Broken

In 2014, bluesman Walter Trout left his bed after eight hard months spent recovering from a liver transplant during which time he "forgot" how to speak, play guitar, and even walk due to muscle atrophy. A year later he released Battle Scars, the first in a string of unflinching, painfully honest albums reflecting on life and hard lessons learned in a particularly episodic journey. Each subsequent title -- Survivor Blues (2019), Ordinary Madness (2020), and Ride (2022) -- told a different part of his story while imparting lyrics rich in emotional maturity, hard-won wisdom, and observations, good and bad, of the changing world around him. At 72, a decade after that surgery, Trout continues that trek with Broken. Recorded in Los Angeles with longtime producer Eric Corne, these 12 originals cover various aspects of a life lived with gratitude, open eyes, and ferocity. The waltz-time title-track opener -- co-written with spouse/manager Marie Trout -- is a downtempo rock duet with Beth Hart. The duo, whether singing solo or together, strip artifice from the swelling arrangement and explore lyrics that each knows something about. Trouts guitar solo is emotionally deep and lyrical. On "Turn and Walk Away," Trout transforms the acoustic Delta blues into a throbbing, pulsing blues-rocker a la R.L. Burnside, with a wailing harmonica echoing the sung lines. Speaking of harmonica, Englishman Will Wilde joins in full wail on "Bleed," a raucous boogie directly inspired by Trouts former employer, John Lee Hooker (its the first one hes written for an album). "No Magic (In the Street)" employs a garagey vamp that recalls Wilbert Harrison, with a swaggering lyric filled with an age-attained, steely-eyed skepticism, yet still looks at everyday life evenly: "These days to be a hero/youve just got to stay alive make it through the madness/and merely survive." Twisted Sisters Dee Snider joins in on "Ive Had Enough," a burning, overdriven rocker fueled by a vintage ZZ Top choogle and elevated by Hammond B-3 and delicious solo breaks. "Love of My Life" is a sweet, stinging midtempo instrumental on which Trout is buoyed by synth strings, soft drums, and a Rhodes piano. Its vibe dances between Roy Buchanans "The Messiah Will Come Again" and Ronnie Earls "The Colour of Love." "Breathe" emerges in a bluesy country-soul segue, its lyric offering empathy and acceptance. "I Wanna Stay" is arguably the best vocal performance in Trouts career. His sweet baritone croon hovers inside a tender, soulful melody, supported by B-3 and a silvery guitar solo. The dramatic closer "Falls Apart" was penned by Michael Edward Braendgard Trout. Its lyrics reflect tension, dissolution, and finally, the hope of resurrection. Its verses are underscored in the end by a multi-voice chorus gospelizing the refrain over soaring guitar. Given that hes been making music since 2015, its become increasingly obvious that Trout isnt interested in blues cliches or tropes; he has urgent things to say and isnt wasting time. Broken delivers the latest proof. ~ Thom Jurek