Customer Reviews

Live Acoustic America

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Every once in a while you come across a musician who seems to have integrity and a genuineness. For me, Howard Jones has been that artist. Mostly written off by critics and the general public, Howard has managed to survive musically, doing music his way, even losing his record deal with Elektra in 1992. I'm not one to buy live albums but since I have seen Howard Jones live at least three times, I thought I'd give this cd a shot. Consisting of just Howard on acoustic piano and Carol Steele (Tears For Fears) on acoustic percussion, the two of them showcase Howard's fine pop sensibilities. More than just a re-hash of hits, this live compilation, recorded during Howard's 1992 tour, actually breathes new life into his old catalog. Seldom is heard these days, lyrics that are intelligent and positive and music that makes you feel good too. The recording and engineering on this disc is amazing giving the listener great sound quality for a live recording.

I won't pretend to be a professional reviewer/critic. I'll just tell it like it is. I've had this CD for several years and it is my favorite. It's fun and absolutely fantastic. If you need a lift - this is the one to do it. - Well worth the money spent!
Enjoy

For a time, this CD was the only pop music I would listen to; the only one that held any interest for me. Live collections have the potential to the best or the worst. They can be so awful, pointing out all of an artist's flaws, or they can allow a talented artist to soar. Live Acoustic America falls in the latter category. It remains fresh and immediate after many playings.

Live Acoustic America...what a great CD! For anyone who has not seen Howard Jones perform live is truly missing out. However, they still have the chance to capture some of the magic of his live shows through this CD. It doesn't beat actually being there, but it has brought back fond memories of all the gigs of his that I have attended. I think my favorite song on this album would have to be Lift Me Up. It is so catchy and it has a certaain quality to it that just makes you feel like dancing!

I'm not a huge Howard Jones fan, but I instantly loved this CD. Howard Jones on piano, Carol Steele on percussion, thats it, very bare-bones and simple. And, the venue is a small club full of hardcore fans (which is evident when Howard asks them to sing along.) Almost all the songs on this album sound quite different from the studio versions, which is not always a good thing, but in this case it most definitely is. They have a certain emotion that just cannot be captured in the studio. I highly recommend this album to anyone who is even remotely interested in Howard Jones.

Howard shows us that he is truly a performer. He and Carol do an amazing job of creating powerful music--just the two of them! I loved these songs in the '80s but this live rendition makes them timeless. Even better than the original! I've always appreciated Howard's uplifting, intelligent lyrics. This is simply an amazing album, well worth having in your collection.

Unlike many popular music stars of the 80's, Howard Jones CAN sing and play instruments. This album is proof of that. Not only is this an exceptional album, but its actually fun to listen to. Howard interacts w/ the audience as he reinterprets some of his music. You'll feel like you're in the concert hall w/ all of Howard's fans screaming in between sets (which in and of itself is entertaining). This album revived my interest in some of Howard's older, less popular songs, many of which sound dated and depressing in their original album recordings (ie. Falling Away). I hontestly cannot see myself growing tired of listening to this CD.

Loved the Disk From first track to last. This underrated performer really shows off his musical talent. Hear for the first time his 80's Casio keyboard sound as it should have originally been recorded. Plus other great songs that you may have not heard before like Exodus and City Song.

Great sound, Great voice, 100% acoustic Piano => Howard is a real good musician.

This CD really showcases Howard Jones' amazing talent as a musician. His songs take on a whole new dimension, proving that they really do work any way they're performed. During "Life in One Day," he even has some fun with the audience. This acoustic performance is a shining example of Howard at his best. Awesome CD!