Peace Queer

Last updated
Peace Queer
Peace Queer.jpg
EP by
Todd Snider
Released2008
Label Aimless [1]
Producer Doug Lancio, Eric McConnell, Todd Snider
Todd Snider chronology
Live with the Devil You Know (Grimey's – Nashville)
(2007)		Peace Queer
(2008)		 The Excitement Plan
(2009)

Peace Queer is an EP by the American musician Todd Snider, released in 2008. [2] [3] It was made available as a free download before it appeared in stores. [4] The Riverfront Times labeled the EP "a don't-let-the-door-hit-you adios" to George W. Bush. [5]

Contents

Snider supported Peace Queer with a North American tour. [6] He made a 43-minute movie as a companion piece. [7]

Production

Snider considered the EP to be a political record, with the caveat that one shouldn't take political advice from a "stoner." [8] Because the songs didn't fit in with Snider's typical songs, he considered simply throwing them away. [9] The album cover is a photo of a masked Snider being held hostage by a hippie. [10]

"Fortunate Son" is a cover of the John Fogerty song, with Patty Griffin providing backing vocals. [11] [12] "Mission Accomplished (Because You Gotta Have Faith)" is built on the musical structure of George Michael's "Faith" and incorporates Will Rogers's most famous saying. [13] [14] "Stuck on the Corner" is about a man driven insane by the materialism of his family. [15] "The Ballad of Cape Henry" was cowritten with Will Kimbrough. [16] "Is This Thing Working?" is an allegorical song about the victim of a high school bully. [17]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [18]
The Austin Chronicle Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Boston Herald C [19]
Robert Christgau Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg [1]
Spin 8/10 [12]
The Sunday Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [14]

The New Yorker wrote that Snider's "brilliant brand of rambling, homespun comedy is in fine form on the title track." [20] The Independent deemed the EP "a gorgeously atmospheric experience, from its opening acoustic Bo Diddleyisms via its unaccompanied versifications to its blues." [21] The Dallas Observer stated that "Snider has always incorporated wit and a leftist political bent into his folk/country, but about half of Peace Queer comes off as heavy-handed and predictable." [22]

The Associated Press considered Peace Queer "more funny than angry but passionate, too." [23] The Boston Herald opined that the only worthy track was "Stuck on the Corner". [19] NPR determined that the tracks "are heavy on melody and metaphor, mixing politically and socially disgruntled themes while maintaining Snider's stinging wit." [24]

AllMusic called the EP "a short and bittersweet gem, a rant that's funny enough to make the venom sting all the more and a cry of protest with joy and compassion in its heart." [18]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Mission Accomplished (Because You Gotta Have Faith)" 
2."The Ballad of Cape Henry" 
3."Fortunate Son" 
4."Is This Thing Working?" 
5."Stuck on the Corner (Prelude to a Heart Attack)" 
6."Dividing the Estate (A Heart Attack)" 
7."Ponce of the Flaming Peace Queer" 
8."Is This Thing On?" 

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References

  1. 1 2 "Robert Christgau: CG: Todd Snider". www.robertchristgau.com.
  2. ↑ "Todd Snider Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ↑ Corcoran, Michael (2 Oct 2008). "7 Nights". Austin American-Statesman. p. T15.
  4. ↑ Grobaty, Tim (22 Sep 2008). "Free Snider". News. Press-Telegram.
  5. ↑ Kasten, Roy (January 21, 2009). "Todd Snider". Critics' Picks. Riverfront Times.
  6. ↑ Thompson, Bill (21 Nov 2008). "Snider would rather play music, not politics". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. E10.
  7. ↑ Meinert, Kendra (12 Feb 2009). "Next up is quirky singer/songwriter Todd Snider...". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. W4.
  8. ↑ Locke, Greg. "NUVO Interview: Todd Snider". NUVO.
  9. ↑ Burger, David (19 Feb 2009). "Move over Archuleta, here come Bird and Snider". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  10. ↑ Conway, Tom (1 Aug 2008). "Snider butts heads for peace on new CD". South Bend Tribune. p. D3.
  11. ↑ Smith, William Michael. "Todd Snider: Peace Queer". Houston Press.
  12. 1 2 Wood, Mikael. "Todd Snider, 'Peace Queer'". Spin. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  13. 1 2 "Todd Snider: Peace Queer Album Review". www.austinchronicle.com.
  14. 1 2 Edwards, Mark (January 11, 2009). "Rock, pop, jazz". Features. The Sunday Times. pp. 32, 33.
  15. ↑ Harrison, Shane; Murray, Sonia (29 Sep 2008). "Hard Tunes for Hard Times: Music for a Modern Meltdown". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. C1.
  16. ↑ "Spin Factor". Lifestyles. The City Paper. November 7, 2008.
  17. ↑ "For Todd Snider, the a song is a portrait, not a lesson or lecture". The Kansas City Star. January 22, 2009. p. E28.
  18. 1 2 "Todd Snider - Peace Queer Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  19. 1 2 Convey, Kevin R. (October 24, 2008). "Discs". Boston Herald. p. E7.
  20. ↑ Greenman, Ben (Sep 1, 2008). "Pop Notes". The New Yorker. 84 (26): 36.
  21. ↑ Coleman, Nick (21 Dec 2008). "Todd Snider Peace Queer". Arts. The Independent. p. 52.
  22. ↑ Smyers, Darryl (December 25, 2008). "Todd Snider". Critics' Picks. Dallas Observer.
  23. ↑ Wine, Steven (October 19, 2008). "CD Reviews". The Press of Atlantic City. Associated Press. p. E3.
  24. ↑ "Todd Snider On Mountain Stage". NPR. December 9, 2008.
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