Todd Snider

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).

Todd Daniel Snider is a singer-songwriter born October 11, 1966 in Portland, Oregon.[1][2]

Best known for his wry humor, Snider has been a fixture on the Americana, alt-country, and folk scene since his debut on MCA, entitled Songs for the Daily Planet, named after The Daily Planet bar where Snider used to play regularly in Memphis. On that album were the minor hits "Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues", an engaging and humorous folk song about the early '90's grunge scene, featuring a band that "refused to play.", and "Alright Guy", which later became the title cut of Gary Allan's 2001 album.

He released two more albums for MCA, Step Right Up and Viva Satellite, the latter often sparking colorful debate amongst fans for its comparisons to Tom Petty. He moved to John Prine's Oh Boy Records where he made Happy to Be Here, New Connection, Near Truths and Hotel Rooms, and East Nashville Skyline. That Was Me: The Best of Todd Snider 1994-1998 was released on the Hip-O label in August 2005, representing his early years with MCA.

Todd Snider's next studio album, The Devil You Know, was released in August 2006. It marked Snider's return to a major label, as he is now recording for New Door Records, a subsidiary of Universal Records.

The Devil You Know was named to several critics' year-end "best" lists, including a No. 33 ranking in Rolling Stone magazine's top 50 albums of the year, a No. 25 ranking by No Depression magazine, and No. 14 by Blender magazine. The track "You Got Away With It", about President George W. Bush, also drew some attention as one of the year's top protest songs.

Snider's song "Late Last Night" was recorded by the Oklahoma country-rock band Cross Canadian Ragweed. He co-wrote the song "Barbie Doll" with country star Jack Ingram.


Contents

[edit] Todd Snider Live

Usually armed with an acoustic guitar, a harmonica, and a microphone, Snider's live performances exemplify his extremely clever songwriting with intimate settings, almost always incorporating engaging and hilarious story telling. This is best represented in his critically acclaimed 2003 live release Near Truths and Hotel Rooms, where he tells the audience that sometimes he'll "go on for as many as eighteen minutes in between the songs." Occasionally, however, he will play what is often described as an energetic rock show with his band, the Nervous Wrecks.

[edit] Critical Acclaim

Snider has not only gained enormous critical acclaim from music writers, but his own peers and heroes have become his biggest fans. Kris Kristofferson has said, "Todd Snider is a true songwriter, with the heart and humor of John Prine, the wild unpredictability of Roger Miller, and a fresh, original spirit and freedom of imagination that's absolutely his own" "Of all the young songwriters out there, I think Snider is the best. By that I mean he has found a way to take his feelings and observations and turn them into songs that can get an audience. He won't quit 'til he gets the audience, and he always gets the audience." Jerry Jeff Walker. "Hardest act to follow since Steve Goodman" John Prine. "He reminds me of me." Billy Joe Shaver.

[edit] Discography

  • Songs for the Daily Planet, 1994
  • Step Right Up, 1996
  • Viva Satellite, 1998
  • Happy to Be Here, 2000
  • New Connection, 2002
  • Near Truths and Hotel Rooms, 2003
  • East Nashville Skyline, 2004
  • That Was Me: The Best of Todd Snider 1994-1998, 2005
  • The Devil You Know, 2006

[edit] References

  1. ^ 2003, All Music Guide to Country: the definitive guide to country music By Vladimir Bogdanov, Chris Woodstra, Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Backbeat Books, ISBN 0879307609
  2. ^ Chris. Willman (2005), Rednecks & Bluenecks: the politics of country music, ISBN 1595580174


[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../t/o/d/Todd_Snider_99b2.html"