Achievement for Blues on the Internet
Presented by The Blues Foundation
Walter Trout again easily establishes himself as a blues/rock megalodon
with his latest cd "Relentless."
Though this recording took place at the Paradiso Nightclub in
Amsterdam, you would never know it. Audience sounds for the most part are
miked out in such a way, "Relentless" can pass for a studio
recording.
Whatever the politics, Trout burns through a selection of 14 cuts with
blistering attacks that have made him a favorite among promoters of blues
festival circuits. Trout's songs portray his life on the road and nasty
temptations that are part of the package. "The Life I Chose" is
Walter's biography of choice and circumstances driven by diesel guitar
lines and thick riffs. When he straps on an acoustic guitar, he can design
an Aesop fable in "Jericho Road" that is worth the money of this
cd alone.
Cutting his chops as a sideman for John Mayall, Canned Heat and others
has been a road education for Trout who never lost his books. Picking
bassist Jimmy Trapp, organist Sammy Avila and drummer Joey Pafumi builds a
sound harkening back to the days of yesteryear when rock dinosaurs Jimmy
Page, Tony Iommi and Ritchie Blackmore roamed the earth flexing star
attitude in smoke-filled coliseums.
The key is Trout doesn't get hung up in an indulgence factor that would
otherwise ruin his music. Walter isn't a total blues man. But blues is a
theme in material like "I'm Tired" and "Work No More"
that sees Trout succeeding in his role as blues guitar god with brain
ripping guitar. Avila's organ pushes to the forefront in the roadhouse
boogie of "Talk To Ya." Trout isn't oblivious to the computer
age as he uses "Chatroom Girl" as part of his textbook of
personal humor and the finest of blues riff rock.
Sometimes he slows down. He can croon a ballad with the best of them in
"Cry If You Want To" that sees a lot less wood cutting by
Trout's ornery axe. Domestic family violence rears its ugly head in a
frightening "Collingswood" that is retrospective coliseum rock.
The blues mood will find Walter sooner or later. It will embrace him
when he sings to his wife Marie "My Heart is True" which becomes
Walter's trademark of manic guitar fury. Trout can't resist a solid
acoustic number and breaks it down in "Lonely Tonight" and
quickly picks up slack in "Helpin Hand" that simply says live
one day at a time. Organist Avila with bassist Trapp and drummer Pafumi
build a steeple for where Walter can place bricks of blues. Trout can be a
genius with just the right blues rock riffing and "Empty Eyes"
is a pure example of that with lyrics depicting downfalls of beloved
friends.
Just when you thought Trout exhausted his bag of tricks, he still
manages to pull out fresh ideas that make him an immediate successor to
any vacancies left on the blues-rock throne.
"This review is copyright © 2004 by Gary
Weeks, and Blues On Stage at: www.mnblues.com,
all rights reserved.
Copy, duplication or download prohibited without permission."
