Customer Reviews

Courier

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

I loved Richard Shindell in the "Cry Cry Cry" project with Lucy Kaplansky and Dar Williams, and the cover of his "Reunion Hill" as done by Joan Baez is as magnificent and stirring as anything you'll hear. But I've found his voice slightly nasal for my tastes, and the recordings (even his solo performances) a bit dry compared with his always stellar songwriting.

Until this.

I listen to this album when I want to feel life deeply. It's a live album without chatter between songs, which really works for me, his voice and songwriting meeting in blissful marriage. The Civil War ballad "Arrowhead" thoughtfully explores the "glamour" of war vs. its reality; the relationship song "Are You Happy Now?" is poignant AND fall-down funny; "The Ballad of Mary Magdalen" has special longing from the male voice as compared with the Cry Cry Cry version. Nice to hear Lucy backing him him up on some of the tracks. And special notice to the spiritual, surrealistic revenge fantasy "Transit," which always gives me chills (in an uplifting way).

Tasteful covers of "Willin'" and "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" round out this altogether spectacular offering.

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!

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.

This is definitely Richard Shindell's best album yet even though it is a live reprise of his studio work.

I'm not normally a fan of live recordings because you end up hearing the room and the not performer. Not so here -- in fact, definitely one of the better live albums out there when it comes to sound quality.

While most of Richard's studio cd's have been fairly restrained -- just Richard and his guitar (which is something I normally gravitate toward) -- this album sports a small band. Occassionaly overly poppy (Next Best Western) and sometimes over exuberant (Arrowhead) the band really does the trick and adds just the right amount of support to Richard's songs. Courier (the first track) is just amazing -- quintessential Richard Shindell. Not leaving out Lucy's harmonies: they are just right -- really nice.

Even though there aren't any new songs on this album, it is indeed the best one yet. There's something about the presence and the delivery, filled in by the band that really wraps it all up in a nice tight little package.

This could be the only Richard Shindell album you ever own but you'll like this so much you'll buy the rest of them too.

I'm new to Richard Shindell's music, and "Courier" is a great place to start. There's not a clinker on the CD and this disk is going into my regularly listened to stack. Tops on the list for me from the tracks is the haunting "Arrowhead," both for its imagery and the beat. Honestly, it's pretty darned close to a perfect song in my opinion. The title track is another great one, albeit with one tiny anachronism (perhaps intended), as is "Kenworth of My Dreams". "Are You Happy Now" has got to be one of the all-time greatest break up songs, and the Halloween imagery is some of the most clever I've seen in a long time. All in all, this is one heck of an album, one that's perfect to pop into the car's CD player for those long trips; it's imminently enjoyable and downright singable. Enjoy!

Why are all the great artists of my time so obscure that when you mention them most people don't know who you're talking about? I guess we just have to look at who just got re-elected President to see the lack of judgment of the American public. The all DO know who Jessica Simpson is though.

This is a magnificent CD from beginning to end. Shindell's songs are brilliant, and his vocals are passionate and moving. "The Next Best Western," "Reunion Hill" and "The Ballad of Mary Magdalen" are probably the most intensely PERFECT songs on this CD, but it's difficult to say that anything on this Cd is a "stand-out." Every song is a "stand-out."

This is a really clean, tight nit live performance by Mr. Shindell. A couple of the tracks sound somewhat familiar but it's overall variety and tone is really nice. A real asset for a late night run down the interstate. Good stuff I must say!!!

Most songs are quite brilliant. "Courier," "Transit," "Reunion Hill," and "Ballad of Mary Magdalen," are the best. Even a couple of trucker songs in there done very well, like "Next Best Western." This CD gives one an excellent feel for what a live show is like.

If you get a chance, read his bio on the [...] He has quite an interesting history.
He was going to be a priest, but apparently found songwriting more interesting and more "his calling." He is still a very spiritual man and it shows through in his intelligently crafted music.

This is one of the best new folk albums in the last several years. As a songwriter, Richard Shindell is as good as they come. Some outstanding songs on his first albums gave too little credit to his soaring vocals and stunning guitar picking. Here, Richard Shindell's voice is stronger and more confident, and the backing guitar is better proportioned. The production of Courier was outstanding; the band was tight and the recording excellent. The guitar work is lyrical. Lucy Kaplansky's measured backup vocals weave in and out with Richard's own. These extraordinary performances instantly become the new standards for these songs.

With Richard as the storyteller, the stories take center stage. These are riveting tales told with spare lyrics, strong melodies, and commanding vocals. By turns haunting, wistful, humorous, and enigmatic, Shindell steps into a different persona for each song. "Arrowhead" tells with forboding a story of a drummer boy in the Civil war, writing home with each experience; "Reunion Hill" follows a Civil war widow revisiting where she last saw her husband a decade earlier. "Fishing" shows power becoming ruthless in an immigration official. "Transit" tells of a conflagration in Friday night traffic. There are excellent covers of Bruce Springsteen and Lowell George songs. There is not a single weak recording in this set.

By showcasing prior work, "Courier" stands as a great counterpart to (with little overlap) Shindell's equally thrilling recent studio album "Somewhere Near Paterson." Both are highly recommended.