Different Shades of Blue is Bonamassa's first studio album in two years and the first album of his career to feature all original material. The result is a record with more of an experimental edge than previous Bonamassa records. It's a blues record that explores the outer reaches and the many different sounds that shape the genre.

'It's been a while since I've been involved in the writing on an entire album. So I decided I wanted to make a completely original blues album,' said Bonamassa. 'I've really had to push myself to make everything I do better than the last project. I know the fans expect it.'