Search - Bruce Hornsby :: Spirit Trail

Spirit Trail
Bruce Hornsby
Spirit Trail
Genres: Pop, Rock, Classic Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (10) - Disc #2

From its unusual jokey cover of his Uncle Charles to the diverse amalgam of styles (jazz, R&B, pop) covered over its two discs, Spirit Trail is Bruce Hornsby at his most difficult to pin down. Whereas his work with the...  more »

     
   
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CD Details

All Artists: Bruce Hornsby
Title: Spirit Trail
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 1
Label: RCA
Original Release Date: 10/13/1998
Release Date: 10/13/1998
Genres: Pop, Rock, Classic Rock
Styles: Adult Contemporary, Vocal Pop, Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPCs: 078636746821, 078636746845, 743216018628

Synopsis

Amazon.com
From its unusual jokey cover of his Uncle Charles to the diverse amalgam of styles (jazz, R&B, pop) covered over its two discs, Spirit Trail is Bruce Hornsby at his most difficult to pin down. Whereas his work with the Range set standards for '80s adult-contemporary pop, Hornsby is now determined to move from the middle of the road to new territory. The unusual piano breaks throughout the first disc ("Resting Place" detours into fuzak), the sprightly hip-hop rhythms, the horns that punctuate "Line in the Dust," the simple, playful pop pleasures of "Shadow Hand" prove Hornsby can grow. He's still a super technician with ambitious production and arrangement designs, but his singing has grown more soulful with age. He'll never cut a convincing barrelhouse tune, as "Preacher in the Ring Pt. 1" attests, but his journey into Steely Dan-type sophistication brings his approach new life. --Rob O'Connor

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Member CD Reviews

Robert S. from STOCKTON, CA
Reviewed on 7/24/2009...
An underated album, at least on SwapaCD. If you go to Amazon, 88+% of 54 reviews gave it 5 stars on a scale of 5 (I give it 4+).
1 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.

CD Reviews

King of the Hill.
Jason Stein | San Diego, CA United States | 03/21/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Does Hornsby make poor music? No. Six albums and not one is disposable. Hornsby is a trained pianist and he did his time before hitting it big with "The Way It Is" in 1986. He won best new artist in 1987 and hasn't looked back since. He could have capitalized on his success by repeating himself over and over, but he hasn't. He could have sold out and made radio friendly, accessible pop tunes, but he didn't. Spirit Trail is arguably his best album to date. I am a fan, so I like them all, and some of his earlier albums are great, but I think on bravery and originality none of them matches Spirit Trail. Two discs of classic Hornsby. Great songs like "King Of The Hill", "Resting Place", Preacher In The Ring, Pt.1", "Song C", "Pete & Manny", "Fortunate Son", "Sneaking Up On Boo Radley", "Great Divide" on disc one to "Line In The Dust", "See The Same Way", "Shadow Hand", "Sunlight Moon", "Listen To The Silence", "Sunflower Cat", "Song D" and "Swan Song." Hornsby's piano playing hasn't sounded this fresh and interesting since Scenes From The Southside in 1988. His storytelling is remarkable and for two discs he is never boring or repetitive. Hornsby has talent, something many pop stars fake. This is a must have for any rock collector."
Bloated, But Still a Great Album
Steven R. Seim | Beaver Dam, WI United States | 07/12/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)

""Spirit Trail" is a 60-minute masterpiece buried in 90 minutes of music. "Fortunate Son" is Bruce's most hauntingly moving ballad since "Mandolin Rain," "Sunflower Cat" is irresistably funky, and "Sad Moon," "Shadow Hand," and "Swan Song" are just great songs. It's a pleasure to hear some instrumental interludes as well ("Song C," etc.). "Spirit Trail" is a unique and worthy contribution to American music.However, the album could have been improved tremendously by leaving out a few weak tracks. In particular, "Preacher in the Ring" (recorded in two different versions, no less) is both musically uninteresting and lyrically stupid (is Bruce trying to make fun of actual religious fundamentalists, or is this his "clever" way of comparing Christian conservatives with snake handlers?).Buy this album, but don't be afraid to skip over a few tracks."