Search - Todd Snider :: Viva Satellite

The least satisfying of Todd's first five releases...

William E. Adams | Midland, Texas USA | 04/05/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

""Viva" was the finale of Todd's three-CD deal with MCA and is the most rockin' of all his albums. For my dough it is less interesting than any of the other four. I own them all, and saw Todd live one time, and I view him as a fine songwriter, guitarist and singer (skills in that order) who crosses several categories. To me, he is a witty guy with an appreciation for the tragedies of life that all great comedians have had. He is a storyteller who writes as if his grandfathers were Tom T. Hall and Buddy Holly, and he adopts almost a punkish persona at times which masks the great sensitivity which he isn't quite mature enough to reveal. He obviously loves rock, but I just can't see that the hard-rockin' aspects are nearly as successful as his songwriting/social commentator/joke telling abilities. If I wasn't right about this, perhaps his two CD's for the "Oh Boy" label would have sounded more like "Viva Satellite" than they do. If you are new to Todd, my advice is buy all the other discs first. "Viva" just does not work as well, overall, as the others, despite two or three good tunes."

Terrific Album

Harvey R. Vesha | Dublin, Ohio USA | 07/12/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is Todd's most mainstream-type album. It is more rock and roll than his others, without as much variety in the songs. I did like his cover of The Joker, and his spiritual songs are excellent. He sounds like Tom Petty in Out All Night (at least at the beginning of the song). If you are looking for a fast-paced, rockin' album, this is the one. overall a very good album. much louder and faster than his others."

"Can't Complain" doesn't Begin to Cover it!

Mary Gollihugh | On the Lake Erie Shoreline, PA | 12/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Another exceptional CD by Todd Snider. "Can't Complain" is a reality check, fine tuned with his signature twist on dark humor.
I first heard "Doublewide Blues" sung by John Prine as his encore performance song, and did not learn until later that it was written by his opening act, which was Todd Snider, alone, without back up, and an all around surprise. Anyone who has lived in a mobile home park, or had a "first apartment" that was not exactly a dream home, can identify with it. When playing this song for my friends there was a lot of comments along the lines of: "Oh, I remember some one like that!" or "Been there, done that".
From our then neighbors so our own self-doubt regarding our ability to handle our own then futures. Todd has a grip, he may speak more plainly than we would ourselves, but he still gives voice to a lot of us "Uncommon commoners".
Thank you for your gift, Todd, and tenacity in getting your talent onto CD's for the rest of us to hear.
"Can't Complain" doesn't begin to cover it.
~mariance"