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“I didn’t want to do the Blues greatest hits, I wanted to do old, obscure songs that have hardly been covered. And that’s how ‘Survivor Blues’ started.” ‘Survivor Blues’, if ever there was an apt title for a Walter Trout album, there it is. Coined by his wife and manager, Marie, this album is a testament to Trout and his bandmates, all survivors in their own ways. Don’t expect any Blues staples though, Trout did his research, and set out to “Call attention to these great songs”. In doing so, he has helped shine a light on twelve tracks that some casual listeners might not be aware of. Beginning with a stunning rendition of Jimmy Dawkins’ ‘Me, My Guitar, And The Blues’, this is another entry in the long list of top quality albums that Walter Trout has produced recently. There’s fantastic visual imagery through the lyrics, “Now that you don’t want me baby, it’s just me, my guitar and the Blues”. To me, that’s the Blues summed up in one line. Add an incredible three minute long guitar solo, that will leave you breathless, and you have the perfect album opener. You might have heard Walter premiere the track on his UK tour late last year? You also might have heard him talk about how he was on the receiving end of some online abuse, for having an opinion on the nutty affair that is American politics. Track two on ‘Survivor Blues’ is ‘Be Careful How You Vote’! A rip-roaring romp full of slide guitar and copious amounts of harmonica. Sublime, totally sublime. Also keeping it relevant is John Mayall’s ‘Nature’s Disappearing’, a lovely deft touch from Trout from start to finish. ‘Woman Don’t Lie’ brings a dash of funk and soul to the party, as well as an amazing duet between Trout and Sugaray Rayford. Again, the guitar work is exemplary. The vigour with which Trout attacks his guitar would put many half his age to shame. The School of Rock needs to take a detour and devote a full semester to this guy. ‘Sadie’ is all about the bass and keyboards. They stay in the background to an extent, but they are both crucial to the overall vibe. ‘Something Inside Of Me’ is a track that is easy to get lost in. The waves of guitar licks just wash over the listener… wave after wave. Guitar affectionados often talk about a guitarists tone, and the tone is strong with this one. In all honesty, it would be easy to wax lyrical about each of the twelve tracks, they are that strong (‘Goin’ Down To The River’ will blow you away), but instead, perhaps you should head over to Walter’s facebook page, where each week he is telling the story behind each track, as well as posting the original version and his own interpretation. With the release of ‘Survivor Blues’, the benchmark for Blues covers albums, or covers albums in general, has just been raised. Available now through Mascot Label Group. Review: Dave]]>
