Jeff Beck has covered it all.  Rock in every corner, nearly every niche.  He has headed The Jeff Beck Group, worked as part of a power trio (Beck, Bogert, Appice), successfully collaborated with Jan Hammer on several very successful Jazz/Rock instrumental releases, was a part of one of the greatest loaded bands ever in The Yardbirds, and threw out some assorted ‘along the way’ solo releases, of which his latest, Emotion & Commotion is a part of.

What Emotion & Commotion underscores is the very recognizable guitar talent of one of our elites.  It is a collection of tracks that capitalizes on that commodity.  Make no mistake; Beck has absolutely nothing to prove save to entertain himself with stuff that he takes a fancy to, and to keep himself in the public consciousness.

There are some fine works on this album that electrifies.  His tracks with Joss Stone ("I Put a Spell On You," "There's No Other Me") are the pulse of the album.  But Beck's gracious instrumental take on "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is otherworldly, if not strangely so given the usual treatment that song gets.

On a welcome note.  Jazz still creeps in on his "Serene" instrumental, which is definitely a standout track with Beck's guitar reminding us why Jeff Beck is still one of our best.

There are more quality tracks on Emotion & Commotion but really, nothing on the album surprises us as we've heard him in every way.  But regardless, it's always nice to hear his signature sound in ways that are still warmly familiar to us. It's like revisiting a childhood home and sitting in what used to be your room.  It's comforting, soothing, and speaks volumes to us.