WALTER TROUT – Broken

The upcoming record by blues rock legend Walter Trout entitled Broken is nothing short of spectacular, and the entire thing is brimming with atmosphere, heart, soul, and some of the best riffs and licks that I have ever come across, which is saying something.

This twelve-track output packs so much raw emotion and melancholy into every fiber of the thoroughly classy creation that it beggars belief, and the LP beautifully balances pained tunes such as ‘Courage in the Dark’ and ‘Breathe’ with punchy rockers ala ‘Bleed’ and ‘I’ve Had Enough’. The latter features the inimitable Dee Snider of Twisted Sister fame on vocals.

There is plenty of variety to the stellar affair, and pretty much every song hits that groove-laden sweet spot that Trout is the master of conjuring up. When closing track ‘Falls Apart’ swells to its marvelous climax, you will find yourself desperately wanting for more and wishing the disc was twice as long. In many ways, this is more than vigorous and well-written blues rock at its finest; it also tells us something about the human condition in an authentic manner, and THAT, my friends, is a rare and precious quality.