Bluesman Walter Trout’s latest album, Broken, has been described as “raucous, wild and poignant.” The best bits certainly are, albeit some tracks need a few listens to get where he’s coming from, and if he indeed achieves all his goals.
“I thought my friend Beth Hart could relate to the title track,” said of the album’s opening number, given a bit of lyrical assistance by his wife, Marie. It begins with a sense of resignation, if not self-pity, in a dusty slow blues manner, stirring into something more profound as Hart takes over the vocals, followed by a mournful guitar solo that finds redemption as further signified by the joining of the singers’ voices as the number continues. ‘Broken’ chronicles modern life’s pet squabbles with politics, economics, social media and the culture wars, and a refusal to give into any of them.
It’s not an easy way to ease yourself into an album, but one can at least appreciate Trout’s point of view. “I’ve always tried to write positive songs, and this album is not quite that,” the 72-year-old guitar slinger contemplated. “But I always hold on to hope. I think that’s why I wrote this album.” If so, the journey to freedom’s road may be a long one, as next number ‘Turn And Walk Away’ details – A southern-styled countrified electric blues, that you could just as easily imagine played on banjo with jug-blowing support initially before it eases into a more expressive and expansive song of yearning.
‘Courage In The Dark’ may well rely on familiar blues tropes, but take that familiarity as comfort while Trout’s music begins to kindle the kind of faith, strength of spirit and good luck we’re going to need to get out of the mess this world’s in right now. Now charged, Trout decides to add some meat to the old bones, and it begins with a raucous slice of boogie called ‘Bleed’ where British harmonica player Will Wilde and Trout trade licks and seemingly have a good time of it.
The sitar-spiked guitar sound that opens ‘Talkin’ To Myself’ recalls the late Jeff Beck tune-smithing on The Yardbirds’ ‘Heart Full Of Soul’ but the song itself has more of a sixties folk rock feel, and as in those times were they’d often comment on the current social climate and a need for there to be a change in the air, here Trout denounces those seeking attention via social media and the like. ‘No Magic (In The Street)’ bounces along on a heavy beating rhythm, some rollicking piano and has Trout shouting out his disappoint with life, but you can’t deny it all supplies the bedrock for him to play some noisy guitar. Then, with a rocket up his backside, he trumps that with ‘I’ve Had Enough’ where Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider on board as the pair spew venom lyrically over something the Stones could have produced back in their empirical prime, with many an added piece of fiery fretwork heard along the way.
‘Love Of My Life’ is a slow dance guitar instrumental, dedicated to Trout’s wife, that has charm and character. However, it’s bettered by the rather splendid ballad ‘I Wanna Stay’. ‘Breathe, written by Richard Gerstein is a contemplative reading, country and western twanged.
Topping the rockers on this album is ‘Heaven Or Hell’ – It’s primal, man! Bass and drums pummel, those guitar chords are precise, hacking all enemies on sight, and Trout’s lead work wiry, screaming out with inspired licks yet with the feeling of being frustrated, and in so doing reflecting the song’s lyrics – It’s the narration of a blind black pan-handler serving up a lifetime of wisdom, alternatively picture some 60s hippy burnout touched with the wisdom of the ages. Totally wicked lines, tossed out one after another, between raging guitar lines, then this punk, almost Beastie Boys chant of: “We get what we deserve” before ending in a Hendrix detonation of guitar work. Love it. And that it’s then followed by the aforementioned ‘I Wanna Stay’; a stroke of genius. The album closes with the cascading chords of ‘Falls Apart’; the overall effect a touch C, S, N & Y go Blackmore’s medieval rock route, and much as you think it’s going to end with some blues-inspired power ballad guitar solo what you get are stacked vocal harmonies. Full of surprises this album.
It’s obvious Walter Trout has things to say, and wants to get them off his chest. Despite which, I’ve no doubt most folk come for his guitar solos. It’s those numbers that fall within the cracks that work best, and the best of those ace it.
- Reviewed by Paul H Birch.
- Broken is released via Mascot Label Group and is available here.
- Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube Channel
Track List:
- Broken
- Turn And Walk Away
- Courage In The Dark
- Bleed
- Talkin’ To Myself
- No Magic (In The Street)
- I’ve Had Enough
- Love Of My Life
- Breathe
- Heaven Or Hell
- I Wanna Stay
- Falls Apart
