Customer Reviews

Here Come the Noise Makers

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Nearly 15 years into a successful music career, it seemed long overdo for Bruce Hornsby to put out a live album. Bruce has been responsible for some outstanding music and during this period put out six solo albums. His first three albums were actually done as part of "Bruce Hornsby and the Range". This records made the piano maestro Hornsby a Pop star. While his latter three albums didn't have the commercial success, Hornsby would continue to strengthen his niche among his fan following - while continuing to explore some new avenues. With this album, "Here Come the Noise Makers" - Hornsby delivers the goods. This collection is a 2 CD Live Set. It contains 136+ minutes of music! Of the 18 tracks that are included, only 6 tracks are less than 6 minutes (3 of those less than 5 minutes) - this makes for some great extended play music. Hornsby does a great job at providing some nice segues between his music and the music other other Rock artists and even some Classical Composers.

This live collection actually comes from performances over a three year period (1998-2000). These performances include 1999 Woodstock, New Years Eve at Williamsburg Virginia, Austin City Limits (PBS), BET Jazz Central, and various other tour dates. Normally when there is a live release, I prefer the album to be a live recording from a single concert performance. I prefer it to be delivered in the order in which the songs were actually delivered. By having things from a single night and in order - I feel there is continuity and the magic of the concert is captured perfectly. What amazes me is how well this collection was put together. There seems to be a great flow from song to song. It does seem like it was a single performance from a single night. If this was from a single night, this might have even been that much better. One of the things I like best is how it captures the reaction from the audience - particularly you can hear the audience go "Bruuuce" after many of the songs. Usually that homage is reserved for Springsteen, but Hornsby is just as deserving of that honor.

Since the songs were taken from performances between 1998 and 2000, the most songs come from Hornsby's most recent album, the double set - "Spirit Trail". There are five songs that album: "Great Divide", "King of the Hill", "Sneaking Up on Boo Radley", "Fortunate Son", and "Sunflower Cat". If there is one thing that is disappointing is that there is not a lot of material from the "Bruce Hornsby and the Range" days that isn't included. There are a total of 7 songs from this era (i.e. the first 3 albums), this includes: "The Way It Is", "Mandolin Rain", "Red Plains", "The Road Not Taken", "The Valley Road", "Jacobs Ladder", and "Stander on the Mountain". Of those three albums, it seems like "A Night on the Town" was really left out - "Stander on the Mountain" is the only song included on this album.

Hornsby is backed by some solid musicians, but ultimately it is Hornsby's Baldwin Piano that is going to be the star of this collection. I consider Hornsby the pioneer of something that has been called "The Virginia Sound". The best way I can describe this sound is a mixture of a lot of different genres of music: Jazz, Classicial, Bluegrass, Rock, Country, and Pop. On this collection there will be a wide range of instruments incorporated into the songs to give this such a distinct sound: Clarinet, Saxaphone, Guitar, Accordian, and Mandolin. There are times during the performance where Hornsby will go hands-down into a Classical Music Performance. This is found on the "Piano Intro/Great Divide" track where Hornsby "warms up" with some classical piano before going into his "Virginia Sound" on "Great Divide". You'll also hear this on Track 8 which includes a "Piano Intro" before leading into Gershwin's "I Love You Porgy" and then going into Samuel Barber's "Nocturne". Midway through this segue of songs, you'll hear Hornsby go into some notes of his song "The Way It Is" (which he will seamlessly perform following this sequence). You will also hear some Classical Work as a prelude to "King of the Hill" - this is Bill Evans' "Twelve Tone Tune". You'll hear a Jazz influence in several places - particularly when Bruce plays "Spider Fingers" followed by Bud Powell's "Tempus Fight". You'll also hear this strongly on "Sneaking Up on Boo Radley".

Back when Hornsby recorded "A Night on the Town", The Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia played guitar on several tracks. Hornsby and Garcia developed a good synergy. With Garcia passing away prior to these recordings, Hornsby pays appropriate tribute by included two songs co-written by Jerry: "Lady With a Fan" and "Black Muddy River" (this song is the finale performed sandwiched inside Hornsby's classic "Mandolin Rain"). Hornsby also pays tribute to Bob Dylan by performing his "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Take a Train to Cry" - this is performed as a segue to Hornsby's "Sunflower Cat". You will hear the popular Huey Lewis song, "Jacobs Ladder" - but this song was written by Hornsby his version is on his "Scenes From the Southside" album. You will hear a traditional instrumental, "Blackberry Blossom" as a segue to "Jacobs Ladder". Finally many know that Hornsby wrote Don Henley's classic song "The End of the Innocence". There is a live version of Bruce performing this song - and this is to place to hear it.

Most of the songs are excellent versions of Bruce's studio work. The liner notes contain a short writeup by Hornsby and list some band members with some acknowledgements to people. There are no lyrics included and the specific songs are not credited to the night they were recorded. Despite these quirks, this is still an excellent collection for true Hornsby fans and new fans alike - Highly Recommended.

Are you a Bruce Hornsby fan? Do you like his older stuff with the Range? The new, jazzier songs with ten minute intros? Have you most recently seen Bruce touring with the Dead? If any of these fit you, this is the album for you. At over 135 minutes, this is Bruce at his best, riffing and playing your favorites as you've never heard them before. Note well: this is not a "best of" collection--all of the songs are altered in some way, because Bruce has been jamming with the Grateful Dead and playing the hottest jazz clubs in the U.S. to extend his range (no pun). I've seen Bruce in many different venues over the years, and most recently on two of his tours to Yoshi's in Oakland; this 2CD collection captures the best of Bruce's live performances. He plays songs that never got radio play (Red Plains and Stander on the Mountain, for example), as well as covers of musical icons (Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, George Gershwin). Jacob's Ladder won Bruce a Grammy, and here you hear the writer interpret his own song. He does hit a few of the classic radio releases (The Way It Is, Mandolin Rain, Valley Road), but they are vastly different from the studio album versions. He includes songs from all of his previous albums, as well as his Dead phase and jazz club phase--the album reflects his career as his fans have seen it develop. If you only think of early eighties Bruce Hornsby, or have only heard him as part of the Further Festival, this is your chance to experience the breadth of his talents, unconfined by a studio and reflective of the joy he has playing for his fans. Thanks, Bruce.

Having just seen Bruce in concert the other evening in Connecticut, and listening to this latest 2-CD live set, I have a fresh comparison of the two performances. Rarely does a live album so fully exemplify the true flavor of a Bruce Hornsby concert. (I've seen three, and have successfully hooked my 16 year old daughter on Bruce.) If you buy live or greatest hits CD's to have a single source compilation of your favorite songs of the artist, this one is not for you. Not a "greatest hits" CD, you buy this recording to experience the full creative musical genius, (Bruce never plays a song the same way twice), his mastery of the piano, unmatched by any other contemporary artist today, and Bruce's wonderful way of linking songs together. When listening to the last track, blending Mandolin Rain with the Garcia tune, Black Muddy River, no Hornsby fan will be disappointed....those who love his romantic melodies, jazz improvizations, creative musical genius, command of the keyboard, or simply those who appreciate Bruce's way of honoring Garcia's memory. If Bruce ever comes to your area, live, see him. In the interim, buy the CD set and treat yourself to a great Hornsby concert!

More than any other of Bruce's albums, this live one shows us what musicians influenced Hornsby and he consistently integrates some of these musicians distinguished styles into his more common pop songs. We hear Bill Evans introduce "The Way It Is" and "King of the Hill", and even Bud Powell invade "Spider Fingers". Not only that but Bruce does it quite successfully and fluently. "Here Come the Noise Makers" shows off his piano skills even more than "Spirit Trail" did and it shows us that this band can play more than just pop and rock. I hear a lot of people say that some of his better known songs were left out and some how this was really disappointing. But these people must be reminded that this is not a greatest hits record. Bruce is showing his growth as a musician and his all round diversity. His goal towards virtuosity rates high in my book and should be respected highly.

There are some great moments on this CD, but it isn't the best live CD of all time. There are some slow spots. The rest of the band is not on the same level as Hornsby. There are also some major problems with the edit and sound mix.

Bruce Hornsby has always been an excellent piano player, and that is the highlight of most of his work. He got his start by writing songs for Fox studios. He eventually wrote pop hits for Huey Lewis, Don Henley and himself. Hornsby put out three albums of mostly pop music.

Hornsby got tired of the pop music and started to branch out. He spent a big chunk of the nineties touring with the Grateful Dead. His later albums moved away from pop, causing him to lose his pop fan base.

Here Comes the Noise Makers is an album of old hits, some standards, a few Grateful Dead hits and some new material. All the songs are stretched out so they are at least 7 minutes long. Most of the hits feature nice, long piano intros. There is a mixture of styles, including modern jazz, dixieland jazz, blues, zydaco and basic pop.

Hornsby and the band are at thier best when playing lively, straight ahead jazz, as on the first two tracks of the second CD. There are also some very good blues numbers and some fantastic piano solos. The lowpoints are when he tries to stretch out his hit pop tunes. These are probably best left as short, polished songs. Alot of people rave about the last track on set. I thought it was the worst thing on the album. It just drones on for the last 8 minutes.

Except for the excellent drummer, the back up band is adequate but not stellar. The guitar solos are nice but nothing new or special. For the most part, Hornsby has to carry the band. And for the most part, he is very succesful. But, there are a few too many runs up and down the keyboard during the first CD.

The editing is bad in some parts. Half the tracks fade in or out at the wrong time. Some of the songs fade out in the middle of a great jam. It is frustrating because you want the jamming to go on and there is no satisfying end to the track. Other songs fade in during the middle of a jam. The worst case is Lady With A Fan, which is an excerpt from the Grateful Dead's, 16 minute Terrapin Station. It sounds just like an excerpt, as if it were yanked out of some bigger piece. You wonder went on before and after this track.

There are some mixing problems, especially with the guitar. In some tracks, the guitar is just too loud. There will be a soft piano piece and the guitar will just suddenly blare.

My complaints may sound bad but they are really minor. They are the only reason this doesn't rate 5 stars. You get about a CD and a half of excellent music for a low price.

Bruce Hornsby has a much better live CD. It is called the Other Ones. It is really a post-Gerry Garcia, Grateful Dead CD, but Hornsby has a very strong presence and it features 4 very good Hornsby songs.

Apart chapter of this live songs, with a little erudite effort retrospective anti-academic repetitive pomadas, are at least six fine bonbons masterpieces:

The lady with the fan
Stander on the mountain
The road not taken
Fortunate Son
The End Of The Innocence
Mandolin Rain/Black Muddy River

They rock and stay at this sensitivity heart.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

As a recent volunteer (as of yesterday) for the online and offline grass roots campaign, "Bruce Hornsby's Street Campaign," I would be delighted to reintroduce to you one of the boldest most inventive and nonconformist lyricist/singers of our century.

"Here Comes The Noisemakers," released October 24, is not just another example of your typical artist rereleasing a greatest hits album from stock music containing music with little or no change just for the purpose of making a quick buck on just another sentimental 'pop' glance at the immediate past.

NO Way! ". . . Noisemakers" is a compilation live album that eclipses any other that preceded it.

As a jazz pianist amongst many of his musical mastered genres! Bruce Hornsby reawakened a few of his old 'classics' and aesthetically refurnished some of the coolest songs from his peers and musical neighbors!

Go ahead! Take a peek! Pass on the word!

In the liner notes to "Here Come the Noise Makers," Bruce Hornsby calls the double-live album "a gift to our true fans...the people who have supported and encouraged us to grow, stretch, be adventurous and just get better in our music." This album shows just how good Bruce and his band have become! Fortunately, the album includes a generous amount of songs (" The Red Plains," "The Road Not Taken," "Mandolin Rain," "The Road Not Taken," "Jacob's Ladder," and his smash, "The Way It Is") from Bruce's first two albums. Bruce, however, has taken the opportunity to rework these songs, making them jazzy, funky, and fresh. Bruce's piano playing throughout the album is both warm and graceful("The Road Not Taken" is a particularly affecting number)and taut and energetic ("Spider Fingers" and "Rainbow's Cadillac" really rock). Bruce's voice has matured and become more soulful. Bruce has been writing songs with mature themes for years, but now his voice can honestly convey those emotions. Being live, the album is a testament of how much Bruce loves playing for his fans, and how much his fans love him. Even if you are only a casual fan of Bruce, you will enjoy this exuberant and fun record.

If you're a Bruce Hornsby fan, this release will put you in your own little heaven. From "Great Divide" to the classic "Black Muddy River", there's something for everyone on this double CD set.

While most people will recognize Hornsby for such hits as "Mandolin Rain" and "The Way It Is" (both on this set), it's the other songs that are just as good if not better. Don't believe me? Listen to cuts like "Stander on the Mountain", "Sunflower Cat", and "Spider Fingers" live and you'll have a much deeper appreciation for an artist that goes way beyond the tag of adult contemporary.

I've always appreciated Bruce Hornsby, but this CD ups the ante. If Bruce can't come to your hometown to play, this is by far the next best thing. Some might consider the jam sessions on this CD long in spots, but as most musicians can tell you, this is where you can really listen to just how good these players are.

Do yourself a favor and listen to this CD. You won't be disappointed. I've got my copy and with Christmas coming, it will be on my gift list for others to enjoy as well.

Finally, for those that really care about sound quality, this one is a true gem.

If you have never had the pleasure of listening to Bruce Hornsby, this is the ONLY album you need to hear! Not only are his vocals amazing, the band behind him is is AWESOME as well! It's a live album and the sound quality is so crisp you feel as if you sitting front stage at the Belk theatre listening to the Noisemakers. Please don't be misled by the title, this sound could HARDLY be mistaken for noise! Worth every dime!!!