Todd Snider, veteran musician whose music straddles the lines between folk and country with shades of blues, has released an extraordinary new album titled “The Excitement Plan.” With his characteristically clever lyrics, Snider paints a picture of loss-- of material, emotional, and spiritual poverty-- yet makes the listener laugh about it. In many ways, it perfectly represents the state of the American people in 2009.
Todd Snider Flexes His Lyrical Muscles on The Excitement Plan
Todd Snider has always had a way with a lyric, and he is not afraid to show it on “The Excitement Plan.” Snider is blessed with the ability to write a witty line, then turn around and break the listeners heart with the next couplet.
A good example of this ability is on the song Money, Compliments, Publicity (Song Number 10). The lyrics over the song’s bridge are "I went to see this therapist/ She said, 'Just do the best you can do'/ Do the best you can do/ I was hoping for something more specific." On the surface it seems like a one line joke, but deeper inspection reveals a personal pain and frustration. Snider has had issues with drugs and depression in his past, and has recently been diagnosed with bi-polar syndrome (see NPR interview below).
“Greencastle Blues,” “America’s Favorite Pastime” Display Snider’s Versatility
The Excitement Plan is solid all the way through, with bluesy acoustic guitar work (Snider seems especially fond of “double stops”) and a bouncing, almost ragtime, piano style. However, two songs stand out, “Greencastle Blues” and “America’s Favorite Pastime.” The differences between the two songs also show Todd Snider’s versatility.
“Greencastle Blues” is the story of a man being arrested for drug possession, and is at a point of introspection in his life. He laments “I've learned nothing out here on this highway.” He feels that he is too old to keep getting thrown in jail, but “How do you know when it's too late to learn?”
“America’s Favorite Pastime,” on the other hand, is the lighthearted true ballad of Pittsburgh Pirate’s pitcher Dock Ellis. Ellis became famous for pitching a no-hitter (when a baseball team gets no hits against a pitcher, a rare feat) while on LSD (see obituary below). “America’s Favorite Pastime,” (whether drugs or baseball) is the story of this miraculous event.
Snider takes a surrealist view of the incident, describing the pitcher’s mound as “the icing on a birthday cake,” and the first batter as “a dancing rattlesnake.” With a syncopated groove behind him, Snider paints a picture almost as colorful as what Ellis saw.
The Excitement Plan Brings Laughs and Tears
Todd Snider remarked on his website that he “wanted every song to be sad and funny at the same time, vulnerable and entertaining at the same time, personal and universal at the same time (See bio below).” With “The Excitement Plan,” Snider has achieved this goal and more, recording one of the top albums so far released in 2009.
References
www. sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3782859 Dock Ellis Obituary
Todd Snider Bio on his Web Site
 |
