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Editorial Reviews
Street corner prophet and good time buddy, Todd Snider, has been championing the overlooked and underappreciated for over 15years. This year he's back with The Excitement Plan, an album the combines social commentary, gypsy recession recovery plan and Soul-Folk in to one unified masterpiece. Self-awareness never sounded so good as Todd and crack sidemen Jim Keltner and Greg Liesz team up with Grammy-winning producer Don Was (Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones) for an album that exemplifies Snider's by-your-wits lifestyle and once-an-age lyricism.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Todd Snider draws inspiration from all over the musical map, from tough-guy outlaws like Billy Joe Shaver to wise guy satirists like Randy Newman and John Prine. But Todd's not an imitator of those geniuses - he's a peer. The Excitement Plan showcases one of America's greatest songwriters at the top of his game. This guy can deliver a line so poignant and honest it hurts - and then counter with a punch line that makes you laugh out loud. That alone makes him a rare talent - and he's even better live. Viva Todd Snider!
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
When I heard that Todd Snider's "The Excitement Plan" featured a song about Dock Ellis, former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher, throwing a no-hitter while tripped out on LSD, I thought "why hasn't this been sung about before?" And leave it to Todd Snider to make the song both historical and hysterical. This CD, like all of Todd's, is full of story songs about down on their luck, regular everyday people either trying to make the best with what they have or rationializing their situations. The lyrics and song themes are outstanding, and "Corpus Christi Bay", a cover of a Robert Earl Keen song, comes off as a vintage Snider song.
What about the sound of the CD? Well, Don Was produced and played upright bass, but don't expect an album that sounds like Was (Not Was) or the B-52s. If anything, this is the most country-sounding album Todd has done, due likely to the presence of Greg Leisz on dobro and pedal steel guitar (Leisz has played with Sheryl Crow, Robert Plant/Alison Kraus, Wilco....) But it's a good, raw, folk-and-booze inflected country, not pop/rock country like is common here in 2009, doubly effective with Todd's not-always-on-pitch vocals. One or two songs even sound a little like Randy Newman. Oh, and Loretta Lynn co-wrote a duet song and Jim Keltner plays drums (Keltner played drums for John Lennon, Joe Cocker, Steve Miller, Bill Withers, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond....)
So great lyrics and concepts, a tight band, and an overall great sound. Perhaps his best CD since the demise of "Todd Snider and the Nervous Wrecks."
What about the sound of the CD? Well, Don Was produced and played upright bass, but don't expect an album that sounds like Was (Not Was) or the B-52s. If anything, this is the most country-sounding album Todd has done, due likely to the presence of Greg Leisz on dobro and pedal steel guitar (Leisz has played with Sheryl Crow, Robert Plant/Alison Kraus, Wilco....) But it's a good, raw, folk-and-booze inflected country, not pop/rock country like is common here in 2009, doubly effective with Todd's not-always-on-pitch vocals. One or two songs even sound a little like Randy Newman. Oh, and Loretta Lynn co-wrote a duet song and Jim Keltner plays drums (Keltner played drums for John Lennon, Joe Cocker, Steve Miller, Bill Withers, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond....)
So great lyrics and concepts, a tight band, and an overall great sound. Perhaps his best CD since the demise of "Todd Snider and the Nervous Wrecks."
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Todd Snider has come up with another great CD with "The Excitement Plan". There aren't very many up-tempo tunes on this CD as there were with the last full-length CD ("The Devil You Know"), but the wit is sharper than ever. Personal favorites are "Greencastle Blues" (written after he was arrested for pot possession in Greencastle, Indiana last year), "Corpus Christi Bay" (not one he wrote, but well-covered) and "Money, Compliments and Publicity" (his method of taking care of all of his friends when he gets enough money is classic). There's a lot of piano on this CD than I hear on other Snider CDs, but I think that's a nice change. I also get a kick out of his collaboration with Loretta Lynn on "Don't Tempt Me".
I've done reviews of many of Todd's other CDs and I always say, get the CD, but if he comes near your town, get to one of his live shows. You WILL have a great time!
I've done reviews of many of Todd's other CDs and I always say, get the CD, but if he comes near your town, get to one of his live shows. You WILL have a great time!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By J. Skelton
Format:Audio CD
This is a fantastic album for Todd. Less rock-n-roll than previous albums, but not as folky as live performances. A must have CD and the best CD I have purchased this year.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By DanD
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD
Producer Don Was (Kris Kristofferson, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, etc.) helps Snider bring out his inner blues singer. Kind of. "Folk-blues" would be more like it; I'm a sucker for coining genre names, so let's go with that: Folk-blues.
This is easily one of Snider's most solid albums, lyrically and musically. On the lyrics end, his wit and banter is razor-sharp, from his "Goodfellas"-esque tale of crime ("Unorganized Crime"), to his lament of the life/death of a newspaper ("Doll Face"), to his brazen straight-forward anti-war plea ("Bring 'em Home"), to his heartfelt take on Robert Earl Keen's "Corpus Cristi Bay." Musically, Was has supplied him with a rather sparse arrangement: guitar or piano, bass, drums, and percussion (but not on all tracks). And then Loretta Lynn lends her writing/vocal talents on album-highlight "Don't Tempt Me," and basically it's Folk-blues Heaven from there. THE EXCITEMENT PLAN is (pun alert) certainly something to get excited about. Give it a spin, give it a listen. (And purchase the physical CD, so you can get three free downloads from Yep-Roc Records, including the absolutely hilarious "Mushroom Story.") Just do yourself a huge favor and buy this album.
This is easily one of Snider's most solid albums, lyrically and musically. On the lyrics end, his wit and banter is razor-sharp, from his "Goodfellas"-esque tale of crime ("Unorganized Crime"), to his lament of the life/death of a newspaper ("Doll Face"), to his brazen straight-forward anti-war plea ("Bring 'em Home"), to his heartfelt take on Robert Earl Keen's "Corpus Cristi Bay." Musically, Was has supplied him with a rather sparse arrangement: guitar or piano, bass, drums, and percussion (but not on all tracks). And then Loretta Lynn lends her writing/vocal talents on album-highlight "Don't Tempt Me," and basically it's Folk-blues Heaven from there. THE EXCITEMENT PLAN is (pun alert) certainly something to get excited about. Give it a spin, give it a listen. (And purchase the physical CD, so you can get three free downloads from Yep-Roc Records, including the absolutely hilarious "Mushroom Story.") Just do yourself a huge favor and buy this album.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Todd is brilliant, a natural, lovable, astute and very funny when he wants to be. I've been enjoying his work ever since 1994's "Songs for the Daily Planet". However, I want to make it clear that he is not the first to write about the no-hitter that Doc Ellis threw while "altered".
I would like to refer all readers to the work of Chuck Brodsky, another wonderful American singer-songwriter who can definitely spin a poignant story or a funny one, but also happens to have an interest in baseball history. He wrote and recorded a song about "Doc's No-no" years ago on his "Baseball Ballads" CD.
I think both Todd and Chuck are criminally under-appreciated, but in this day of manufactured "talent", maybe it's all we can do to just enjoy them as well-kept secrets and spread the word wherever and whenever we have the opportunity.
I would like to refer all readers to the work of Chuck Brodsky, another wonderful American singer-songwriter who can definitely spin a poignant story or a funny one, but also happens to have an interest in baseball history. He wrote and recorded a song about "Doc's No-no" years ago on his "Baseball Ballads" CD.
I think both Todd and Chuck are criminally under-appreciated, but in this day of manufactured "talent", maybe it's all we can do to just enjoy them as well-kept secrets and spread the word wherever and whenever we have the opportunity.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Easy Access
While I agree with an earlier reviewer that this may be the place to start for listeners unfamiliar with Snider's music, I suspect for the same reason -- the album's more... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Elyon
4.0 out of 5 stars
Todd Snider
Light-hearted and enjoyable, this album is a fantastic break from what most would consider country music. Will be buying more of his stuff for sure!
Published on February 22, 2011 by Chad G. Rose
5.0 out of 5 stars
Todd's latest release..The Excitement Plan
I'm loving this music everybit as much as everything else he's done. Musically it's perhaps more acoustically clean and simplified, sounding like rag time with just a few... Read more
Published on March 7, 2010 by Kellismiles
2.0 out of 5 stars
eh.
East Nashville Skyline is one of my new favorite albums. This one is quieter, more accoustic and just didn't hit home for me like I thought it would.
Published on November 15, 2009 by Bruce C. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Todd Snider / The Excitement Plan
Truly one of the best Todd has ever done ... Yes they steal your heart than your lawnmower.
Published on October 22, 2009 by Robert E. Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good stuff
Yeah this album is pretty amazing. Todd combines a good ol' folk sound with pertinent lyrics. Duet with Loretta Lynn is amazing, the REK song is amazing, overall a fun and good... Read more
Published on August 28, 2009 by Graham Oliver
5.0 out of 5 stars
going strong
This, I believe, is Todd Snider's second release in the last year (Peace Queer is its immediate predescessor), and let's hope he stays this productive. Read more
Published on August 4, 2009 by T. ORourke
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best around
Todd continues to prove that he is the best singer/songwriter on the planet. Give this a listen. You will not be disappointed.
Published on July 17, 2009 by B. Mehalic
5.0 out of 5 stars
Todd Snider
Never heard of Todd Snider until I heard the song Don't tempt me with Loretta Lynn and it blew me away. I sure would love to see any other song with the two of them.
Published on July 11, 2009 by Barbara A. Petrie
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Excitement Plan
Vintaged Snider, not a T. Snider starter but work your way up to this with previous releases - it's worth it.
Published on July 6, 2009 by John Cooper
