American guitar player Rick Berthod comes back to the roots of the genre with “Get Back Home”, a recording that shines for its musical honesty but falls just short of brilliance. The album stands as a solid, highly recommended for blues and southern rock lovers, even if it does not break mold or injects truly groundbreaking elements into today’s music scene.

From the very first track, Berthod showcases his undeniable mastery on the six-string instrument, delivering clean, soulful and technically flawless solos that remind the great legends of blues-rock. The production is pristine and well-balanced, allowing breathing room for each instrument, something that gives an immense benefit to the tight rhythm section that holds up each song. The main shortcoming of “Get Back Home” lies in the predictability of its songwriting. The song structures strictly move along traditional shapes that male this musical journey feel somewhat hackneyed and with no surprises for listeners. Although the vocal performance is solid and heartfelt, it lacks that gritty, spine-chilling edge that usually raises a recording to a memorable category.

In short, “Get Back Home” is a notable album that easily satisfies the expectations of a well-delivered classic blues, that also serves as the perfect soundtrack for a relaxed afternoon or a long drive, but it is unlikely to be remembered as a landmark release in the discography of an artist who undoubtedly has a lot of potential and is able of pushing himself harder.