Every year, the instrumental guitar scene gets flooded with releases—some impressive, others a little bit more by the book. But a few times a year, an album comes along that reminds me that I can still be surprised listening to instrumental guitar music. Bumblefoot’s …Returns! isn’t just another guitar record; it’s an awesome blend of melodic, inventive playing, diverse tracks, and guest artists who make a huge impact doing what is uniquely “them”. This is an album I can see myself coming back to over and over again, and finding new things each time - production ideas, lick ideas, and a lot more.
Overall Feel
…Returns! has a lot of new ideas (the album is filled with ear candy), but at the same time, is undoubtedly a guitar player’s instrumental album. There’s a little something for everyone here - expressive and melodic licks, a nod to neoclassical that’d make Yngwie smile, country licks that made me want to pour a whiskey, slow blues rock, riffs that reminded me of Abasi-esque playing and a lot more . The sequencing of the album seems perfect, and I couldn’t wait to spin this a second, third, and fourth time to keep hearing new stuff.
Spotlight on Guest Artists
One of the standout things that makes this album shine, is how seamlessly Bumblefoot integrates guest artists into his songs. These aren’t just features for the sake of it; they’re meaningful collaborations that enhance the songs in big ways.
Take Steve Vai, for example, whose enormous, wah-soaked playing on “Monstruoso” hits you like a freight train, and harkens back to his Fire Garden days. Then there’s Guthrie Govan, whose playing on “Anveshana” is so uniquely Guthrie, I’m surprised he didn’t save it for the Aristocrats! Oh, and did I mention a little known guitarist by the name of Brian May also makes an appearance? Each guest makes an already great album, even better.
Bumblefoot’s knack for letting the guests weave in and out of these fun songs that he’s put together, shows just how long he’s been doing this.
Standout Tracks
It’s hard to pick favorites when the album offers so much variety, but a few tracks rise to the top. Let’s talk about some of my favorites that don’t feature any guests. The album kicks off with the 8 minute powerhouse “Simon in Space”. Not only does the song have some anthemic lead lines, the grooves on this song prepare you for what’s to come in the rest of the album. Modulation and delay effects give us that very spacey vibe, and I have to note that Bumblefoot’s tone throughout the entire album is immaculate. No matter what guitar you’re listening to, it always seems to fit perfectly the song.
Another standout for me was the country fueled “Moonshine Hootenanny”. I love when guys like Greg Koch, Guthrie Govan or John 5 will mix these country gems in between their more hard rock tracks. This isn’t just your regular country song though - it’s like country meets Zappa at times.
I could probably keep going here with different tracks off the album, but really the entire album deserves your attention. After a few spins, some instrumental albums get tired, but this one features tons of guitar I want to listen to over and over again. It’s been a minute since the last Bumblefoot album, and I’m so glad this is the type of album he returned with.
Bumblefoot’s Guitar Work
Bumblefoot’s guitar playing, whether it’s been with Guns N’ Roses, Asia, or his solo albums, has always been a unique mix of super melodic playing, mixed with brilliant technique, and this album is no exception. I have to go back to the top of this review - not every instrumental guitar album has this many good things going for it - great songs, production, and more. If you love albums like 9.11 or Little Brother Is Watching, you’ll love this album. Bonus, Bumblefoot’s been a fellow New Jerseyan for over the past decade, which is always a good thing in my book!
…Returns! is more than just an instrumental album; it’s a reminder that this type of music can still resonate and still has a few new tricks up its sleeve. With beautiful guitar work, thoughtfully crafted songs, and contributions from a stellar lineup of guest artists, Bumblefoot has delivered something truly special.
For fans of instrumental guitar, rock, or just great music in general, this is an album you don’t want to miss. I’d love to know what you think of the album - I’m @ChasingSound everywhere if you want to reach out!