Walter Trout – Broken
12 Tracks – 54 Minutes
Much as has been written about Walter Trout’s health issues resulting from years of abuse to his body from addictions. When you look at Walter’s web page, the opening quote is “Walter Trout: Blues Rock’s Resilient Icon”. Walter came back from the precipice of death to become once again one of the most formidable players in the blues rock format today. At 72 years old, Walter continues to deliver driving blues that deliver many profound thoughts. After his near-death experience, his songs have indicated a renewed spirit of hope. Walter has transitioned many times in his career, starting his career playing with John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton, Percy Mayfield and others. Then he shifted to be a band member in Canned Heat from 1981 to 1984, which then followed a stint with John Mayall from 1984 to 1987, where he replaced previous guitarists Peter Green and Eric Clapton.
With Broken, he shifts gears to examine his past and identifies that he is still broken from the past traumas. But he says that we are all broken in some ways and further elaborates that our society has also become broken and expresses concerns about where we all are heading. But this is not to say that he is delivering a somber, down-turning album. He does provide a look at the concerns of today but mixes it with songs of quiet serenity and healing.
The album opens with Beth Hart providing a duet with Walter on the title song. Beth is another person that has suffered through much turmoil and has come out with a fresh attitude about life. The pairing of the two is one that seems to have been inevitable as they sing “Now I Pay the cost and I ‘m only trying to see just how much I have lost from the way I used to be. Now it’s every day these pieces break away and all that I have left is out here on display. ” Walter’s crisp guitar work and smooth vocals shifts into Beth’s raspy vocals and both crying “I don’t want to be broken anymore”. Skip Edwards’ Hammond organ underscores the song.
Walter adds the harmonica to his repertoire on “Turn and Walk Away”. A failed relationship is at the heart of the song as his sensitive lyrics explain, “The nights will be so long and I’m afraid I’m not that strong. You closed the door behind you as I watched you turn and walk away.” Walter delivers a message of hope on a slow shuffle, “Courage in the Dark” that says “A little bit of self-respect, it can brighten your day, and the fear and the trepidation seems to fade away.” The song is built on the back of a well-thought-out guitar solo that feels healing in itself.
Will Wilde guests on a harp driven boogie, “Bleed”, a powerful down and dirty blues rock number that tells the story of a man recovering from a failed relationship but fearful to enter into a new love noting “But you’re too scared to proceed. You know to be prepared for love you must be prepared to bleed.” Once again, Walter’s teaming with Wilde seems to be a fantastic complement between two performers. Walter plays an electric sitar on “Talkin’ to Myself” as he sings “I bear the scars of the life I’ve led, and all I’ve taken and all I’ve tried to give”.
Walter again pulls out his harmonica as he sings “You never get back to who you were before coz there ain’t “No Magic (On The Street)” anymore”. Walter is ready to rock and pulls in Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider to mix in vocals on a powerful declaration that “I’ve Had Enough” with “Too many preachers, too many rules, too many politicians, too many fools, too many lawyers, too many banks, too many soldiers, too many tanks.” From the harder rock song, Walter segues into a quiet interlude with the instrumental “Love of My Life”, which includes a beautiful piano solo from Skip Edwards and Walter’s touching guitar.
On “Breathe” he offers the advice “when you’re wondering who you are and life rushing in from all sides, and you’re walking home alone, and the world just beats you down, just breathe”. Walter lets his guitar rip again on the rocker “Heaven and Hell”. An old blind man offers Walter a life lesson as he proclaims “it ain’t what you say, it’s about what you do. It’s not what you take, but what you give. And it’s not what you preach, it’s about how you live.”
Walter moves into a love song on “I Wanna Stay” “laying here beside you. Now I know where I belong. Now I understand when I’m here so close to you.” The album ends with “Falls Apart ” that feels like a drop into despondency, but Walter’s soaring guitar and a rousing choral arrangement belays a side message that perhaps brings everything together.
Walter’s guitar continues to be just as powerful as ever as are his vocals, whether it is with solo work, in a duet, or backed by others. But every line of his lyrics should be carefully listened to and examined. many life lessons can be found here. Seven of the songs were written by Walter. But three songs “Broken”, “Turn and Walk Away”, and “I Wanna Stay” were written by Marie Trout, his wife. The final song, “Falls Apart” is written and arranged by Michael Edward Brandengard Trout. “Breathe” was written by Richrd Gerstein.
