Ride
Provogue/Mascot, 2022
8/10
The legendary blues-rock guitarist Walter Trout returns with his 30th solo album, where he hunkered down in a deserted home in Huntington Beach for an emotive and honest listen that’s influenced by his troubled upbringing.
“Ghosts” gets the album off to a rugged and powerful start with its thick guitars, dense drumming and Trout’s soulful pipes, and “Ride” follows with swift piano and just as quick melodies guiding the energetic and timeless rock.
Further along, the spirited harmonica and dynamic rhythm section of “High Is Low” rumbles with plenty of grit, while “Waiting For The Dawn” gets intimate and eloquent with Trout’s poetic delivery making for a stirring climate.
Close to the end, “Hey Mama” is both raw and tuneful with a very powerful delivery, and “Destiny” exits with a radiant glow of cozy, soft-rock sensibilities that’s quite dreamy.
Trout has lived a life full enough for two people, as he joined John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers lineup in ’85 before moving onto a solo career in ‘89. He lived the rock’n’roll lifestyle to the fullest, and his vast experiences, both good and bad, certainly are present in his forthright and very honest song craft.
Travels well with: Eric Gales- Crown; Joanne Shaw Taylor- The Blues Album