Courier
These live recordings find the seminarian-turned-new-folkie in his  element: playing before an attentive, enthusiastic audience in his native New  Jersey and New York, spinning mythic stories of fateful battlefields, haunted  truckers, and visionary saints and lovers alike. Fronting an easygoing band of  expert pickers, Richard Shindell turns in surprisingly solid covers ofLittle FeatandBruce Springsteentunes.Cry, Cry, CrypartnerLucy Kaplanskywraps  Shindell's nasal, sinewy delivery in subtle harmonies, pushing the best of these  songs, including "Next Best Western" and his finest, most poignant take on  relationships, "Are You Happy Now," past previously recorded versions. As an  introduction to Shindell's spiritual lyricism and as a live document for  longtime fans,Courieris a cache of reflective, gently glowing gems.--Roy Kasten