Customer Reviews

Relentless

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This cd captures Walter at his absolute best. From start til finish you can really feel every song deep down, in every note Walter plays and every word he sings.A stand out track for me is "Cry If You Want To", a song which Walter wrote fo his son. It is beautiful and moving. "I'm Tired" is a powerful song with exciting guitar playing and strong backing. I love the way in which this cd has been recorded, capturing both the benefits of the studio and live performance. This is yet another outstanding release from Walter Trout and the Radicals. Relentless is a must have.

I have followed this band since I first heard them on radio in 1998, both through purchase of their CD's and following them on tours through the midwest.

This CD, being the band's first with a new line up on keyboards and drums joining Walter's long time bassist Jim Trapp, showcases the solid talents of the band along with Walter's songwriting and guitar playing ability.

It also contains some of the "raw" aspects of a live recording and yet still captures some of the production qualities that made "Go the Distance" such a great CD.

This work may well show a progression to a higher level for Walter's songwriting talents and the new line up may well elevate this band to the "headliner status" in the U.S. they richly deserve.

Whether your taste runs more to the gritty power guitar of "I'm Tired", or to the almost haunting ballad "Jericho Road", there is something here for everyone. There is a quality to the music that makes this CD a personal favorite and a definite must have for any blues/rock fan.

Although I am one of those so-called blues "purists" people talk about, makes me a now hard-won fan of Mr. Trout.

Of course, great guitar work, good songs, especially because they are "originals" and come from the heart.

Thanks for baring your soul to us through your music, Walter. Thoroughly enjoyable album which I have joyfully added to my Blues collection of CD's which gets frequent play.

Walter Trout keeps getting better with each release. On "Relentless", Trout gives us 14 original tunes and over 70 minutes that rock, in a blues way of course, from start to finish slowing down every now and again for a change of pace and to break any monotony. Trout's songs seem to be theme oriented and based upon his life experience as a traveling musician. The songs are in the vein of a Joe Bonamassa, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Gov't Mule or Jim Shuler and Monkey Beat. While all songs are new and original material, "Jericho Road", a radio friendly slow tune done in a southern rock fashion, sounds vaguely familiar. Nevertheless, it's 5 stars all the way and clearly one of the better releases this year.

Walter Trout has spent his days walking the long path of hardship to find the road of success. He toured and worked under John Lee Hooker and Big Mama Thornton, then as the lead guitar/harmonica sideman with Canned Heat for 4 years. After his tenure in the mid-1980's with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Trout formed his current band in 1989 with bassist Jimmy Trapp. Walter Trout & The Radicals have released thirteen albums in Europe and ten in the United States since 1989, and have been aggressively touring to support each release. An overseas vote recently put him into the top ten guitarists of all time in Europe. The record is incinerating; Trout and company blaze through the tracks on the show with the ferocity of a wildfire. The new CD/DVD features the Radicals filmed live, performing a full album of new material and at The Paradiso, a gothic cathedral in Amsterdam, Holland. Trout's guitar has the ferocity of a blast-furnace, incinerating virtually every note on his vintage `73 Stratocaster which is now on its 14th fret job. Trout's contributions this year also include a track on Canned Heat's 2003 release "Friends In The Can," After performing a 5 year stint in Canned Heat as the lead guitar/harmonica player in the early 1980's. All content copyright www.maximumink.com

I stumbled upon Walter Trout over a year ago and I count myself extremely lucky to have done so. Trout is, in my opinion, the single most talented rock/blues musician on the planet at this time - with Joe Bonamassa weighing in second place. If there is some musician more talented out there, I haven't discovered them and it certainly isn't for lack of trying. This is fine CD well worth purchasing - my favorite songs being: I'm Tired, Helpin' Hand and Collingswood. Being the versatile musician that he is, Trout is also well adapted to playing and singing slower tunes like `Jericho Road' and `Cry If You Want To' with great ability. Since discovering him, I have gone on to purchase just about everything he has put out - and love it all. My praise could go on and on. From listening to his music, I get the distinct impression that Trout is man who seen a great deal of life, tasted deeply of its joys and it's many pains and sorrows, has gained many battle scars and come out on the other side intact and wiser for the experiences. For example, (on this CD and his many others) when Trout plays the blues with such purpose, sensitivity and feeling ... that signifies to me that he's `been there' and intimately knows where of he sings. It's all there in his music. As with any CD you purchase, you may not like all of the songs produced within - but I believe you will adore most of these. As with all his CD's, this is very highly recommended.

Saw and met Walter at Fargo Blues Festival. I have heard a lot of guitar players but this guy blew my mind! Ifound this to be an excellent cd.It is a must have for those who love great blues guitar.

I'm sitting here listning to Walter Trout's Relentless CD, and am just blown away! This guy is one of the finest guitar players I have ever heard, if not the finest! As a singer songwriter, he is in my opinion as good as the very best. There is not a bad cut on this disc and I love the way that they recorderd it, the soundstage is big and raw, a real live feel to it. If you are a fan of Walter Trout (and everyone should be!) you will have to have this disc. What a talent this guy is!! What a band! Get the disc, spread the word!!!!!

Walter is best served live and this is no exception. To bad the audio quality is bad even on the SACD. Is it just me or does his voice drop on the last two songs? Sounds like his mic quit? Walter is such a great player and I hope he releases a better copy of this. I will buy it again.

Walter may not enjoy the fish jokes but he certainly ripped it up on this one. Great performance. Trout is a real guitar hero! Substantial organ and keyboard backup is here and excellent. Bet he had a blast in Amsterdam. The 2 channel mix is superb. The multi channel mix made it sound like I was at the show right in front of the stage. Vocals are mostly out of the center channel and have a live sound to them. Both mixes are great so don't sweat it if you only have 2 channel SACD capability. Buy this disc and don't be bashful with the volume.