California resident Walter Trout has scratched out his own name in the blues with three releases for Provogue, and this his third release for Ruf. The hard charged axe slayer gained his expertise touring with Big Mama Thornton, Canned Heat, John Mayall & his Bluesbreakers, and with the great John Lee Hooker. On this release he is again teamed with super-producer Jim Gaines, who was also aboard for Trout's last two recording ventures: Livin' Every Day and Live Trout.
Trout's burning notations, quick string bending, and conquering phrasings stand to show that he is one of the world's best. His voice is suitably matched for strong issues and deliveries; his material, thirteen original tunes, is well-composed and suits his vocal strengths. Inventiveness marks his prolific writing, composing, and arranging; this fourth CD in two years providing that proof. A writer of social significance and contemporary ideas, Walter's title tune "Go The Distance", written before September 11th, takes on a much more special meaning now!
Going the distance with Walter is his band The Radicals: Jimmy Trapp on the bass, Bernie Pershey on the drums, and Bill Mason behind the keyboards. Trapp and Pershey make one of the strongest rhythm sections in the country, musically flyin' alongside Trout without regard for personal safety. Mason's work here is such a brick in the wall that failing it would be a disaster. This quartet can kick with the boundless energy of wild horses.
The grooved boogie "Love So Deep" and the following "Outta Control" shoot from the gate with abandon and fiery guitar runs from Trout. With cuts like "Ride 'Til I'm Satisfied", Walter and company pull off ripsnortin' rock before falling into the introspective blues of "Go The Distance". Whether Walter is talking about hope as in "Down To You" or "Looking For The Promised Land", or making cultural whoopee with "I Don't Want My MTV" the tunes comes across with brilliant blues-rock intonations and executions. Walter Trout and The Radicals have another wonder-filled rock and blues release; look for them out there touring behind it as they are one of the busiest bands in the business!
Ruf Records GmbH; 7 Ludwig Wagner-Str. 31A; D-37318 Lindewerra; Germany:
Ruf Records America; 162 N. 8th Street; Kenilworth, NJ 07033:
or: www.rufrecords.de,
or: www.waltertrout.com
Simply click on the CD cover at left to order this CD NOW!
This review is copyright © 2002 by Mark A. Cole, and Blues On Stage at: www.mnblues.com, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without written permission.
For permission to use this review please email Ray Stiles at: mnblues@aol.com
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