 There are times when the music that singer/songwriter Todd Snider makes sounds firmly rooted in the classic folk work of Bob Dylan. But there are just as many times when Snider’s music evokes the gentle satire of author Nick Hornby, the bizarro-storytelling of Hunter S. Thompson, or the absurdist wordplay of George Carlin. Whether strumming an acoustic guitar or heading a full, pumped up rock band lineup, Snider brings a uniquely skewed sensibility to deceptively catchy tunes. Over the course of 14 years and nine studio albums, Snider has consistently offered up heady laughs without skimping on musical satisfaction.
In the late ’80s, Snider was established as one of the resident headliners at the Memphis club the Daily Planet when he won over a fan from “Margaritaville” — guitarist/vocalist Keith Sykes of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band. Sykes got Snider’s demo tapes to Buffett, who in turn put out Snider’s 1994 debut album, Songs for the Daily Planet, on his Margaritaville Records label. That work contained Snider’s first minor hit, the grunge-satirizing “Talkin’ Seattle Grunge Rock Blues.”
Throughout his career, Snider’s music has touched upon many varieties of Americana, from country twang, to old-time bluegrass to straight-ahead blues and county-rock. Always working with able sidemen, Snider creates music full of alt-country charm, but the real standout element is the comic spin. “Double Wide Blues,” from 1998’s Viva Satellite, paints a semi-poignant portrait of trailer park life; “Beer Run,” from 2002’s New Connection, tells of the perils of that errand; while “Iron Mike’s Main Man’s Last Request,” from 2004’s East Nashville Skyline, sings tender words of advice to the former champ. Snider’s most recent album, Peace Queer, offers more of his distinctive mix of acoustic tunes, full-band workouts and comedic twists.
Provenance: Portland, Oregon
Latest Release: Peace Queer (2008)
© 2008 Nigel Music Media LLC. Used by permission.
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