Customer Reviews

Happy to Be Here

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Another album from Todd Snider chocked full of lyrical insights into a world out of control, "Happy To Be Here" stands apart from the pablum typically played on turn of the millenium formatted radio, and is all the better for it. This is not to say the album lacks for hooks or wit, in fact it is replete with both. But even as Snider continues to evolve as a musician, songwriter, and performer, he unmistakeably pays homage to his musical roots on this latest album, and those roots decidedly do not include flavor of the month pop and new country trends. Todd Snider is a brilliant and engaging performer and always leaves his audiences exihlarated and breathless. As a songwriter he is peerless. That he remains largely "undiscovered" by the record buying public says much more about the record buying public, and what is played today on the radio, than it says about the artist Todd Snider. Buy this CD. If you don't have Todd's other albums, get them one at a time, starting with the first, "Songs for the Daily Planet", move to his sophomore effort "Step Right Up" and then to the Chuck Berry dedicated--Memphis recorded--scorcher, Viva Satellite". I predict you'll be feeling better with every song you hear.

"Happy to Be Here," is another strong collection of tunes from singer-songwriter Todd Snider. Snider firmly straddles the line between rock and country, though he seems to be moving more in the latter direction as his career progresses. He's also toned down his smart aleky sense of humor a bit, though that's not necessarily a good thing.

Snider's sound and style varies from song to song on this album. Typically for Snider, his political/topical songs ("Betty was Black," the title track) tend to be the weakest. He's at his best when his observations are more personal, like on the ballads "Lonely Girl," and "Missing You," and the peppier numbers "Keep off the Grass" and "What's Wrong With You." At its best Snider's music at often recalls a young John Prine.

Overall, a solid album from an excellent singer-songwriter.

This is the best CD that I have bought in the past year, probably longer. No matter how often I listen to it, I never burn out on it. All my friends have bought it after hearing it. Todd Snider, to me, is like the perfect mixture of Ray Davies, Bob Dylan, and Johnny Cash. An incredibly storyteller. Sarcastic yet sincere, humorous but meaningful, and on top of it all, so catchy melodically that after hearing this CD only once, you will remember most of it forever! Part rock, part country, part blues, part folk, but ALLTodd Snider! Potentially a Tom Waits of the future, only different. This is also his best album to date. Be one of the people who knew about him before the bandwagon arrives. Buy it, Buy it, Buy it!

I can't describe how disappointed I was when I found out that Todd Snider broke up the Nervous Wrecks. Easily the best live show I have ever seen, it was an irreparable loss to anybody who had seen them. However, Snider went back into the studio to record "Happy to Be Here". And, on this album, he really comes into his own. And he finally starts making good on the promise that can be heard on "Songs From the Daily Planet".

With the decision to record just Todd and his guitar first, then add instrumentation later, the arrangements are the best I've heard on any of his albums. The Dixieland tinged "Ballad of the Devil's Backbone Tavern", the bluesy "Forty Five Miles", the stripped-down, deadpan humor of "Just In Case", and the rollicking fun of "Keep Off the Grass" are all tributes to Snider's flexibility. Unlike some of his earlier albums, Snider sounds like he is having fun here. Trying to pick out a favorite song is almost impossible, as almost every song is an absolute gem. If you want to know what is worth listening to, check the song list. It's all worth it.

This album is a good place to begin any Todd Snider collection. The only other album I can recommend for that distinction might be "Songs From the Daily Planet".

I just saw Snider for the first time recently when he opened for John Prine. He played about half of the songs on this CD and they all resonated with me after the show. It was refreshing to hear a unique young voice and gifted song-writer. Do yourself a favor and buy the CD (I've been playing it nonstop since I bought it a week ago). The CD contains humorous (Just in case) and thoughtful (Long, Long, Year)songs with a nice blend of diffent styles. If you ever get a chance to see him live, I highly recommend it.

I saw Todd Snider live at an old movie theatre in Nashville. He blew me away. I was disappointed in his last couple of albums. They seemed to have lost the satiric edge of "Daily Planet". That edge is back here, with more raw emotions and descriptive story-telling. Tom Petty and John Prine with maybe just a touch of Buffet.

If you like Daily Planet and have been wondering what happened to that guy, he's back on Happy to be here.

Taking advice or a recommendation can be like eating health food...you know it's good for you but will you like the tast? I bought this CD and thought it was worth the risk. Boy, what a great CD it turned out to be.

Snider is a great storyteller and let's put it this way: he sounded like a cross between Bob Dylan and Arlo Guthrie. Be forgiving about his voice because he does have something to sing about. "All of My Life" is a great love song and playing it for my wife got me out of the dog house for a few hours. Feeling I was on safe ground, I let her listen to "Just in Case" and got that look questioning my sense and brining up the subject or prenuptial agreements. Snider's music was great to work out to and even better to drink beer by. It's country, it's western, it's blues and it's even a little rock.

Snider made a great CD here and my wife and I are making plans to see him on stage when he rolls through Virginia in a couple months. No one heard of Jimmy Buffett in the late 70s and early 80s and perhaps Todd Snider will follow the same road to fame. Better see him now before we have to deal with Ticketmaster to see him live.

After Todd spit on me at the Wormy Dog Tavern on March 4th, I was a little worried that he might be losing his grip on those things that matter the most..namely my opinion of him. But after hearing his new CD, I'm actually worried that the Nervous Wrecks are now the Unemployed, Drunken Wrecks, who'll soon be backing up Captain Dunsel. Todd shows a nice mix of material here, and I'm not ashamed to set the CD out where co-workers can see it, although putting Salma Hayek on the next cover couldn't hurt. Yeah, Todd may be an "alright guy", but I'm an "okay guy", and that's good enough for my dog. He likes Todd's CD too. Go figure!

I'll admit I came into my listening and buying of Todd Snider CDs thinking he was just witty with some "funny" songs. I was absolutely right about the witty and funny part, but I soon realized there was insight and great songwriting in even the most humorous of his songs. And, of course, they're not all humorous. This CD has turned out to be my favorite by Snider. For me, "Backbone Tavern", "Keep Off the Grass" and "Just in Case" are about as good as it gets. The music is diverse and always quality. When you begin to love the songs as much as I have, get his latest live CD and learn the stories behind the stories! They're great!

We "stumbled" on Todd Snider when he opened an outdoor concert for John Prine in Oregon. He had 10,000 people laughing and singing along. Just him and his guitar, and he had the audience moving more than the ten piece headlining band.

Ordered this CD the next day. What a wonderful surprise. Simply put: it rocks. It's rock n' roll and it's got some twang. He has a great voice, pounds a mean acoustic guitar, and has a great knack for storytelling.

I highly recommend this record. We love it!