Peace Queer
| Peace Queer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | August 19, 2008 | |||
| Label | Aimless[1] | |||
| Producers | Doug Lancio, Eric McConnell, Todd Snider | |||
| Todd Snider chronology | ||||
| ||||
Peace Queer is an EP by the American musician Todd Snider, released on August 19, 2008.[2][3][4] It was made available as a free download before it appeared in stores.[5] The Riverfront Times labeled the EP "a don't-let-the-door-hit-you adios" to George W. Bush.[6]
Snider supported Peace Queer with a North American tour.[7] He made a 43-minute movie as a companion piece.[8]
Production
[edit]Snider considered the EP to be a political record, with the caveat that one shouldn't take political advice from a "stoner."[9] Because the songs didn't fit in with Snider's typical songs, he considered simply throwing them away.[10] The album cover is a photo of a masked Snider being held hostage by a hippie.[11]
"Fortunate Son" is a cover of the John Fogerty song, with Patty Griffin providing backing vocals.[12][13] "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.[14][15] "Stuck on the Corner" is about a man driven insane by the materialism of his family.[16] "The Ballad of Cape Henry" was cowritten with Will Kimbrough.[17] "Is This Thing Working?" is an allegorical song about the victim of a high school bully.[18]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [19] |
| The Austin Chronicle | [14] |
| Boston Herald | C[20] |
| Robert Christgau |  [1] |
| Spin | 8/10[13] |
| The Sunday Times | [15] |
The New Yorker wrote that Snider's "brilliant brand of rambling, homespun comedy is in fine form on the title track."[21] The Independent deemed the EP "a gorgeously atmospheric experience, from its opening acoustic Bo Diddleyisms via its unaccompanied versifications to its blues."[22] 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."[23]
The Associated Press considered Peace Queer "more funny than angry but passionate, too."[24] The Boston Herald opined that the only worthy track was "Stuck on the Corner".[20] NPR determined that the tracks "are heavy on melody and metaphor, mixing politically and socially disgruntled themes while maintaining Snider's stinging wit."[25]
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."[19]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mission Accomplished (Because You Gotta Have Faith)" | 2:36 |
| 2. | "The Ballad of Cape Henry" | 3:48 |
| 3. | "Fortunate Son" | 2:44 |
| 4. | "Is This Thing Working?" | 2:18 |
| 5. | "Stuck on the Corner (Prelude to a Heart Attack)" | 3:45 |
| 6. | "Dividing the Estate (A Heart Attack)" | 3:38 |
| 7. | "Ponce of the Flaming Peace Queer" | 4:40 |
| 8. | "Is This Thing On?" | 3:11 |
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Robert Christgau: CG: Todd Snider". www.robertchristgau.com.
- ↑ "Todd Snider Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ↑ Corcoran, Michael (October 2, 2008). "7 Nights". Austin American-Statesman. p. T15.
- ↑ "Todd Snider: Peace Queer 8/19". JamBase. July 24, 2008. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ↑ Grobaty, Tim (September 22, 2008). "Free Snider". News. Press-Telegram.
- ↑ Kasten, Roy (January 21, 2009). "Todd Snider". Critics' Picks. Riverfront Times.
- ↑ Thompson, Bill (November 21, 2008). "Snider would rather play music, not politics". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. E10.
- ↑ Meinert, Kendra (February 12, 2009). "Next up is quirky singer/songwriter Todd Snider...". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. W4.
- ↑ Locke, Greg. "NUVO Interview: Todd Snider". NUVO.
- ↑ Burger, David (February 19, 2009). "Move over Archuleta, here come Bird and Snider". The Salt Lake Tribune.
- ↑ Conway, Tom (August 1, 2008). "Snider butts heads for peace on new CD". South Bend Tribune. p. D3.
- ↑ Smith, William Michael. "Todd Snider: Peace Queer". Houston Press.
- 1 2 Wood, Mikael. "Todd Snider, 'Peace Queer'". Spin. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- 1 2 "Todd Snider: Peace Queer Album Review". www.austinchronicle.com.
- 1 2 Edwards, Mark (January 11, 2009). "Rock, pop, jazz". Features. The Sunday Times. pp. 32, 33.
- ↑ Harrison, Shane; Murray, Sonia (September 29, 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.
- 1 2 "Todd Snider - Peace Queer Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- 1 2 Convey, Kevin R. (October 24, 2008). "Discs". Boston Herald. p. E7.
- ↑ Greenman, Ben (September 1, 2008). "Pop Notes". The New Yorker. Vol. 84, no. 26. p. 36.
- ↑ Coleman, Nick (December 21, 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.
