Todd Snider

It's tempting to think of Todd Snider as the slacker generation's answer to Phil Ochs. The east Nashvillian smart-ass sings the headlines of the day, but they're filtered through a bong-water hangover haze and a ramshackle country-rock sound that suggests he knows he can't change the world, but it's more fun to keep trying (at least till the dope runs out). On last year's Peace Queer, a don't-let-the-door-hit-you adios to GWB, he gets in the inevitable but necessary digs at fortunate sons, school bullies and missions mis-accomplished. But Snider also anticipates the Madoff meltdown in lines like "Making money out of paper/Making paper out of trees/We're making so much money we can hardly breathe." Will Snider's hard left turn sound dated six months from now? One can only hope — so enjoy his stoned satires while they last.