Album Review: Jeff Beck’s Guitar Shop – A Wild Ride Through Rock, Blues, and Whatever Else He Felt Like
Let’s get one thing straight: if you’re looking for an album that plays it safe, Guitar Shop by Jeff Beck (with Terry Bozzio on drums and Tony Hymas on keys) is not your jam. Released in 1989 in the UK under Epic Records, this record is like a rebellious teenager who refuses to pick just one outfit—it blends rock, blues, alternative vibes, folk twinges, fusion madness, and even some blues-rock swagger. And honestly? It works. Most of the time.
Now, let’s talk tracks because not every song here deserves equal airtime in my brain. Two standouts—“People Get Ready” and “Guitar Shop”—are burned into my memory for very different reasons.
First up, “People Get Ready.” If you’ve ever wanted to hear a guitar weep like it just caught its partner texting someone else, this is your track. The melody feels timeless, almost sacred, but Beck doesn’t just copy The Impressions’ original—he reinvents it. His playing isn’t flashy for the sake of showing off; instead, it’s emotional, raw, and kinda makes you wanna call your mom to say thanks for raising you right. Or maybe cry in the shower. Either way, it sticks with you.
Then there’s “Guitar Shop,” which is basically what happens when Jeff Beck decides he wants to show off but still keep things cool. This instrumental piece is chaotic yet controlled, like watching a cat chase lasers across the floor. You don’t know where it’s going next, but damn, it’s fun to follow along. Bozzio’s drumming slaps harder than most modern rock bands combined, while Hymas adds layers of synth that feel both futuristic and retro at the same time. Oh, and Beck? Dude shreds so hard you might need to check your speakers for smoke damage afterward.
Behind all these genre-bending experiments lies something deeper—an artist unafraid to mix styles, break rules, and occasionally confuse listeners. Sure, some moments on Guitar Shop lean toward self-indulgence (looking at you, random tempo changes), but hey, isn’t that part of the charm? It’s messy, unpredictable, and totally human.
In the end, listening to Guitar Shop feels like wandering through a thrift store where everything’s slightly out of place—but somehow, it all fits together perfectly. It’s not perfect, but perfection’s boring anyway. So grab your headphones, crank up the volume, and prepare yourself for a sonic journey that’ll leave you wondering why more albums can’t be this delightfully weird.
And now, the unexpected remark: I bet Jeff Beck could make grocery shopping sound cooler than anything currently on Spotify. Just saying.
