| Peace Queer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| EP by Todd Snider | ||||
| Released | 2008 | |||
| Label | Aimless | |||
| Producer | Doug Lancio, Eric McConnell, Todd Snider | |||
| Todd Snider chronology | ||||
| ||||
Peace Queer is an EP by the American musician Todd Snider, released in 2008. It was made available as a free download before it appeared in stores. The Riverfront Times labeled the EP "a don't-let-the-door-hit-you adios" to George W. Bush.
Snider supported Peace Queer with a North American tour. He made a 43-minute movie as a companion piece.
Production
Snider considered the EP to be a political record, with the caveat that one shouldn't take political advice from a "stoner." Because the songs didn't fit in with Snider's typical songs, he considered simply throwing them away. The album cover is a photo of a masked Snider being held hostage by a hippie.
"Fortunate Son" is a cover of the John Fogerty song, with Patty Griffin providing backing vocals. "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. "Stuck on the Corner" is about a man driven insane by the materialism of his family. "The Ballad of Cape Henry" was cowritten with Will Kimbrough. "Is This Thing Working?" is an allegorical song about the victim of a high school bully.
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| The Austin Chronicle | |
| Boston Herald | C |
| Robert Christgau |  |
| Spin | 8/10 |
| The Sunday Times | |
The New Yorker wrote that Snider's "brilliant brand of rambling, homespun comedy is in fine form on the title track." The Independent deemed the EP "a gorgeously atmospheric experience, from its opening acoustic Bo Diddleyisms via its unaccompanied versifications to its blues." 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."
The Associated Press considered Peace Queer "more funny than angry but passionate, too." The Boston Herald opined that the only worthy track was "Stuck on the Corner". NPR determined that the tracks "are heavy on melody and metaphor, mixing politically and socially disgruntled themes while maintaining Snider's stinging wit."
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."
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 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?" |
References
- ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Todd Snider". www.robertchristgau.com.
- "Todd Snider Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- Corcoran, Michael (2 Oct 2008). "7 Nights". Austin American-Statesman. p. T15.
- Grobaty, Tim (22 Sep 2008). "Free Snider". News. Press-Telegram.
- Kasten, Roy (January 21, 2009). "Todd Snider". Critics' Picks. Riverfront Times.
- Thompson, Bill (21 Nov 2008). "Snider would rather play music, not politics". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. E10.
- Meinert, Kendra (12 Feb 2009). "Next up is quirky singer/songwriter Todd Snider...". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. W4.
- Locke, Greg. "NUVO Interview: Todd Snider". NUVO.
- Burger, David (19 Feb 2009). "Move over Archuleta, here come Bird and Snider". The Salt Lake Tribune.
- Conway, Tom (1 Aug 2008). "Snider butts heads for peace on new CD". South Bend Tribune. p. D3.
- Smith, William Michael. "Todd Snider: Peace Queer". Houston Press.
- ^ Wood, Mikael. "Todd Snider, 'Peace Queer'". Spin. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- ^ "Todd Snider: Peace Queer Album Review". www.austinchronicle.com.
- ^ Edwards, Mark (January 11, 2009). "Rock, pop, jazz". Features. The Sunday Times. pp. 32, 33.
- Harrison, Shane; Murray, Sonia (29 Sep 2008). "Hard Tunes for Hard Times: Music for a Modern Meltdown". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. C1.
- "Spin Factor". Lifestyles. The City Paper. November 7, 2008.
- "For Todd Snider, the a song is a portrait, not a lesson or lecture". The Kansas City Star. January 22, 2009. p. E28.
- ^ "Todd Snider - Peace Queer Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ Convey, Kevin R. (October 24, 2008). "Discs". Boston Herald. p. E7.
- Greenman, Ben (Sep 1, 2008). "Pop Notes". The New Yorker. 84 (26): 36.
- Coleman, Nick (21 Dec 2008). "Todd Snider Peace Queer". Arts. The Independent. p. 52.
- Smyers, Darryl (December 25, 2008). "Todd Snider". Critics' Picks. Dallas Observer.
- Wine, Steven (October 19, 2008). "CD Reviews". The Press of Atlantic City. Associated Press. p. E3.
- "Todd Snider On Mountain Stage". NPR. December 9, 2008.