Live Trout Vol. 1
Walter Trout is not about tastefulness and subtlety--he is about ferocious intensity, exhilarating speed, and raw energy. This double-disc set (at single-disc price) presents Trout's complete, unedited performance from the March 2000 Tampa Bay Blues Fest (where they say he upstaged headlinerSusan Tedeschi), and it is truly a thrilling ride. Running on adrenaline after a sleepless day and night traveling, Trout rolls through heavy blues rockers, slow 12-bars, soulful groovers, and even aDylancover. To be sure, this is pure blow-your-mind, "guitar god" kind of stuff that many blues purists may not enjoy. There are definitely times that Trout's incessant over-the-top style becomes slightly tedious, and there's not much in the way of originality, unless you count the fact that few others are even capable of such supersonic licks and unearthly tones. Still, despite the lack of a truly distinctive sound, Trout's ability to consistently fan the flames is amazing, and his voice, while not on a par with his guitar, is passionate and powerful. If you are a fan of pedal-to-the-metal electric blues-rock, few can match Trout in terms of sheer dexterity and drive.--Marc Greilsamer