Bad Temper Joe - Glitter & Blues (CD)

When it comes to blues in Germany, there's no getting around Bad Temper Joe. The grumpy blues bard from the East Westphalian countryside has become an absolute standout in the blues scene in recent years. This is evidenced not only by the numerous albums with songs as raw as they are haunting that BTJ has released to date, but also by his win of the German Blues Challenge, as well as his nominations for various blues awards and the German Record Critics' Award. With a dedication to the old bluesmen from the Mississippi Delta, Bad Temper Joe effortlessly transports the often-declared-dead blues into the 21st century – and does so with everything that characterizes blues at the highest level: excellent songwriting, a strong sense of tradition, and captivating performances. BTJ is also making waves internationally. In 2020, he was the only European act to make it to the finals of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, USA. The British Blues Matters Magazine concludes: “It's hard to believe that the sounds of the Mississippi Delta have relocated to Germany, but they have.”
With his new album "Glitter & Blues," the Bielefeld native presents a milestone in his musical development. Not only is the album characterized by BTJ's composing skills, which have matured over the years, but the twelve, mostly gently rhythmic, superbly recorded new pieces also demonstrate how intensively Bad Temper Joe engages with the traditions of blues, country, and folk for his art. He delves deep into music history to transform what he discovers there and imbues it with his very own stamp. True to the motto: "You can't conquer the world if there's nothing left to conquer." The blues doesn't need to be reinvented. It exudes its charm best when played the way BTJ celebrates it on "Glitter & Blues": simple, honest, not too serious. In laments like "Fountain of Weakness," the musician knows how to translate depression into lyrics and music. "Two Trains (Runnin' Different Ways)" takes up the traditional image of a moving train without resorting to clichés. The piece is a tribute to the greats of the genre, BTJ's heroes: Muddy Waters, Robert Wilkins, Elizabeth Cotton, and Big Bill Broonzy. But despite all the oppressive heaviness and grumpiness that characterize the blues bard's appearance, "Glitter & Blues" also shows another side of BTJ: in songs that not only elicit a smile from the listener, but also from the otherwise chilly, grumpy musician. While Bad Temper Joe moves you to tears in the ballad-like epic "Cold Feet," the exhilarating "Pink Panther" and the carefree "This Time Last Night" invite you to dance. The blissful country song "All Over Again" has the potential to be a catchy tune. With the title track “Glitter & Blues”, which is characterized by calm, deep vocals, as well as with the grumpy and humorous “If These Walls Could Talk”, BTJ shows the possibilities offered by the mostly simple-seeming traditional blues forms – and the power and intensity they contain.
The Osnabrück-based record label Timezone will release Bad Temper Joe's eighth studio album, "Glitter & Blues," on CD and all digital platforms on November 25, 2022, and as a 2023" vinyl album in spring 12. For connoisseurs and lovers of the genre and the grumbler's discography, as well as for the curious and explorers, the album is an absolute must-have. "Glitter & Blues" should not be missing from any well-stocked collection and belongs on every blues-loving turntable.

01 Glitter & Blues
02 Cold Feet
03Pink Panther
04 Long Gone Friend Blues
05 She's Got a Hold on Me
06 Travel Light
07 All Over Again
08 Fountain of Weakness
09 Two Trains (Runnin' Different Ways)
10 If These Walls Could Talk
11 This Time Last Night
12 Who Are You