Todd Snider
(Aimless Records)
For his election year offering, Peace Queer, Todd Snider juxtaposes parables about pacifism with his usual off-kilter attitude. Indeed, while the cover photo of a blindfolded Snider being held hostage by a bare-chested fanatic suggests a skewed view, the songs themselves provide a compelling case for his convictions. Opening track "Mission Accomplished (Because You Gotta Have Faith)" borrows a Bo Diddley beat and George W's victory slogan in a tirade against people with double standards. A lo-fi take on Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son" and "The Ballad of Cape Henry," a hazy, soulful narrative about a Civil War sea battle, affirm the anti-war attitude that's implied -- albeit bizarrely -- in the EP's oddball title. So too, the shared lyric of "Is This Thing Off " and "Is This Thing Working" (essentially sung and spoken versions of the same song) offer a tale about a victim who stands up to intimidation.
That's all well and good. But when Snider caps the melodious instrumental "Ponce of The Flaming Peace Queer' by introducing himself and subsequently asserting "I've been driving around this country for twenty years, making this shit up and singing for anyone that will listen," it indicates there's a certain irony undermining his intentions.
Standout Tracks: "Ponce of the Flaming Queer," "Fortunate Son" LEE ZIMMERMAN
