| Joyful Noise | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | The Derek Trucks Band |
| Cover: | Derek trucks joyful noise.jpg |
| Released: | September 2, 2002 |
| Recorded: |
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| Genre: | Southern rock, jam rock, blues rock, jazz fusion, world music |
| Label: | Columbia |
| Producer: | Russ Kunkel, Craig Street |
| Prev Title: | Out of the Madness |
| Prev Year: | 1998 |
| Next Title: | Soul Serenade |
| Next Year: | 2003 |
Joyful Noise is the third studio album by The Derek Trucks Band, released on September 2, 2002.[1] It features an eclectic mix of music, ranging from gospel, blues, jazz fusion, Latin music, to East Indian music.[2] Many of the songs feature special guests, including Trucks' wife Susan Tedeschi, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, the nephew of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and a respected singer in his own right, and soul artist Solomon Burke.[1] The album was produced by noted producers Russ Kunkel and Craig Street[3] and was recorded at the Bearsville and Sunset Sound Studios.[4] This is also the first album to feature the songwriting and musical talents of the band's newest member, Kofi Burbridge; keyboardist, flautist, and backing vocalist for the band, as well as brother to Oteil Burbridge, bassist in The Allman Brothers Band, with whom Derek Trucks is also a member.
In a review for AllMusic, Hal Horowitz called the album "a powerful, uncompromising statement," and wrote: "Prodding into Latin, Indian, and fusion jazz, this stylistically varied effort exudes enough blues and funky R&B to keep the Allman Brothers Band fan's attention while expanding their boundaries -- sometimes radically -- beyond what the typical Southern rock fan might expect or even tolerate."
Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone commented: "Boring-ass eclecticism is the hobgoblin of the jam-band nation, but here the kid tames a stylistic sprawl with nothing more than a bottleneck slide."
Writing for JazzTimes, Lucy Tauss called Trucks "prodigiously gifted," and described the album as "a gloriously eclectic excursion that ranges far beyond the Allmans' Southern jam-rock sound."
Author Dean Budnick praised Trucks' "emotive counterpoints" and the "ebullient support from his bandmates," and called the album "a stellar representation of the DTB's world-soul."
In an article for PopMatters, Adrien Begrand remarked: "Far from a self-indulgent, noodling showman who opts for bland style, Trucks goes for the more understated substance... The album is slick, but not overproduced in the least, the jamming never gets too self-indulgent, and Trucks' diverse choices in guest vocalists, and his band's undeniable talent, make Joyful Noise sparkle with life."[5]
Exclaim!s Roman Sokal wrote: "Trucks... goes straight for the soul and spirit of music making... he overpowers without needing to be loud, and he allows all the musicians to be on top throughout; a magician, no less."[6]
Reviewer George Graham stated that the album is "a first-rate recording from one of the bright young lights on the rock guitar scene," and commented: "In addition to being a fine player, Trucks' musical eclecticism is also impressive, incorporating everything from old-fashioned soul to unexpected world-music influences."[7]
The Daily Vaults Jason Warburg remarked: "This is one of the most diverse albums I've heard in some time... These are four pure players who make a Joyful Noise indeed together, and this disc is a very worthy purchase for any fan of roots music or blues guitar who also has a sense of adventure."
| Chart | Provider(s) | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Top Heatseekers[8] | RIAA | 20 |
| US Billboard Top Heatseekers (Northeast)[9] | 5 | |
| US Billboard Top Internet Albums[10] | 20 |