Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables

Todd Snider | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 6, 2012)
• Original Release Date: 2012
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Aimless Records
• ASIN: B006W1NQCK
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,020 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. In the Beginning

2. New York Banker

3. West Nashville Grand Ballroom Gown

4. Precious Little Miracles

5. The Very Last Time

6. In Between Jobs

7. Brenda

8. Too Soon to Tell

9. Digger Dave's Crazy Woman Blues

10. Big Finish

Editorial Reviews

2012 album from the American singer/songwriter. For years, Todd Snider has been one of the most beloved Country-Folk singers in the country. He has become not only a modern-day Dylan but a modern-day Will Rogers, an everyman whose Intelligence, self-deprecation, experience and humor makes him a uniquely American character.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Grows on you. March 17, 2012

By Dennis Stephens

Format:Audio CD

If you look at the arc of Todd's career, you see well produced sharp albums in the beginning to slowly deteriorating sound at the end. The songs are great, but the production is a mess. It is frustrating sometimes to have records that just don't sound good, and I've found that it takes a few plays and they grow on you.

This is better than THE EXCITEMENT PLAN, and the lyrics are what really save this. Lines like "good things happen to bad people" in "New York Banker" ring pretty true. "Precious Little Miracles" is a jazzy, great track which Snider sings mostly in falsetto, and rather well too. The only real clunker here is "Digger Dave's Crazy Woman Blues," which is too long and a little too contrived.

The first track, "In the Beginning" is worth the price of the CD alone, as it sharply brings to light the problems with the Prosperity Gospel. This is as much an Agnostic Hymn as anything.

Todd's timing and his vocal delivery remain unique as always. I just love how he phrases words, the inflection, and the troubador in him comes out. The sound is meatier, and the fiddle playing of Ananda Shires gives the record a unified sound, much like Bob Dylan's DESIRE album.

I only wish that Todd would take the time to craft a good sounding record. It's not a crime to mic the drums well, or to take some time to mix things a little clearer. Todd is an artist that needs to be heard, and it's kind of hard to hear him on some of these tracks.

Still, buy the CD. A document of our times, and a look into the mind of one of the sharpest observers of humans out there.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Classic Todd, without the musicianship March 31, 2012

By M. Stewart

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've been a dedicated TS fan since the Daily Planet days and have bought everything he's recorded ever since. On this latest release (AH&SF), a few examples of his wit and humor are still alive and well in lyrical content but much of the music on this album is purposefully sloppy - like a stoned jam session (which I suspect may be an accurate description of much of this actual recording). In some cases this loose musical feel is used to good effect (In The Beginning, Precious Little Miracles, In Between Jobs) but Todd is also a fantastic musician and personally, I'd rather hear more of his ability to write and play well executed music than is featured on this outing. Still love you, Todd - and I'll be pre-ordering whatever comes next - but AH&SF is not likely to become one of my favorites.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars An all right guy with an all wrong album April 17, 2012

By Ryan

Format:MP3 Music

I'll start out with what many others have said..."I'm a huge Todd Snider fan." While living in Portland, I'd drive past Beaverton high schools wondering which one gave fodder to this story teller's wit and lyricism...every tunnel driven through I looked for the words "Todd Snider Rule(s,z?). I eagerly look forward to Snider's new releases with much excitement and will give a listen to what ever is next. I'll branch out to Elmo Buzz, Great American Taxi, and download many live shows from the website. If in hard times Todd became the permanent front man of KK Rider, I'd look forward to that too--tassels, hat and even the rough-and-tumble women.

But being a fan, I can't bring myself to blow smoke up my favorite artist's a$$ with a fan boy's five-star review. This one doesn't deserve it and is not even close. Nor is this is an album to purchase--maybe about 3 individual songs here, but in to way the album in its entirety. Out of a 10-song album, that's a bust. I certainly buy into Snider's message and have been on board for a very long ride. Yet, this album takes the slump that began with Peace Queer (even thuugh it had a couple gems) to a lower level. This album presents a forced message through concept songs that seem to lose Snider's real zest; his personal insight of having "lived them;" his wit & humor; and the quality of his musicianship. Someone else wrote "pandering to..." and that seems accurate.

Despite "grow-on-you claims," this one doesn't work for me in a generic, bland way; nor does it strike that personal chord. For some it may indeed age like wine, but bad wine is still plainly bad...like this release. If my review is tainted by my high expectations for Snider, so be it. He can write amazing lyrics and tie it together through great, simple music that leaves a lasting impression for life. I'm not talking about music for the masses here or the next big hit ("Conservative..." rehashed; yet there's nothing in this album that I could ever envision becoming "Classic Snider"--a song that I'd be looking for live Snider to retake the stage and encore 10 years down the road.) Give it a listen; make up your own mind--it might be just what your looking for. Buy ths album for nothing else than to ensure that Snider stays around for a long time to put out great & better albums. I'm looking forward to Snider's Jerry Jeff Walker tribute and already like what I hear there.