Re-upped: American Noise - American Noise (1980)
Cleveland's American Noise were a short lived AOR act who enjoyed regional success in the late 70's before signing with Planet Records and issuing their self-titled debut in 1980. Bolstering hooky arena rock songwriting (with the help of Kim Fowley), the album is a consistently good example of what was springing from the midwest at the dawn of the new decade. With brothers, Craig and Bruce Balzer leading the way, this fine album flows effortlessly from track to track with little filler in the mix. A surprisingly good band, American Noise nevertheless found themselves being virtually ignored outside of their native region and were promptly without a label deal a year after their debut. Soon enough, members packed it in and the band effectively ceased operations in 1981. Not much is known of the members current whereabouts, though a number of them went on to work with Donnie Iris and Eric Carmen.
Jump on this clean vinyl transfer, as this one will probably never see legitimate reissue. Enjoy!
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15 comments:
Thankyouthankyouthankyou!! This is probably my favorite AOR album ever (that and the first 1994). "Surrender To The Night" is a classic!
What a great album. Thanks for putting it where for download
The Balzer Brothers have roots in Cleveland bands as far back as Eternity's Children (one album on Mainstream) in the late 60's. They also formed the core of the wonderful Circus whose self-titled album on Metromedia is one of the perfect 'little brother' band statements: like a younger (somewhat shameless) version of the Raspberries. Circus have/had a bunch of later stuff recorded following the album, but never found an outlet. Shame...cos both Circus and American Noise rock!
There is a wonderful track they did after this called "Out On The Street" for a WMMS compilation in 1981. My best friend is from Cleveland, I was exposed to this way back, for that matter, I still have a copy. Thanks for the work you do.
Big Jim Walker
SLC, UT
downloaded on you release day...
it listened to me only today
good, great album...thanks for the memories
-=[FREAK-ANGEL]=-
...the first band was December's - not Eternity's - Children;]
So sad the news - just heard today (1.7.2011) that Craig Balzer has died.
Wow, I've been looking for this everywhere! Do you still have it available for download somewhere?
Thank you!!
Wow! I've been looking for it, too! I had it on vinyl when it first came out and could never understand why they didn't make it big. This is one of my absolute favorite albums. Wish I could get the download!
I saw them a couple of times in 1980. I'd like to download it too. Any way to repost the link?
I'll second Anonymous' request: I'd love to download this album! I've been looking for it for years as it's one of my favorite lost gems.
Thank you in advance!!!
Thanks very much, glad to see some new activity here!
Rich
www.aftersabbath.com / www.afterskynyrd.com
Thank you very much! You are a generous person for all the time you spend uploading all these albums. Good stuff that I would never know if wasn´t for you. Rare stuff, at least in my country.
Where can you get a CD or MP3's from this album ?
Oh man, what can I say that you guys probably haven't heard? I grew up in the Cleveland area, and was lucky enough to see these guys play many, many times. They played the best covers you could ever hear, Elvis tunes, "All Shook Up", "Jail House Rock", The Who, "Baba O'Riley", "Wont Get Fooled Again". The Rascals, "Good Lovin'", just to name a few. These covers were played with their own special A.N. spin, which kept the original artist melody, but had that special American Noise signature flair. When you saw these guys live, playing the spot on covers and add in their original material that WAS much better than their cover content, this band was simply AMAZAZING, period. RIP Craig Balzer, simply an amazing musician, period.
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