From: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org (shindell-list-digest) To: shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Subject: shindell-list-digest V3 #467 Reply-To: shindell-list@smoe.org Sender: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk shindell-list-digest Tuesday, December 18 2001 Volume 03 : Number 467 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [RS] Re: disappointing albums [LBECKLAW@aol.com] Re: [RS] Re: disappointing albums [Rongrittz@aol.com] [RS] Re: disappointments [Tom Neff ] [RS] Re: air guitar album [LBECKLAW@aol.com] [RS] stinky-o's [Lee Wessman ] [RS] Is appointment the opposite of disappointment? ["Gene Frey" > I was disappointed by Tom Russell, Cowboy Real (yeah, I know it's not new, and I know he's a legend), which I bought after a hullaballo on this list about him. It's just not my cup of cowboy coffee, I guess. << See, I love it, and I think it's the best CD Richard Shindell never released. I mean, close your eyes and you can just hear Richard doing almost any song on there. Hell, SONORA is on there! I'd also love to hear Richard do "The Basque." RG ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 14:25:54 -0500 From: Tom Neff Subject: [RS] Re: disappointments The only real disappointment I think I had this year was Jonatha Brooke's STEADY PULL, which seemed like a sock-drawer full of stylistic dead ends. There were a lot of other albums that didn't disappoint because I never had any expectations. I got CLOCK WITHOUT HANDS for a family member, we listened in the car a few times, it was appalling but hey, that train done left. A few other biggies seem to be swimming in place, but it pays the rent. Personally I love Gorka's new recordings better than the old ones, I'm just bummed that he has the same old stage show & doesn't (i.e. can't) play most of the best new songs. My only disappointment about Dar's live album is that they stickered over PEACE MAN COOL YEAH, the original title! :) No, it's not career growth, live albums seldom are, they're a record of a phase in the career. The "star" thing has never been an especially good fit for Dar, and that's not what will grab you on listening. It's the way the songs speak straight to your heart, if they can & will. If they don't, you're left with "I know she's popular but I don't quite get it" which is occasionally heard. Anyway, the pleasant surprises this year far outweighed the disappointments for me. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 14:33:35 EST From: LBECKLAW@aol.com Subject: [RS] Re: air guitar album Dave, Looks like a winner! And a great holiday gift too. Wonder if Amazon U.S. has it too? Thanks! Laura ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 11:51:25 -0800 From: Lee Wessman Subject: [RS] stinky-o's Sooo much to choose from on the disappointment list this year. I was so unimpressed with the following albums I didn't even bother to remember what they're called. 1. The new Pierce Pettis. Completely flaccid. I can't believe this is the same guy who did "Chase the Buffalo" and "Tinseltown." Shoulda never moved to Nashville. 2. The new John Gorka. Utterly turgid. Somebody teach Gorka a new melody, a new tuning, something. I can't believe this is the same guy who did "Land of the Bottom Line" and "Jack's Crows" and "Temporary Road." Shoulda never got fat and happy. 3. The new Shawn Colvin. Studio opulence used to disguise songwriting flatulence. I can't believe this is the girl who did "Steady On" and all the rest. Shoulda never started doing baby-wipe commercials. 4. The new John Hiatt. "Crossing Muddy Noises," I think it's called. 5. The new Lucinda Williams. "Indulgent" the critics said. "Indigestion," said I. Still, they're all better than most. - -lee ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 15:46:30 -0500 From: "Gene Frey" Subject: [RS] Is appointment the opposite of disappointment? Hey you guys, Well, my old buddy Spiro Agnew would have referred to the whole bunch of you as 'nattering nabobs of negativism.' Come on, get happy, as a great philosopher once sang from behind the wheel of his multi-colored school bus. No need to dwell on the negative. There were plenty of good CDs released this year. I tried to get my list down to 10, but I liked everything from 8 thru 13 about the same, so here's my baker's dozen for the year. 1. Dan Bern  New American Language 2. Richard Shindell  Courier 3. Beth Amsel  Kindling 4. David Gray  Lost Songs 5. Voices on the Verge  Live in Philadelphia 6. Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer  Drum Hat Buddha 7. David Matheson 8. Catie Curtis  My Shirt Looks Good on You 9. REM  Reveal 10. Eddie From Ohio  Quick 11. Dar Williams  Out There Live 12. Kevin So  That Oriental Guy 13. The Nields  Live From Northampton Not all perfect, but I definitely enjoy listening to each of these CDs. There were more that I bought, and listen to, but these were a cut above. I didn't buy anything that stink-stank-stunk this year, but there were a few that I liked less than I hoped I would. No real disasters, though. Gene F. _________________________________________________________________ Join the worlds largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 16:27:19 EST From: Rongrittz@aol.com Subject: [RS] OK, here's mine. Apologies to those of you who may have seen this on the Dave & Tracy list already, but I wasn't able to come up with ten CDs I liked this year. But the eight I liked, I liked a lot. The envelope please . . . 1. Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer "Drum Hat Buddha" 2. Lori McKenna "Pieces of Me" 3. Kris Delmhorst "Five Stories" 4. Richard Shindell "Courier" 5. Mark Erelli "Compass & Companion" 6. Lynn Miles "Unravel" 7. Buddy and Julie Miller "Buddy and Julie Miller" 8. Kasey Chambers "Barricades and Brickwalls" Interesting that the top five are all Signature artists, or are now associated with Sig (Lori and Kris). That Jim, he sure knows how to pick 'em. RG ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 16:40:37 EST From: RockinRonD@aol.com Subject: [RS] More Disappointment Thought of another MAJOR 2001 disappointment for my List: Lucinda Williams: I hate it so much I blocked out the title. Doesn't matter anyway, I NEVER listen to it and it's stuck in the side panel of my car where it has been since the early summer. Sheesh! Talk about Gillian Welch's record being a real wrist-slasher. This one will have you on Prozac faster than you can say car wheels on a gravel road. ReelinRon ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 16:46:08 EST From: RockinRonD@aol.com Subject: [RS] My Honest Opinion Dearest Laura... While I would be the first to admit Dar Williams is probably an acquired taste, I would encourage you to give more attentive listens to The Honesty Room. This is truly a magnificent piece of work on so many levels, not just from the lyrics but musically, especially with the arrangements on most of the songs. In fact, once this record hooks you, this Dar Fever Syndrome takes over and you may never be the same. Do yourself a favor, give the record more time. You won't be sorry. And Vanessa, you hush your mouth girl. Don't you have some studying to do? RhapsodicRon ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 17:22:20 -0500 From: Vanessa Christina Wills Subject: Re: [RS] More Disappointment Wow. I actually liked "Essence." Quite a bit, in fact. Went to see her live in November cuz I liked the album so much. Had a rollickin' good time in the nosebleeds with a lot of drunk people around me. Go figure. - --V RockinRonD@aol.com wrote: > Thought of another MAJOR 2001 disappointment for my List: > > Lucinda Williams: I hate it so much I blocked out the title. Doesn't >matter anyway, I NEVER listen to it and it's stuck in the side panel >of my car where it has been since the early summer. Sheesh! Talk about >Gillian Welch's record being a real wrist-slasher. This one will have you on >Prozac faster than you can say car wheels on a gravel road. > > ReelinRon > - -- "I am a citizen of the moment. I have built my white picket fence around the now." -The Tick ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 16:24:23 -0600 From: "Kristen Myshrall" Subject: Re: [RS] My Honest Opinion Hmmm...Laura do you have Mortal City?? I didn't "get" The Honesty Room until I heard Mortal City. MC grabbed me and shook me and turned me upside down and all of a sudden I understood the Honesty Room a whole lot better and actually grew to love it. Unfortunately something happened after a few tracks into End of the Summer that just made me race across the room to turn it off. The first 5 tracks are fantastic and then comes utter garbage IMO. Green World wasn't much better--there are a few songs I LOVE (After All, It Happens Every Day, Calling the Moon (lyrically but i hate the way she sings it, give me RS anyday)) and then there are some that i HATE (I Wont Be Your Yoko Ono, We Learned the Sea) and the rest is so so. I think something changed (which obviously she's allowed to do..we all change) and it doesn't quite vibe with me right. But then again it might also have to do with the incident at FRFF this summer which turned me off to her as a person. But anyways...back to the Honesty Room...if you haven't heard it, I highly suggest you give Mortal City a try and then see what you think about The Honesty Room . Kristen who is basking in the glow of just handing in her final paper of the semester whoohoo!! - ----- Original Message ----- From: RockinRonD@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2001 3:49 PM To: shindell-list@smoe.org Subject: [RS] My Honest Opinion Dearest Laura... While I would be the first to admit Dar Williams is probably an acquired taste, I would encourage you to give more attentive listens to The Honesty Room. This is truly a magnificent piece of work on so many levels, not just from the lyrics but musically, especially with the arrangements on most of the songs. In fact, once this record hooks you, this Dar Fever Syndrome takes over and you may never be the same. Do yourself a favor, give the record more time. You won't be sorry. And Vanessa, you hush your mouth girl. Don't you have some studying to do? RhapsodicRonGet more from the Web. 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