26. April 2025
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Media Review

Todd Snider – Crank It, We’re Doomed

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Todd Snider - Crank It, We're Doomed

Todd Snider - Crank It, We're Doomed
3.5

Rating

 3.5/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Blending of different genres
  • Good storytelling

Flyctory.com Cons

  • Confusing album
  • Sometimes a bit too much blending of different styles

The press kit of this album, Crank It, We’re Doomed by Todd Snider compares the artist with Prince and Neil Young. The reason: just as the other two legends, Snider had once dropped an completely produced album in the past. Guess what? He somehow changed its mind. Recorded in 2007 already, Snider is sharing the obviously not forgotten tracks with you. Release date has been 10th November 2023.

 

Todd Snider – About The Artist

Todd Snider is a US-American artist. He is combining folk, rock, blues and country sounds in his music. Born on 11th November 1966, he turned into an professional artist in 1994. He is a rather multi-faceted artist, who also had appearances in TV and movie productions. Snider is very frequently releasing albums. The roots of Crank It, We’re Doomed are already in the mid-2000’s, but Snider originally decided not to release the album. It is his fifteenth studio album overall.

 

Todd Snider – Crank It, We’re Doomed – Track by Track

The fifteen track album lasts 49 minutes.

1. From A Dying Rose

The very first song already illustrates how Snider is blending different Americana genre. The arrangement feels rather like a country or folk song, but the melody is coming with a blues-alike style. The drum style is even a bit of jazzy to me. And the story? Listen by yourself – the songwriting is amazing.

2. Juice

The single release Juice feels darker and dirtier than the opening song. The song is a thumbing blues rocker. Just 2:38 minutes long, but it defintiely leaves a mark.

3. Handleman’s Revenge

Let’s rock’n’roll. The Handleman’s Revenge spreads traditional vibes, but also has a bit of a blues touch. Very speedy song. With the backing voice shouting after every line of the chorus, this song could also lead to a nice sung dialogue with the fans on the next tour.

4. Don’t Tempt Me (feat. Loretta Lynn)

Todd Snider invited Loretta Lynn to this fourth song. In Don’t Tempt Me, Lynn and Snider do what Lynn is doing: cool nostalgic country music – you almost feel the two artists standing on stage of a local saloon. This section of the album is definitely fawning on traditional music lovers.

5. The War on Terror

The very reduced melody song is dealing with school violence. Especially the instrumental style, which is just having cajon-alike rhythms, some guitar strums and a howling harmonica leads to a strong focus on the lyrics by the listener. Great one.

6. America’s Favorite Pastime

Again, Snider initially works with a limited instrumentation to emphasize the story of America’s Favorite Pasttime. However, later, the organ and other instruments are joining the drums, the guitar and the fiddle.

7. Doll Face

The restricted melodic narration style reaches its peak in Doll Face, where Todd Snider is only telling the story of the song, not singing it. Just towards the end, he is howling a few chords. You might call it special and cool, while I struggle with that song.

8. But Seriously Folks

Already the first notes of the eighth song tell that the album goes back to melodic styles. I am somehow relieved. The song is a country-blues blending. The song comes with a intense vibe and strong phrasing.

9. West Nashville Grand Ballroom Gown

While the style of But Seriously Folks was still very narrative, West Nashville Grand Ballroom Gown is a very melodic song. It presents singer-songwriter contents with country music vibes.

10. Mercer’s Folly

The tenth song has a rather folk music style and is driven by the drums and some percussion elements. The fiddle has a nice presence as well. Overall, instruments lead to more fascination on my side than the lyrics of the song.

11. What Made You Do It

The eleventh song is going back to the very narrative concept of previous songs. In contrast to previous listens, this song is rather driven by the bass, though. The brushed drums just play a minor role, other instruments are not present. The bass groove bushes the song rather adds a blues music flag to this song.

12. The Last Laugh

The twelfth song is rather loud and present and presents a typical band on stage song. I just cannot decide whether it is rather a country band in a saloon or some laid back combo in a blues music club. Somehow, The Last Laugh would do great in both settings.

13. Mission Accomplished (Because You Gotta Have Faith)

This one is my favorite song of the narrative tracks of the album. One factor may be that the melodic chorus is breaking the very monotonous signature of the song. Another one are definitely the lovely lyrics.

14. Slim Chance Is Still A Chance

Are we doing surf pop now? The sound of A Slim Chance Is Still A Chance feels to take you to the beach. Overall, the song cannot deny its blues heart. One of the best songs of the album.

15. Good Fortune (feat. Kris Kristofferson)

If you close your album with Kris Kristofferson, things cannot be all bad. The song is another groovy recitative, which is also coming with some dramatic melodic elements.

 

Todd Snider – Crank It, We’re Doomed – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Todd Snider – Crank It, We’re Doomed – My View

The album is offering quite a lot of different songs. And it tells some really good stories. However, especially the central part of Crank It, We’re Doomed is tiring me quite a lot as well. I am sure that Todd Snider fans will highly value this release – to me it just does not make it to the top.

 

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