From: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org (shindell-list-digest) To: shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Subject: shindell-list-digest V4 #3 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 Thursday, January 3 2002 Volume 04 : Number 003 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [RS] darkness, darkness ["Vanessa C. Wills" ] [RS] Re: Darkness, darkness [Kerry Bernard ] Re: [RS] John Putnam ["Lisa Schalk" ] [RS] Re: courier critique [LBECKLAW@aol.com] [RS] Re: a challenge? [LBECKLAW@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 09:09:40 -0500 (EST) From: "Vanessa C. Wills" Subject: Re: [RS] darkness, darkness Happy RS songs (IMHO): Blue Divide (Happy ending) Kenworth!! Spring (and Summer Reel, even tho I guess he didn't really write it) Castaway (It's hopeful, anyways--promising the kid a good life and all) there may be more.. - --V "I am a citizen of the moment. I have built my white picket fence around the now." -The Tick On Wed, 2 Jan 2002 Katrin.Uhl@t-online.de wrote: > > Pat remarked on the darkness and non-happiness of Jeffrey Foucault and > Eric Taylor's music, to which Paul responded: > > > Hey Pat, I think you have spotted a trend. ;-) I am > > definitely drawn > > towards dark and moody songs. > > I second that. There's this guy, you might have heard of him, called Richard > Shindell who is really good in writing darkish songs, too. There are people > who I've heard saying that there is no such thing as a happy Richard > Shindell song. But that was a while back and I'll have to take a thorough > look at his latest work to see if that still holds true. > > HAPPY Wednesday (arg... back to work for me) > > Katrin ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 07:34:50 -0800 (PST) From: Kerry Bernard Subject: [RS] Re: Darkness, darkness I remember one of the first conversations I had with Jeffrey Foucault, when I told him I loved his CD but was having helluva time getting past the second track ("Dove and the Waterline") because I was so enamoured with that song that I kept hitting "Repeat" on my CD player. I told him I was a sucker for a minor chord and that song blew me away. He replied: "I wish everyone had the same love affair with minor chords as you and me, because it would make writing my set lists a whole lot easier." No bones about it - Jeff's is a dark, luscious, minor-chord abundant album. And I absolutely love it. The fact that the songs are sonically dark doesn't mean they aren't sometimes also upliftingly beautiful, though. The title track, "Miles from the Lightning", is a gorgeous tribute to Townes van Zandt: The words to keep from dying There ain't a man can find But the words to keep on living Is what you left behind But then "Secretariat" has some hilariously black comic lines: I need a woman with a heel like Achilles So I know there's always one way I can win Love is patient, love is kind, but let's be honest Love is a catalogue of deadly sins And then, of course, the most upbeat song on the album "I'm Alright" is basically an introspective but optimistic chant: In the tent sale of my dreams I've marked so many down from what I paid Growing up and growing older I thought, man, there ain't no profit in this game And then my friends began to own things And make thirty-five a year They got jobs with health insurance They got cars with second gear But I'm alright I'm alright I'm alright For me, Jeff's album is a beaming beacon of light in a sea of new songwriters plagued by cutesiness. I have little tolerance for cutesy. This album is unapologetically dark and every time I listen, I get at least a few of those wonderful stomach lurches that you're blessed with when the beauty of something rings so true and moves you so much. Unapologetically dark myself, Kerry :) Send your FREE holiday greetings online! http://greetings.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 10:40:18 -0500 From: "Lisa Schalk" Subject: Re: [RS] John Putnam Dear darling -- well how the heck do you like that? What a great boost -- especially after you doubting yourself upon first listen. I have still not had a chance to really sit down and listen and will do so soon. I am very proud of you and you know I am your number one fan. You just need to show off a little bit more. You know SO MUCH and are SO GOOD. Share! I love you. xox L. P.S. I have so much work to catch up on here you just wouldn't believe it. eeek. - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg Z" To: Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2001 9:23 AM Subject: [RS] John Putnam > The more I listen to Courier, the more I am impressed with John Putnam's playing. I enjoyed it live at the Iron Horse, but with the mixing on the cd it seems more prominent. Picking up new little tidbits at each listen. Add the RS licks and riffs, Courier is heaven :-) > > Greg Z > guitar geek > > [next show may be 2 car loads to the Iron Horse] > --- > "I'll put this cloud behind me, that's how the Man designed me > I'm no stranger to the rain"... Keith Whitley > > > > -- > Click here for your very own create-a-date adventure from MatchMaker > Go to http://ecard.matchmaker.com/dating.html ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 11:53:42 EST From: LBECKLAW@aol.com Subject: [RS] Re: courier critique I finally had some quality time over the holidays (is it just me, or is "family vacation" an oxymoron when you have toddlers?) to listen to Courier. I do have some criticisms. Specifically: 1. I wasn't there at the Emelin Theatre, which is about 40 minutes from my town. 2. Courier isn't available on DVD to enjoy in sensurround. 3. Courier doesn't come with a promotional pack of Kleenex or a damask fleur de lis patterned linen handkerchief for those of us whose eyes tend to fill with tears of unspeakable joy, gratitude, and sorrow when we listen to this beautiful, perfect CD. Laura ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 11:54:30 EST From: LBECKLAW@aol.com Subject: [RS] Re: a challenge? In a message dated 1/2/2002 4:56:34 AM Eastern Standard Time, owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org writes: << There are people who I've heard saying that there is no such thing as a happy Richard Shindell song. >> Katrin, Sounds like the first lister challenge of 02 to me...I'm thinking hard. Happy New Year!! Laura ------------------------------ End of shindell-list-digest V4 #3 *********************************