|  | | | Customer Reviews: | | | Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
 Ramshackle music with an angry, forlorn smile Oct 25, 2009
This album (more like an EP) finds Todd Snider in a more experimental mood than usual. It also finds him angry and discontent but laughing to keep from crying. Peace Queer starts out with a sparse, upbeat twang-hop tune, Mission Accomplished, that sets the tone for the rest of the music. With it's raggedy drum beat front and center, the song is obviously a reference to our past president and Snider's frustration with said president's glib denial of reality. My favorite line is typical of Snider's ability to transpose and invert cliches - "I don't know, but I've been told - might need a little fox in an atheist hole.." (A play on the "there are no atheists in foxholes" saying.)
He then moves into a more earnest tune, "Cape Henry," which is a soulful, bluesy tune that beautifully and cleverly chronicles the hypocrisy of war dating back to the founding of our country (Cape Henry was a battle site in the Revolutionary War.) From there, he covers CCR's anti-war classic "Fortunate Son" which is also given a straightforward treatment.
Next, Snider gets a bit gratuitous with a spoken work version of "Is This Thing Working" which receives musical accompaniment on the last track of the album. The song/poem is morality tale of sorts about a schoolyard bully and seemingly another allusion to Snider's disenfranchisement with American foreign policy. I actually enjoy the spoken word version and take pleasure in the rhythm and humor Snider employs in the delivery. It won't make the iPod cut, however, when importing the album. The musical version is a well-produced, rollicking tune that will be a favorite on the iPod, though.
His spoken word is followed by "Stuck on the Corner" which is a fast-tempo garage rock anthem that pokes fun at the empty consumerism of today's world.
"Dividing the Estate" might be my favorite track on the album. Once again, Snider uses metaphor to rail against the loss of the American dream, but in a deliciously ragged, bluesy sauce.
Lastly, Snider gets a touch self-involved for my tastes on "Ponce of the Flaming Peace Queer." The track starts out as pretty, melody-driven instrumental track but ends with Snider self-consciously acknowledging (in direct, spoken word) that he's become a more opinionated songwriter of late. I could have lived without this, but the cleverness and creativity of the album as a whole make this wholly forgivable.
With it's clever songs, experimental nature, and sometimes raucous nature, Peace Queer is definitely worth picking up. I've also found it's a good introduction to Snider for those less familiar.
 "Stuck on the Corner (Yeah Yeah), Of Insanity and Madness" Jul 21, 2009
PEACE QUEER is a small (8 tracks), quirky and quintessientially Todd Snider CD. You either like Snider's singing or you don't. I do, and he is in his usual fine form here.
The songs are about war and those who actually have to fight in them, Creedence's "Fortunate Son" among them; a song, "Is This Thing Working?", using bullies as a metaphor for big countries invading little ones (which may just strike a chord with some of you); and two songs, "Stuck on the Corner" and "Dividing the Estate" about the soullessness of working just to make money. I always like Snider's rock and roll cuts, and he has one here, "Stuck on the Corner", that is reminiscent of his "If Tommorow Never Comes" and Snider kicks a** on it with his usual intensity.
This CD really grew on me. Each time I listened to it I liked it a little better to the point that it has reached 5 star status.
Quality, but not up to the high standard he has set. Mar 25, 2009
Just a bit shy of the standard he has set for himself which is truly hard to acheive as a singer/songwriter, empahsis on the songwriting.
He is still much better than 90% of them.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
"A NICE LITTLE SET OF TUNES" - minus the spoken word Mar 11, 2009
I don't want to discourage new Todd fans with this disc. It is not the place to start your collection of his GREAT albums... This disc deserves 3 stars, BUT Todd deserves his own star. As a BIG fan of his last album "The Devil You Know" and I mean huge fan of that album.... It is one of the best sing-along records I have. A true gem, undiscovered.... Sometimes these things can take 10-25 years before they are truly discovered and since Todd is half of that he is almost there... We Hope!
After this new cd "Peace Queer", I don't get it... I saw him live and these bits were trickled throughout the shows.. Impressive on the side, but as a full record it doesn't quite come together...
Fortunately it is a seriously reduced price disc !! BIG BOUNUS.
The actual songs are great, but the spoken word doesn't have the same affect as a live setting. Over all it is not very good, although the songs are worthy, I feel the spoken word parts take away from the flow of the disc, almost like a train wreck... Maybe that was his intention?..
Go see him live and this cd will be essential. TS is infective and you won't be denied. Though this disc does not live up to the Todd Snider legend we have all come to publicly view, it does round up the "new" stuff all in one spot, hopefully, to move on to newer better ideas.
The question is....
Should YOU buy this disc?
For the songs - YES !!
for the artwork - YES
for the cheapness - YES
for the support of an artist - YES
It really isn't that bad... It is short, but short and sweet would have been better... I really like the songs, but the wit faded on this album.
I think most fans are into his wit and charm and this new cd has neither.
It's more like an E.P. rather than a full length CD.
I have noticed a lot of artist are going back to shorter releases.
Can't blame them though, it aint easy to write and compose songs.
Take out the spoken word and keep the songs and you've got yourself
a nice little set of tunes.....
That is probably a better title.
"A NICE LITTLE SET OF TUNES" minus the spoken word
Recommended, for fun
Highly Recommended, If you already own his other albums
1 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 not as good as his older stuff Feb 17, 2009
unfortunately, not a big fan of this one. haven't liked the last few recordings TS as put out. i think i'm done. but i will always love his first several cd's up to his live 'near truths and hotel rooms.'
|
| |
|
![Firefly: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51734pRq2%2BL._SL75_.jpg "Firefly: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]")
![Gattaca [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VfE5rU9OL._SL75_.jpg "Gattaca [Blu-ray]")
![Resident Evil [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51m8P3lO%2BnL._SL75_.jpg "Resident Evil [Blu-ray]")
![Run Lola Run [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51gTXpHYF7L._SL75_.jpg "Run Lola Run [Blu-ray]")
