From: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org (shindell-list-digest) To: shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Subject: shindell-list-digest V6 #141 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, July 15 2004 Volume 06 : Number 141 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [RS] live vs. studio ["Sandra J. Smith" ] Re: [RS] Early impressions... ["Neil Pearson" ] [RS] Re: shindell-list-digest V6 #137 [Terry McLain ] [RS] RE: shindell-list-digest V6 #138 [Chris Thomas ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2004 09:47:43 -0700 From: "Sandra J. Smith" Subject: Re: [RS] live vs. studio >An interesting concept: "Nora's Death Row." A song about two men >drowning their sorrows at the bar over Nora's impending execution. >I guess there WAS some sin. Now that is the *funniest* thing I have ever read on this forum! Great concept! ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2004 17:58:32 +0100 From: "Neil Pearson" Subject: Re: [RS] Early impressions... Following on from Ron's comments a few days ago, "...The clips I've heard so far are somewhat blander, less intense, maybe sweeter, and not nearly as emotional..." This is probably a fair comment - I think his voice is much more controlled on 'Vuelta' than it has been on any previous studio album, and I don't think he's ever sounded better, and I reckon that's down to the band he's used on the disc. All ten tracks are really controlled, disciplined, well arranged and with lots of delicate/subtle details, and I think he's probably made the changes to his delivery to suit the sound/style of the album. It does mean the disc lacks a little impact on the first few listens, but the more you listen to it the more the instrumental subtlety comes through and the better the album gets - there are some lovely touches in places that would perhaps be lost if his delivery was a touch more strident. Favourite tracks at the moment - obvious standouts are Che Guevara and Last Fare, but Whippoorwill is great (especially the chimes), and Hazel's House is a sweet song beautifully performed. The copy Bob Harris at the BBC got was a full promo (all artwork, booklet etc)...I sent it through to him last week. best wishes Neil - ------------------------------------------------- Fish Records Suppliers of singer/songwriter, folk & acoustic music Shrewsbury, England neil@fishrecords.co.uk http://www.fishrecords.co.uk tel +44 (0) 1743 231546 fax +44 (0) 1743 354354 - ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2004 15:03:00 -0400 (GMT-04:00) From: Terry McLain Subject: [RS] Re: shindell-list-digest V6 #137 As much as I have enjoyed the Courier CD, it doesn't have the open-endedness, for me, of Richard's studio versions of the songs. I suspect that this is my personal, non-musician, bias with most live recordings, there are always too many "of the moment" flourishes or accented things that remind me that the live recording is an artifact. A perfect example of this process for me is Joni Mitchell's "Miles of Isles" live music. For some reason, the studio versions survive as songs that under-lie each live version of song I hear. Of everything on "Courier" I do still prefer the live version of "Arrowhead". "Summer Wind" was/is my doorway to Richard Shindell and I have suffered mightily as I hear each version of it for the first few times. The original one from the late 80's was on a NJ artist compilation and it blew me away. It was closer to spare Springsteen, as in "Nebraska" or some stripped down Steve Earle. Without the musical context that would come later for me, the edginess and the longing in this version put a magnificent pain in my chest. When I heard the studio version on "Blue Divide", originally I felt the arrangement was off-putting, the chiming acoustic sounds with a light reverb replacing the guitar/bass starkness of the first version. But I have learned to love it and will begrudgingly admit now that it is the definitive version. After that painful transition process, the "Courier" version was enjoyable but finally a performance version. The guitar figures were lighter but the vocals had lost the edge. The drama in the words had taken a back seat to the arrangement and the performance. Just my opinion on one of my top ten songs of all time. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2004 15:35:14 -0400 From: Tom Neff Subject: Re: [RS] live vs memo wrecks One of my fondest RS memories is leaving Newport FF just as Reunion Hill was released, with a fresh copy in my hands, driving in air conditioned quiet through the sunset coast after a day of sun, wind and noise. "Next Best Western" was a song I had heard many times live by that point, and always enjoyed as Richard plays it. But that clean, spare, beautifully instrumented track opening the album just absolutely blew me away, and always has, and always will. Same thing for the title song, and quite a few others. Just an astounding piece of workmanship. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2004 20:40:07 -0700 From: Chris Thomas Subject: [RS] RE: shindell-list-digest V6 #138 Hi all - I am new to the list and I just received Courier so your discussion about which songs you preferred - the live or studio versions was fascinating. I discovered Richard Shindell through Cry, Cry, Cry. I have not heard much of his stuff except for some stuff off of Somewhere Near Patterson. I loved several of the songs on Courier immediately but was totally struck by Arrowhead. I am guessing from some of the posts that a new cd is to be released soon - is this the case? ------------------------------ End of shindell-list-digest V6 #141 ***********************************