Joe Bonamassa

Okeh/550/Epic

Who says they don’t make ’em like they used to? Check out Joe Bonamassa, a 22-year-old, guitar-wielding native of Utica, N.Y. His aptly titled debut is this year’s holy grail of buttrock, blooze division; it was produced by Tom Dowd (Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart), and it delivers a contemporary update of Dowd’s now-classic phat-ass ‘70s rock sound. Bonamassa sings in a liquor-singed, full-throated growl, and his pre-mullethead guitar style won’t get him invited to Radiohead sessions any time soon. As for tunes, Bonamassa’s tastes run to Rory Gallagher, Free, Tull and the Allmans, and his originals rock out in a similar vein. Yep, we’re not talking Gershwin, but that’s beside the point; songs don’t have to be masterpieces when they’re launching pads for mind-roasting, cranked-amp guitar solos. Too bad KZAP isn’t around anymore: This bloke would be a natural for Twofer Tuesday.