The latest album by Joan Armatrading is a bit of a step in a different direction. As the title indicates, this highly talented singer/songwriter is venturing into the blues on what must be something like her 20th album. I've found her early work - all the way back to the 1970s - to be the most enjoyable period in her career, with many of the later albums somewhat lackluster. On first listen, "Into the Blues" sounds refreshing and worthy of further exploration.