Broken
Provogue/Mascot 2024
10/10
The blues-rock legend Walter Trout is in great company here, where Beth Hart, Dee Snider and Will Wide accompany him for the dozen powerful and diverse anthems.
The emotive and heartfelt title track starts the listen with Trout’s eloquent voice and Hart’s gorgeous pipes suiting the dramatic landscape, and “Turn And Walk Away” follows with soaring harmonica amid the firm acoustic guitar playing.
Moving along, the rugged and dense “Bleed” places Wide on harmonica for the swift and flowing blues, while “I’ve Had Enough”, somewhat an answer to Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It”, makes great use of animated keys and Snider’s strategic, raspy voice that’s plenty thick and the album’s best.
Landing close to the end, the spoken versus singing of “Heaven Or Hell” is met with a meticulous and driving rhythm section, and “Falls Apart” exits the record with a melodic dreaminess and no lack of guitar shredding from Trout- something that is thankfully present across the entire listen.
An effort that is thematically universal and can be applied to politics, economics, social media and culture wars, Trout’s muscular solos don’t disappoint, and his excellent guests only further solidify this as one of the best in 2024 in the area of the blues.
Travels well with: Gregory Hutchinson- Da Bang; Joe Bonnamassa- Blues Deluxe Vol. 2