Review: Bruce Madden “Trouble Times” What Stands Out: Seasoned Grand Rapids musician Bruce Madden returns with “Trouble Times,” a record steeped in the blues and colored with the sounds and influences of an artist who has traveled the world and reflected it in his music. Each track was written on Madden’s first musical love, the harmonica, and features several guest artists to add to the vision of this record (recorded at Goon Lagoon). Listeners are treated to fuzz-fueled guitar tone, garage rock flavoring, Doors-style songwriting, and a collection of almost mantra-like lyrics centering strongly and plainly around liars, love, poverty, traveling and how hard life can be. Digging Deeper: As an artist who’s lived in France, New Orleans, Boston, Virginia, and was born and raised in Arkansas, Bruce Madden has a plethora of musical environments to draw inspiration from as a multi-instrumentalist. Gritty blues interwoven with garage rock and world music is combined with very straightforward lyricism that gives listeners succinct bursts of character in each track. Little additions that deviate from the core trio add personality throughout the record, including the featured sounds of Lafayette Gunter on saxophone, Emily Green on penny whistle, Ryan Limbeck on trombone, and Dick Chiclet on Mellotron, Hammond, guitar and Bass VI. It is a record that doesn’t mince words and gets right to the heart of the music while never overstaying its welcome. Perfect For: Anybody who finds comfort in the blues to ease their winter woes. – Dutcher Snedeker