There are few musicians i hold in higher regard than Bruce Hornsby. As a pianist, he has a style so distinctive that it's impossible to miss when he does guest appearances for other artists ("I Can't Make You Love Me", "The End of the Innocence"). As a composer, he has written more than a couple songs that rank among the most beautiful and resonant i know.
One criticism of his songs is that they can tend toward murkiness...that his melodies lack sharpness, or can be swallowed by the production/arrangement. I confess, sometimes that does pertain. But if you've ever dismissed his work because of a few songs that didn't hit you right, you might be missing one of popular music's few bright lights. His songs are jazz-influenced, and his shows are unplanned - the band sometimes doesn't know what they'll be playing until the first notes start. I don't always agree with what's considered his "best"...so here's my:
BRUCE HORNSBY DREAM SET LIST
-On the Western Skyline
-The Way It Is
-Swing Street
-Sunflower Cat/It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
-The End of the Innocence
-Fortunate Son/Comfortably Numb
-Madman Across the Water
-Halcyon Days
-Lady with a Fan
-Lost Soul
-Imagine
-Nobody There But Me
-Dreamland
-What the Hell Happened to Me
-Down the Road Tonight
-The Show Goes On
-These Arms of Mine
-Gonna Be Some Changes Made
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