Walter Trout & The Radicals 2003 Relentless

Genre: Blues-Rock
Rate: 320 kbps CBR / 44100
Time: 01:13:07
Size: 167,22 MB



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 favourite 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)



Tracklist:

01 - I'm Tired 06:04

02 - The Life I Chose 06:08

03 - Jericho Road 04:31

04 - Work No More 05:46

05 - Talk To Ya 05:33

06 - Cry If You Want To 04:46

07 - Chatroom Girl 05:34

08 - My Heart Is True 06:42

09 - Lonely Tonight 02:25

10 - Helpin' Hand 05:22

11 - Collingswood 04:16

12 - Empty Eyes 05:10

13 - The Best You Got 06:25

14 - Mercy 04:25





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