Tag: “Todd Snider”

Review: Hard Working Americans

Hard Working Americans is fronted by singer-songwriter Todd Snider, sounding grittier and more subdued than he used to. His colleagues include guitarist Neal Casal of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood and Ryan Adams’ Cardinals, bassist (and co-producer) Dave Schools from the Dave Matthews Band, keyboardist Chad Staehly of Great American Taxi and drummer Duane Trucks from Col. Bruce Hampton’s School of Music.

Review: “Steve Poltz’s “Noineen Noiny Noin”

Americana Music News: We first saw Steve Poltz in 1998 after the release of One Left Shoe. It was pretty clear from the performance that this was a talented singer and songwriter who would be sticking around. What was less clear was whether he would build on the success of writing the pop hit “You Were Meant for Me” and…

Music Producers Institute brings artists, fans together in the studio

 One of the more innovative ventures in Nashville’s music community offers a chance for fans and prospective producers to sit in on the recording sessions of some of their favorite bands. Music Producers Institute, directed by Grammy-award winning producer Steve Fishell, gives artists a chance to defray recording costs by inviting in paid guests, and attendees get a rich musical…

Review: Todd Snider times two

By Ken Paulson –Todd Snider’s new album Agnostic Hymns and Stoner Fables may put you a little on edge, but thankfully, he’s also provided the antidote. Agnostic Hymns could well be the original cast album for the Occupy Movement, with a fair share of contemporary protest songs and attitude. The opening track “In the Beginning” makes the case that religion…

Lovett, Scott top chart; Janiva Magness debuts

It’s been a relatively stable week on the Americana Music radio airplay chart, with Lyle Lovett again holding on to the top position with Release Me, followed by Darrell Scott’s  Long Ride Home. There’s only one new album on the chart this week, with Janiva Magness’ Stronger For It entering at #36. Tommy Womack’s fine Now What!  is back on…

Del McCoury featured in new in-studio video series

Three years ago, Steve Fishell, a one-time member of Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band and later a producer of a number of cool country and Americana acts, launched the Music Producers Institute in Nashville. It was a studio with a twist. Fishell’s business model gave artists an economical way to record a new album, while inviting recording students and fans to…

Review: Robert Earl Keen’s “Ready for Confetti”

Robert Earl Keen’s 16th album “Ready for Confetti” is a musically adventurous, almost joyous-sounding album that lives up to its playful title. Keen has said he approached this album differently, writing on the road for a change and encouraging lots of feedback. It worked. “Ready for Confetti” is a diverse, yet focused collection, packed with memorable songs. Fron the upbeat…

Todd Snider Live

Todd Snider is a subversive Steve Goodman, a guy who writes fine songs and tells entertaining stories on stage. That’s nicely captured on Todd Snider Live: The Storyteller, a two-CD collection that’s deep in engaging songs and stories. Sometimes they’re one and the same. Snider talks of his high school years and the mushroom-related incident that set him on his…