I’ve been a fan of Beth Hart’s music for years, and I own every one of her albums. If you don’t like that bias, stop reading now. Having said that, I don’t think it will surprise anyone that I love her new album, “War in My Mind.” As opposed to several of her latest solo albums that featured heavy jazz influences (such as “Bang Bang Boom Boom” or “Fire on the Floor”) and especially different from her projects with Joe Bonamassa (such as “Live in Amsterdam” or “Seesaw”), “War in My Mind” edges much closer to Hart’s blues/rock roots. The reverb’d guitars grind, the bass thunders along behind, and Hart’s own piano sets a driving tempo whether the tune is a slow, personal struggle (such as the title track, “War in My Mind”) or a flirtatious romp through sexual innuendo (such as “Bad Woman Blues” - which has a fun video). As always, Hart is at her best when she’s at her most personal, and “Without Words in the Way” and “Sister Dear” will tug the emotional heart strings. Overall, this is a strong album, hitting nearly as high as some of my personal favorites (“Bang Bang Boom Boom” and “Live at Paradiso”), and it’s been in heavy rotation on my daily commute since it released.