Walter Trout Broken (CD)

(Provogue) 12 tracks - digipack

We are all broken ("Broken"). But no one is incurable. Walter Trout has lived by this philosophy for seven decades at the heart of American society and the blues-rock scene.

Even in 2024, when the world is more torn apart by politics, economics, social media and culture wars than ever before, the famous US bluesman describes the bitter fractures of modern life on his latest album, but refuses to succumb to them. "I've always tried to write positive songs, and this album isn't all that positive," says the 72-year-old about the tracklist. "But I always hold on to hope. I think that's the reason I wrote this album."

With gallows humor, Trout notes that his new album begins with a track called Broken and ends with a track called Falls Apart. He can't deny the socio-political sentiment in the air, and so between these two bookends lie some of the most personal songs of his career (albeit paired with some of his most rocking and defiant guitar work).

Walter Trout was able to enlist the great Beth Hart as a guest for his new work, as well as Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider, who revealed himself as a fan via Twitter.