Customer Reviews
so, so good. SO good. 
2008-04-12
I'm picky.
And this cd surpasses what I had expected.
I love when artists can show versatility from song to song.
This cd does this, and then some,
without losing the bluesy vibe.
LOVE it.
if you ever get a chance to see these fellas live,
DO IT.
I had so much fun I had to buy a cd as a memoir.
This was a great choice:)
The best of what a great band can do 2006-09-21
If you've heard some of the Derek Trucks Band's music, perhaps you know what to expect. That is you don't know what to expect! DTB plays rock, blues, jazz, and world music, sometimes at the same time. This album has a lot less blues than some of their others, but lots of mind-expanding jazz-rock, some world, some great R&B with Mrs. Trucks (Susan Tedeschi) and with soul legend Solomon Burke... What more could one want? There are no bad DTB albums, but this one is probably the best.
inventive, invigorating 2006-02-13
Very rarely do I get "the feeling". You know the one I'm talking about. Something comes on the radio and the chill runs up your spine. You either pull the car over because you've got to hear it, or it's so exciting you speed up. Look down and you're going 85 in a 55 mile zone. I used to get that feeling often. Aretha, early ABB, the first time I heard the harmonies on Suite:Judy Blue Eyes. Lately I've been more likely to get it from songwriters like Guy Clark or Rodney Crowell where the lyrical images are so strong and the storytelling so good, I shiver.
I have been a Derek fan for several years, but have become a bit over the top since he joined the Allman Brothers Band. Derek is ofen compared to Brother Duane for good reason-he's an astounding slide player. But a more apt reason for this comparison is that he shares Brother Duane's insatiable musical curiosity. Any music Derek Trucks hears and likes will find its way into his musical palatte. Where on previous records, it seems the listener can identify that Derek is in his blues phase or Coltrane phase, here all the pieces come together.
Joyful Noise jumps off the speakers. Dancable, funky, with a gospel feel. So Close So Far Away is a lovely instrumental and the two Solomon Burke vocals are astounding. Susan Tedeschi-Trucks visits on Baby You're Right, a blues romp that is too much fun. Maki Madni and Kam-ma-lay take us on a fun world tour. While the guest vocal appearances have their roots in Javier Colon's leaving the band during recording (has anyone heard from him since) it works out well and perhaps frees the band to follow Derek's wandering muse
Definately one for the desert island
Judge Not But Listen 2005-06-05
Joy....all you need to do is read the liner excerpt from the great writer and philosopher Krishnamurti on the cd and know where their head is at.. freedom from the known is still freedom within limits..the many styles displayed here are the past with music that has freshness and tightness that pays homage to the roots of it all...some Jazz Fusion,Funk,Latino,Blues and Soul...even shades of China Cat Sunflower for your Dead Heads..with some twists on the sounds of the east..people have a need to classify...don't..you have a right to because it is your money but if you spend it on jam bands and desire a smart band that sounds old and new at once these guys are it. I have noticed that their other cd's are all different in style...they are like leaves blowing in the wind...let the wind take them where they go..
`Joyful Noise' pushes beyond the restrictive boundaries of t 
2004-12-24
September 25, 2002
Artist: Derek Trucks
Title: Joyful Noise
On his sophomoric release, Derek Trucks (nephew of Allman Brothers drummer Butch Trucks)has released an artistic mosaic that defies categorization and is certain to confound listeners. In the richest Fillmore-esque tradition, Trucks and band have amalgamated a fine tuned cornucopia of rootsy sounds into a sonic masterpiece. "Oh sure, but what's that mean?" Today's market practically requires artists to dumb down their sound into a well defined niche so that any dope with fifteen bucks can figure it out. In the short term this means quick sales but tends to cost the artist long term career development. Not so with `Joyful Noise.' Trucks and band lay out an album consisting of instrumentals, an Indian raga, a couple of soul ballads, a "Jazz" track, and a powerful blues song featuring Susan Tedeschi. The result is an eclectic, wonderful, challenging collection of songs that defy `niche' but nonetheless fit together.
Relying on guest vocalists, Joyful Noise employs some of the day's most underappreciated singers including; Solomon Burke, Ruben Blades, Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and Mrs. Trucks othewise known as Susan Tedeschi. And just to put a point on it, Tedeschi's track, `Baby, You're Right' may be her finest recorded vocal delivery yet. Guitarist Trucks steals from the best including; Carlos Santana,Duane Allman, and John McLaughlin. Guitarists tend to be classified on a spectrum ranging from emotive (Mato Naiji) on one end to technical (Robert Fripp) on the other end. When a player is both expressive and technically adept, well, you have something special (Adrian Belew). Seeped in the `60's tradition of art before economics, Trucks' newest is a excellent example of a special player, who clearly understands the legacy of what that is "good music." `Joyful Noise' pushes beyond the restrictive boundaries of today's music industry and somehow produces art in the art-starved genre that is rock music. `Joyful Noise' is a rare gem that will over-time unfold to listeners and hold up to repeated listenings over the years to come. Psst - next time draft Chris Robinson or that kid from the Screaming Cheetah Wheelies for some vocal tracks)
Mixture of styles--- 
2004-09-27
The third album from guitar phenom Derek Trucks resounds with joyful noise indeed, and amazingly, it seems as though Trucks and his band run through (at least) 10 distinct genres across these 10 songs. Trucks may venture all over the musical map--blues, soul, jazz, Eastern music, to name a few stops--but he does so with a confidence and assertiveness usually found in much older musicians. Then again, he is the nephew of Butch Trucks (a fellow member of the Allman Brothers Band, Trucks's moonlighting gig) and is married to fellow guitar wiz Susan Tedeschi (who guests on this album), so it's not surprising that he seems experienced beyond his years.
Joyful Noise features a host of guest artists--including Qawwali singer Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and soul legend Solomon Burke--but despite the considerable variety here, the album maintains a unified, if high-flying and eclectic, vision. Even at such a young age, Trucks already plays with skill, invention, and heart.
--Genevieve Williams
Gift from GOD 2004-09-05
Let's just put this plain and simple. Music in this generation has no idea what talent is. Im 18 and cant understand the direction music is going. If you feel the same, buy this album!! The talent in these 10 songs are god-like. Derek trucks has a soulful slide style, and the whole band is out of this world..Im gonna stop talking now so you can order this gift from god..the listening experience is very religious.You'll see what i mean....ENJOY
Excellent! 2004-09-04
Some of the reviews here are quite funny. Some folks don't like this album because it dares to be different. It doesn't sound like the Allman Brothers or Albert King or Howlin Wolf or B.B. King or Freddie King or any other blues legend. What these other reviewers apparently fail to understand is that the Derek Trucks Band is trying to create ORIGINAL music here. Not just make an easy buck by covering songs already done by other people. Just because DT has a side gig playing in the Allman Brother's Band doesn't mean he's trying to be Duane Allman. He's trying to be Derek Trucks and I think they succeed marvelously. I love this album.
I've seen the Derek Trucks Band perform live. In fact, I stood about 15 feet in front of him recently in a small club while he played for 2 hours. You truly cannot appreciate this young man's talent until you've seen him play live. The speed and precision with which he plays slide guitar are dizzying. And his ability to switch back and forth between playing with and without the slide in the same song is amazing. One of the best measures of a musician's true talent is how well they can perform live on stage the great sounds you hear on the album. Derek Trucks live tone is every bit as wonderful as it is on the album.
No, this is not a traditional blues rock album. It's a mixture of blues, jazz, Indian, and African rhythms combined with awesome guitar playing and I think it's absolutely terrific.
wise beyond his years 2004-06-24
derek is an amazing gutarist. it's obvious that his primary influence is the mighty duane allman, although derek posses a much grander global view of music. when listening to this albulm one can hear metallic fusion, soul(ala solomon burke), funk, blues, indian and free-form jazz and the pumping opening track gospel. derek transcends the mediocre jam band music scene becuase he plays like a fifty year old black man on a soljurn to the great divide.
Derek comes into his own.... 2004-04-10
Derek could stick within the frame of an Allman Brothers sound and he'd do just fine. But he takes a spirited romp through world music and comes up sounding just as comfortable exploring these different musical genres. His band is excellent ( definitely see them live at all costs) and the arrangements are fluid. He gets in enough of his tasty slide licks without overwhelming the rest of the band or the listener. A fine album from a young, talented,and humble musician whom we will undoubtedly derive a lot more enjoyment from.
