Customer Reviews

Songs From the Daily Planet

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Alt country madman Todd Snider has been strangely ignored by the musical mainstream. I first heard of him when the excellent, biting `Alright Guy' got some alternative airplay. I took me just one listen to know that Snider was for me. Of course, `Alright Guy' is positively gushy compared the venomous minor hit `Talking Seattle Grunge-Rock Blues' a Dylanesque send up of Grunge-mania. His more traditionally country tune was even covered by the more traditionally country Mark Chesnutt. Needless to say, Snider has songwriting chops comparable to guys like Nick Lowe, Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello. Genrewise he is in the alt country zone populated by Joe Buck, Tommy Womack and Webb Wilder. For pathos, check out his mournful `That Was Me' or the stirring, affecting `You Think You Know Somebody'. For pulse pounding, uplifting tunes try `A Whole Lot More' or `Somebody's Coming'. It's hard to overrate Snide; every track here is a memorable sing along gem. Pity that witty roots rockers are so out of fashion.

This CD is amazing. In my opinion Todd Snider is truly the most gifted singer/songwriter of the nineties. Who else compares? A great performer/artist in the vein of Jimmy Buffett, Jerry Jeff Walker and John Prine. If you don't own this CD then you're missing a great piece of music. And what about those Nervous Wrecks? GREAT band! If you ever get the chance to see Todd live (especially solo/acoustic) don't pass it up. I guarantee you won't be dissapointed. Todd's a born entertainer!

For anybody who wishes to buy a Todd Snider CD, this is the place to start. With tunes such as "Seattle Grunge Rock Blues", "My Generation, Part 2" and "Alright Guy", this album provides several must-have's for the Todd Snider fan. Alternately thoughtful, witty, and hilarious, but always entertaining, this album was the very exciting start for a man who would become something of a cult hero. Be warned: if you listen to this album, you are going to want to hear more.

Todd Snider is an excellent songwriter, as he proves with "Songs for the Daily Planet." He's confident enough in his abiility to hide the album's best song, "The Band that Wouldn't Play," after the last listed track is completed. This witty parody of the Seattle grunge rock scene actually managed to gain Snider airtime on alternative rock stations despite the fact that he is at heart a country artist.

Of the rest of the material, the highlights have to be the very amusing "Alright Guy," the Who-referenced generational effacing putdown "My Generation (Part Two)" and the confessional "That Was Me." Snider's natually wicked sense of humor enlivens the best tracks, and is somewhat reminiscent of John Prine at his best. Only when he gets political, like on "This Land is Our Land," does his music sound forced.

Overall, a catchy and amusing album from a quirky artist who neatly straddles the line between rock and country.

Two nights ago I drove 220 miles round trip to see Todd play for only 70 minutes in a bar. It was worth it, and I knew it would be, because I've been a fan now for five years, since accidentally seeing him on Austin City Limits performing "Seattle Grunge Rock Blues", the bonus track on this album. I bought this CD a few days after that telecast, and I must have listened to it l00 times. It is my favorite of his four releases, followed by "Happy to be Here" and "Step Right Up." I felt "Viva Satellite" didn't really work, but others like it best. Takes all kinds, I guess. I'm 57, an old folkie fan who dates back to Kingston Trio, Pete Seeger and Cisco Houston releases in the late'50's and 60's. I went on to love Jimmy Buffet, Harry Chapin, and many more. Todd is worthy of that company, and is yet not a clone of any of them. He has a voice that can be beautiful, but he doesn't always use it to sound "beautiful." He is a strong guitar player, but he doesn't linger on the instrument. He just writes such damn good songs that make you think, and feel, and laugh, and sometimes want to cry. "My Generation" and "That Was Me" and "This Land is Our Land" and "Alright Guy" and "I Spoke As A Child" are worth the purchase price all by themselves, but you also get "Trouble" and "A Lot More" and "You Think You Know Somebody" and "Somebody's Coming" and "Seattle Grunge Rock Blues." That group is almost worth $... alone. For my taste, "Easy Money" and "Turn It Up" and "Joe's Blues" are the weakest links on the disc, and yet, they don't suck either. Todd made this record in l994, and here in 200l I saw him perform for $... in a bar with only l50 people listening. I don't know what's wrong with our country, but that statement is a sure sign that something is amiss...he has talent, and heart, and humor. Why the majority culture fails to find him, and elevate him, I don't know. Be smarter than that. If you consider yourself a devotee of singer-songwriter folk/rock/country blend, you MUST own "Songs for a Daily Planet" if not all four of Todd's albums. I like Joe Ely, I like Robert Earl Keen, I like the late Townes van Zandt and many more...but Todd is the one who creates songs that stay powerful long after you've heard them again and again.

Context: the first Todd Snider album I heard was Happy to Be Here from 2000. I thought "how come this guy isn't more widely known?" while listening -- in twelve or thirteen tracks -- to some rock, some blues, some melancholy, and among all that several gems, most particularly, D.B. Cooper. Sardonic, as tough on himself as on easy target others in his music, he reminded me of Randy Newman and, most especially, John Prine. Now Songs for the Daily Planet comes across my scope, bringing with it some partial answer to my question, for Snider was in the same place six years ago -- uptempo My Generation skewers, well, his generation. Easy Money is a bluesy account of trying to get what you haven't earned. That Was Me, a bit of self-pity in a road song. Turn It Up, life's bad, play the music loud, and the classic on this CD, You Think You Know Somebody, a far more effective take on child abuse than Luka whose royalties are still paying Suzanne Vega's rent. I heard these songs after I heard Happy to Be Here so they seem faintly derivative. But of course it's the other way round and overall, this is a slightly better collection than Happy to Be Here, but D.B. Cooper is still the pick hit for me.

This album starts you off on a comedy routine akin to George Carlin, Brett Butler and Gallager all in one. He extolls the virtues of "My Generation", while laughing at himself, and the generation that he is himself a part of. It is all the more humorous coming from an age group that never had an appropriate title.
The Best track, in my opinion, is "Alright Guy"; it speaks to all of us who are trying to lead decent lives, earn our own way, and seem to get the short end of the stick from car salesmen to extreme taxes to hearing yourself described by an ex-mate. We all feel we are pulling our own weight, so what's with the rest of the world that never quite leaves us alone.
From hearing my husband speak of his average work day, this song gives words to what we may no be able to say ourselves.
My husband is An Alright Guy, but the system keeps on messing with us, sneaking in taxes when we aren't looking, or having a grown child of ours act like an idiot, when we could have sworn we tried harder than that! (wry grin)
This is a frequent relisten for us, and one of the primary reasons my daughter and son-in-law gave me a CD player for my car - I was going through too many batteries lugging around a CD player.
Five Stars, Todd.
I may have no muical talent myself, and my singing along would probably cause any music critic to faint dead away, but I can appreciate talent in others. Todd Snider has my depest appreciation.
Again, as with most other of his albums, don't choose a CD by it's cover; his never do his music justice. If I had not heard his music previously, I never would have bought it based on the cover.
I was lucky to "discover" Todd Snider's music.
He's An Alright Guy.
~mariance

On the cd "Songs for the Daily Planet" Somebody's Coming is (bar none) the BEST song released this past decade, by ANYONE...Group, etc.Seriously. It not only ranks high in "tune" quality but the lyrics are all you need to know. EVERY song on here is worth the price of the cd (except maybe "You Think You Know Somebody.")_______________________Step Right Up isn't nearly as good. I don't have Viva Satelite. E-mail me if you have it and recommend it, but ONLY if you feel the same way I do about "Songs for the Daily Planet." =:-)

I discovered Todd Snider while in Minniapolis with my husband. I heard "Alright Guy" on Cities 97.1 FM and on their City Sampler. I immediately went back to Phoenix and bought "Songs For a Daily Planet" What a great album from a song writer who is whimsical and refreshing. Only problem, No station in Phoenix will play him, which is a pity!! Acoustic and folk rock lovers please unite and request Todd Snider. You are in for a treat!

Todd Snider is an artist who combines country with rock very effectively. "Songs for the Daily Planet" has a terrific mix of humorous up-tempo songs, such as "My Generation (Part 2)" and "Allright Guy" along with haunting but wonderfully told sad stories ("You Think You Know Somebody" and "That Was Me"). He's one of the best new artists to come on the scene in the mid 90's. His other two CDs ("Step Right Up" and "Viva Satellite") are also excellent, although this one is my favorite.