SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BRUCE HORNSBY – SPIRIT TRAIL (25th ANNIVERSARY EDITION)

BRUCE HORNSBY
SPIRIT TRAIL (25th ANNIVERSARY EDITION)
ZAPPO PRODUCTIONS/THIRTY TIGERS

Bruce Hornsby has been making great music for a long time, and 2023 marks the 25^th anniversary of his Spirit Trail album, which was initially released in 1998. This was Hornsby’s sixth release, and the anniversary edition includes all the original material, remastered by Bob Ludwig, four previously unreleased tracks, and over 70 minutes of live performances. The final touch is a 36-page booklet with new liner notes and photographs.

Bruce Hornsby is a prodigiously talented musician who has never been afraid of tackling social issues in his lyrics. In interviews, Hornsby has admitted that the album is about “race, religion, judgment and tolerance. And sort of my own personal struggles with some of these issues.”

Hornsby’s musical abilities allow him to perform in a wide variety of styles, and in songs such as “Line In The Dust” he chooses a hip-hop style drum accompaniment and a lyrical delivery that is clearly inspired by music that he was hearing in 1998.

The piano is at the heart of the majority of Bruce Hornsby’s music, and he reminds us of this with gems like “C Song” which is plaintively performed on solo piano.

The previously unreleased material is a nice addition. “Groove Infatuation” features Hornsby on a rock organ, and again the hip-hop influence is clear in his vocals. He has never been afraid to explore different styles and his talent as a musician allows him to do this effectively.

The live performances on the album are also fantastic. Hornsby is never afraid of offering up new interpretations of album cuts in his live shows.

This brings us to the heart of the matter, and the question needs to be asked: Does Spirit Trail hold up after 25 years? The answer is a definitive ‘yes’. Spirit Trail 25^th Anniversary Edition is a reminder that Bruce Hornsby had, and continues to have, a lot to say.

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