Cost: $0.92US
Song Count: 11
Call me names, roll your eyes, or snort in derision but I love Bruce Hornsby and I always have. I grew up loving classic rock, punk rock, and "the metal". But, always tucked back in the dark recesses of my brain I have held the oh-so-secret knowledge that Bruce Hornsby is "my dog". This is me professing my love for the piano-master.
Bruce, while a fucking virtuoso on his instrument(s), is a fantastic songwriter with a strong sense of melody and a sense of humor. Listening to his records, you can tell that Bruce takes his music extremely seriously but doesn't take himself all that seriously. He seems like a dude that you can hang out with on the back deck and knock back a few beers with. Which is cool. The fucker has written some damn hits, too: The Way It Is, Valley Road, Mandolin Rain...etc.
Halcyon Days is a fun record. It's mostly lighthearted, up-tempo, and the song sequencing is well done. This is a good Bruce record. Not greatness by any means. But, it's great background music for a low-key party, or cleaning the house, or typing on your blog.
Guests on the album: Sting, Sir Elton John, and Eric Clapton. You can totally tell that Clapton plays some guitar on Gonna Be Some Changes Made. Slowhand has a verrrryyy distinctive sound.
One more time: Here's the tracklist and whatever notes I feel like writing.
1. Gonna Be Some Changes Made - There is a reason he kicked the record off with this song. Funny, great chorus, awesome playing...damn it's a great song.
2. Candy Mountain Run - Not a huge fan of the chorus.
3. Dreamland - Feels like a dream. Moody, but sweet. A nice tune.
4. Circus on the Moon
5. Halcyon Days
6. What the Hell Happened - Classic Hornsby. Silly, goofy, and filled with awesome musicianship.
7. Hooray For Tom - Tom won the spelling bee. Bruce (or narrator) did not. Let the lamentation begin. The narrator of the song is a total "hater".
8. Heir Gordon - Really like this tune.
9. Mirror On The Wall - If Hornsby did a "rocking" tune for this album, this would be it. A friggin' fantastic song on every level.
10. Song F
11. Lost In The Snow - Has a kind of dreamy quality to me...
Anyway, great album by a great musician who also happens to be a great live act and great guy. If you get a chance to listen to Halcyon Days, then do it. If you have a chance to see Bruce and his band (the Noisemakers) play live and choose not to...well, I will kick you in the nuts.
*Edit: I sent Bruce the CD cover for Halcyon Days, which he signed for me. It now hangs on the wall.
*Edit: I sent Bruce the CD cover for Halcyon Days, which he signed for me. It now hangs on the wall.
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