Search - Richard Shindell :: Courier

One of the better live albums I have heard in recent years

Lawrance M. Bernabo | The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota | 10/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A couple of years ago I went to go hear Dar Williams in concert on a college campus, where she appeared with Richard Shindell, who both "opened" the concert and performed with her as well. This was right before both artists had the good fortune of having Joan Baez cover some of their songs on her album; in fact, Shindell left the concert tour to go open for Baez in Europe, if I remember correctly. Since both artists have live albums available I picked them both up to recreate the fun of that night (which ended with me picking up copies of Shindell's first three albums).The album title is taken from the opening song, "The Courier," which obviously serves as a metaphor for Shindell as a singer-songwriter. Initially I was somewhat disappointed that this concert recording does not contain any of the memorable introductions Shindell gave to his songs (especially "Are You Happy Now?" and his trucker twins, "Next Best Western" and "The Kenworth of My Dreams"). The liner notes are unusual for a live album in that they include all of the lyrics for these songs, which certainly makes sense give Shindell's talents as a lyricist. But I do wish that some of the stories behind the songs had made their way into the album as well. This is one of the better live recordings I have heard in a while, after a whole bunch of disappointments in that regard (e.g., the Dar Williams album); I am talking just about the technical aspects of capturing the artist's sound (tip of the cap to Ben Wisch). What I found most interesting about this album is that Shindell makes many of these songs sound differently from how we first heard them on the albums, not through instrumentation, but through how he sings them. The best example of this is "Reunion Hill," which he sings with a new, elegant simplicity. Lucy Kaplansky's voice is used to create some nice new harmonies on a few songs and the album closes with a nice cover of Springsteen's "Fourth of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)." Another way of thinking about this is that Shindell was in damn fine voice the night(s) he was recorded. This is not what I would call a great live album, just an incredibly solid one that should impress you whether this is your first or just your latest exposure to Richard Shindell."

Forget pop - Richard's the real deal

Mira | United Kingdom | 08/10/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a teenager, you'd think this sort of music would bore me to death, but it has the precise opposite effect. Shindell is one of my favourite singers, and this is a brilliant CD. My only criticisms are that his otherwise wonderful voice does verge on the nasal sometimes, and a couple of songs seem to lack the texture they possessed on previous albums, but this is a great CD, and it doesn't seem to matter at all that he's done nearly all the songs before - his singing still hits you like a physical blow (and I mean that as a compliment). The best on this album? The fabulous Arrowhead, the sarky and cutting Are You Happy Now? the brilliant folk rendition of Lowell George's Willin', and the vastly underrated On A Sea Of Fleur-de-Lis. Get it!"

Nice guys finish first!

Rob Damm | 02/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Richard Shindell is a great songwriter in style which seems to have fallen out of favor. Lately, it seems one must write ironic, sometimes mean-spirited songs to be regarded as a "sophisticated" songwriter. Richard has always written sincere, emotionally complex songs which are ultimately good-hearted. There is humor in his songs, but it's of a gentle kind. These songs are not full of misanthropy and self-loathing a la Elvis Costello. Listening to these songs on one disc, performed by a cracker-jack band drives home the point what an amazing talent Shindell really is. Every song is A-list material. He smartly groups them: a "triology of trucker" songs, a few of his wonderfully evocative "war" songs, and of course his challenging religious material, sprinkled with some poignant and funny relationship songs. The only thing this album lacks compared to his recent studio albums is thematic coherence--- but the sheer amount of great songs still makes this the best single Richard Shindell disc available, since the songs also sound better sonically and musically than the studio cuts, thanks to an ace live band and fantastic recording.Highlights? Well, "Are you happy now?" remains the best break up song ever written and sounds better than ever. "the next Best Western" is simply awe-inspiring in its majesty and saddness. Like the best songs, Shindell's insinuate rather than explain. As a result, they remain full of mystery, tinged with regret, and flirt with redemption. For instance, why did the narrator of "Kenworth of My Dreams" leave his old life behind? Who knows. The hint is given in how he deals with country love songs on the radio. These characters are complex creatures, full of puzzles. The narrator of "Reunion Hill", "Sea of Fleur Du Lis"... all trying to figure out how to find meaning and redemption, be it in love, war, religion. or the roar of a semi engine.This wonderful disc makes a case for Shindell as easily one of the best songwriters of the last decade."