Review by Glen Parkes
Love has inspired countless songs, but Joanne Shaw Taylor knows that the subject is rarely as simple as a happy chorus and a tidy ending. On The Trouble With Love, the British blues-rock guitarist and singer explores attraction, frustration, heartbreak, acceptance and recovery, giving familiar emotions a tougher edge through blues, rock and soul. Produced by Kevin Shirley and released through Journeyman Records on 23 October 2026, this is a record built around strong songs, expressive vocals and guitar playing that speaks when words are not enough.
The title track sets the tone with Joe Bonamassa joining Taylor for a blues-rock opener that understands the pull between melody and muscle. The groove has real movement, while the guitars give the song room to rise without drowning out its emotional centre. Bonamassa is a natural guest for this setting, but Taylor remains firmly in charge. Her voice carries grit and feeling, and her playing is never simply decoration; it adds tension, release and personality to the story.
‘Hell Or High Water’ brings a more defiant, almost gospel-tinged energy. It sounds like a decision made after a difficult stretch, with resilience replacing self-pity. Taylor has always had the ability to make blues-rock feel direct rather than studied, and the song’s determined spirit suits her delivery. It is followed by ‘This Is Who I Am’, a reinterpretation of Celeste’s song about acceptance and self-love. Rather than chasing the original’s shape, Taylor brings it into her own world, allowing the vocal to carry the vulnerability before a passionate guitar solo gives the feeling another voice.
That balance between strength and openness is one of the album’s most appealing qualities. ‘Tired Of Being Right’ turns relationship tension into something sharper, while ‘Bad Boy’ adds swagger and attitude. Taylor can lean into a tough, riff-led performance without losing the soul underneath it. The songs are not presented as neat lessons in love; they deal with the mess, the contradictions and the uncomfortable moments that make relationships feel real.
‘What Good Is My Love?’ features Orianthi, giving the album another striking guitar partnership. The song addresses the hurt of loving someone who does not return that feeling, and the collaboration brings extra electricity to the subject. Both players have distinctive voices on guitar, but the track works best as a song rather than a contest. The playing serves the emotion, with the arrangement allowing the frustration to come through without turning the whole thing into a showreel.
The record continues through different shades of attachment and disappointment. ‘The Girl That You Loved Before’ looks back at the person someone used to be, while ‘Never Gonna Please ’Em All’ pushes towards a more independent outlook. ‘You And Me (Rachel’s Song)’ offers a more intimate perspective, and ‘Death Wish’, included on the official album listing, rounds out the ten-track edition. Across these songs, Taylor moves between blues, rock and soul-inflected pop without losing the guitar-led identity that has made her such a compelling artist.
The production from Shirley gives the material a polished, full-bodied sound, but the performances retain enough bite to stop the album becoming too smooth. That matters, because Taylor’s greatest strength is the combination of control and fire: she can make a melody linger, then let the guitar cut through with real force. The record follows 2025’s Black & Gold, an album praised for its polish and personal character, but this new collection places love and its complications directly in the spotlight.
The Trouble With Love does not claim that romance has easy answers. Instead, it finds drama in the push and pull between wanting somebody, losing them, standing up again and learning to accept yourself. Taylor delivers that message with conviction, backed by guests who complement rather than overshadow her. For listeners who want blues-rock with melody, substance and a strong emotional core, this is a satisfying next chapter in her career and lasting impact.
+ There are no comments
Add yours