Gov’t Mule – ‘Heavy Load Blues (Deluxe Edition)‘
• Jeremiah Johnson – ‘Hi-Fi Drive By‘
• Larkin Poe – ‘Blood Harmony‘
• Marcus King – ‘Young Blood‘
• Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters – ‘Mercy Me‘
• Sass Jordan – ‘Bitches Blues‘
• Steve Strongman – ‘The Strongman Blues Remedy, Vol. 1‘
• Walter Trout – ‘Ride‘