Average user rating:  |
| A Masterpiece |
| Richard Shindell gets better and better. His last album, "Reunion Hill," was spectacular, and I bought this album quite worried that he was going to be falling apart on it, as so few artists manage to follow up good albums well. Shindell managed to surprise me, though, in putting together what is without a doubt the best new album I have purchased in the past three years. The songs on this album have an amazing variety of mood and style, ranging from rock (Confession) to traditional folk (Calling the Moon) to a brief little Celtic piece (Spring). The lyrics are astounding, particularly in "Transit," the standout track on the album, and the one that the title image comes from. Shindell is, to my mind, the best male singer-songwriter out there today. If you are at all a fan of folk music, this album is an essential for your collection. Get it. Now. |
| Hey, Doc: Here's a great CD |
| Folk-lovers needn't have worried that Richard Shindell was going to go south after his solo masterpiece, "Reunion Hill," or his work with Lucy Kaplansky and Dar Williams on "Cry,Cry,Cry." This CD is longer on instrumental work, but that's not a bad thing. Although Shindell's major appeal may well be as a craftsman of words, he's also growing as a guitarist, as anyone who has seen one of his recent live shows knows. Some of the music shows a lively Celtic influence, and some, like "Confession" is slightly harder-edged rock than usual from Shindell. I really like his version of Julie & Buddy Miller's "My Love Will Follow You" for its depth and simplicity. Shindell's narratives here are wonderful -- witness "Waiting for the Storm" and "Abuelita" and "The Grocer's Broom." In 2 words: Buy it! |
| A Folk Tour De Force: Shindell's Poetic Magnum Opus |
| If anyone questions Richard Shindell's place in folk music, he/she need only listen to this glorious, passionate tour de force and all doubts will vanish. Shindell has created a collection of astounding beauty and heartfelt tenderness. With this cd, he has raised the poetic simplicity of "Blue Divide" to astonishing heights of insightful commentary (Confession, Transit), poetic wistfullness (Wisteria, Thr Grocers Broom), and sumptuous music (Spring, Merritt Parkway). This is some of the fimest folk music ever recorded. His warm vocals and depth of spirit will at once break your heart and make you shout on the rooftops for joy. |
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