Joe's a phenomenal player, and his success is amazing considering he has no record label supporting him. It's all him and his little management group.
His weakest link, though, is the songwriting. I've listened to almost everything he's released, and nothing struck me or stuck with me.
My favorite setting that Joe appears in is the side project Rock Candy Funk Party. Great fun, great playing and catchy tunes.
Not sure I agree with regards Joe's songwriting especially in the later albums (Different shades of Blue, Blues of desperation & Redemption) as both his wording, singing and playing just seem to get stronger.
As a track 'The Ghost of Macon Jones' is a particular fave for me....
Where the river keeps on rollin', time marches on
The sun hides in the shadows, you know where you belong
You walk in the silence readin' names on the stones
You can roll with the tide, but you can't hide
From the ghost of Macon Jones
Well they always came to church, sat up in the back
Drank the holy water, dapper dressed in black
Away from the rich folk where they let down his bones
Now they whisper at the sermons
They can hear the ghost of Macon Jones
From the time he was a child, it was easy to make friends
Some swore they found, right up to the end
When he jumped off that bridge they just watched and went back home
They all cried to their mommas that they saw
The ghost of Macon Jones
In the nights, right along
In your fight, just stay strong
In the ill-fated wind, just go
Yeah you need to unlearn, what you've been told
No one knows what happened, 'cause the truth will often lie
Widows swear he loved 'em, he was born to make them cry
Sometimes a man believes he's destined to go at this life alone
If you head down that cold river you'll feel
The ghost of Macon Jones
Some say he died, with a smile on his face
Others say he cried, he never found his place
If you listen to your fears you might hear his restless moan
When they start digging up your dirt
You'll meet the ghost of Macon Jones
If you see your reflection in the water
That's the ghost of Macon Jones
