The Devil You Know

Todd Snider

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 8, 2006)
• Original Release Date: August 8, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: New Door Records
• ASIN: B000G2YCUQ
• In-Print Editions: DVD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #28,099 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Todd Snider, the East Nashville antihero, can always be counted on to deliver a brilliant spitball of humor and satire, shot across a classroom devoted to John Prine, Randy Newman, Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, and the Rolling Stones. Here, on one of his most instantly accessible albums, he balances troubadourish recounts of personal experience and mythmaking (the getting-mugged-in-Memphis tale of "The Highland Street Incident"), the chronicling of not-so-famous-moments in history (Bob Dylan's ass-whipping of Phil Ochs in "Thin Wild Mercury"), and songs of romantic surrender. "All That Matters," a declaration of marital love with a nearly prayerful electric guitar solo from the great Will Kimbrough, shows how profound Snider can be in his simplicity. But his genius is best captured in the deceptively smart "Just Like Old Times," particularly in an exchange with a cop about a high school photo, carried in a wallet since 1982. Here, on his half-drunk vocals, Snider makes clear what he really is: A professional smart-ass whose bravado masks a wounded heart. --Alanna Nash

Product Description

Keith Richards said humor was rock and roll's greatest weapon, Bob Dylan proved it and Snider takes it to heart. For twelve years, Snider has been a satirist, class cutup and the rare artist who understands and celebrates the connections between the Stones, Dylan, Bill Hicks, John Prine, Mitch Hedberg, Kris Kristofferson, Hunter S. Thompson and Randy Newman. Snider's records are fun even when they aren't being funny, funny even when they're sad, and no less truthful for the laughs. Which brings us to The Devil You Know, a sparkling, smiling, snarling portrait of the doomed.

Eric McConnell's as-yet-unnamed studio -- the same place where Loretta Lynn recorded her Grammy-winning Van Lear Rose -- was the setting for Snider's new album. It's the same structure where Snider made his critically acclaimed 2004 album East Nashville Skyline, and the musicians used the whole place.

With The Devil You Know, Snider has assembled a bag of songs that speak to the politics of the day without ever speaking politics, that talk to the wars being fought away from cameras or reporters and that balance truth, beauty and humor.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ..tapping to a whole new beat, August 8, 2006

By	Spike "Spike" (Earth) - See all my reviews

....what was it Todd Snider said towards the end of that last album (East Nashville Skyline)?? "...I don't know when it will be, but the next time you see me I'll be tapping to a whole new beat.... walking souls into the holes of my shoes down the sunny side of the street..." --- this album is definately different, but it has my five stars, and that's after a hell of a lot've listens (downloaded it early on)... tunes that i skipped over early on, later becoming my favorites; new meanings coming from songs i thought i had wrapped up the purpose of; Todd takes the despicable characters and losers (some we feel for, others we loathe and abhor-)... i hear a little of todd's midtown memphis attitude coming back with this album, as well... just a little of that "what the hell-ever, man.." Every Todd Snider album is different, this one is no exception. No point in me listing my current favorites, give it a listen, they'll come to you as they must.... warning, though: i've known snider fans who expected an 'east nashville skyline,pt 2' who gave this one a single listen and then out, claiming to really dig 2, 3 songs and do without the rest... i take the stance that it is these 'rest', those that many todd fans will go 'what's this?', which can be the most powerful songs on the album with a second, third, fourth listen.... if 'east nashville' was todds 'bruised orange', i'm not saying this is 'pink cadillac', but i am saying it's about as different as john prine went direction-wise with those.... this album is really powerful, really, really a powerful set've songs with a little more attitude than we may have expected from Todd....

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best singer/songwriters on the scene, August 15, 2006

By	DanD - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Todd Snider has a knack. Call it wit, call it wisdom, call it a few too many beers; whatever the case, he knows how to perfectly play upon the universal--but often overlooked--concept of irony. In a Snider song, everything is ironic...when you laugh you should be crying, when you're crying you should be laughing. You tap your toes and hum along...until you realize the song is about two criminals out for a little illegal fun. The good guys are never quite so good, and the bad guys ain't all that bad. Snider's characters are real people, in real situations, dealing with life as you or I would. It just so happens they have a narrator to tell their story.

THE DEVIL YOU KNOW is a catchy, thought-provoking album, much like all of Snider's work. Starting with sin and ending with redemption (of a sort), Snider takes the listener on a ride through his twisted, interesting, and highly accurate concept of reality. Stories and humor abound; so does heartache and despair. And through it all, you have country/rock/blues arrangements that keep you--and the performers--glued to the ground. Todd Snider has crafted another masterful album; you don't want to pass this one buy, not if you like your music real, honest, and true. And perhaps a bit quirky.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars STILL Looking For A Job Fifteen Years Later!, April 2, 2007

By	Willie Boy - See all my reviews

Will this guy ever get a freaking job!
I hope not cause he's too much fuuuun!
We'd miiss him like a long lost frieeend.

It's a long way to the top
if you want to sing your own songs!

I'm glad we made it!
It's been a long time comin'

Devil You Know has more great Todd Snider songs performed extremely well.
Nice coherent studio album
Consistent Quality
These same songs heard live are also very unique and satisfying.
The rocking songs done live in a more toned down acoustic style make the stock for these studio versions sky rocket.

Another Excellent Album By Todd Snider!
Highly Suggested Listening
Recommended...