“Mojo” marks the long awaited return by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and ends the eight year drought since their last studio release, 2002’s “The Last DJ.”

Eight years might curb an artist’s talent and result in a lackluster release, but Tom Petty and the rest of his crew knock that notion out of the park.

Mojo for the most part maintains a blues foundation filled with slick grooves, and intuitive depth that shows the creative chemistry between the front man Tom Petty, and his band, rivals that of McCartney and Lennon.

From the opening track “Jefferson Jericho Blues” to the end with “Good Enough,” Petty and the gang move forward like a fine-tuned muscle car, taking pride and exhibiting perfect synchronicity of all its parts. 

Also, like an automobile, Petty might have the name recognition; it’s the potential of what’s under the hood that really takes it off at the light.

Although, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers may have formed in 1976, they still play with excitement. 

The 59-year-old Tom Petty sounds like a kid in a candy store with lyrics that accompany the electronic piano and harmonica heavy track so naturally in “Let Yourself Go.”

“Running Man’s Bible” creates an atmosphere that sounds like if Eric Clapton were surfing cool waves in Southern California with B.B. King, accompanied by Tom Petty’s signature vocal croon.

Even though Tom Petty seems to be favoring the blues, he and the Heartbreakers can still make a good ballad with “No Reason to Cry.”

“U.S. 41” takes the musical flow in a different direction for a short time, with a Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues”-like melody that oddly enough does not completely throw  Mojo’s train off the tracks.

“Lover’s Touch” contains slow vocals that creep up on guitar riffs and chords with ease. Overall, the new song can satisfy the regular attendee of the blues bar, while keeping the arena audience member asking for more.

While newer acts like the Black Keys and White Stripes may be gaining popularity by embracing their blues background, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, regardless of age, are still a classic act who maintain staying relevant in today’s media. 

Their album sales are obvious of that. “Mojo” debuted number 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200 list, selling over 120,000 copies in the first week.  

Mojo is a clever gift, in our time in music where everyone is using auto-tune and other obnoxious vocal effects. 

Tom Petty proves that, in this case, it’s not necessarily constant innovation that sets you apart; it’s about exploring and embracing the God-given talent that you already have.