Yep Roc Records
2009
The Excitement Plan
About This Album
Todd Snider's sense of humor sets him apart from most singer/songwriters. It's both his blessing and his curse, since serious industry types seem to think that "funny" songs automatically should be filed in the novelty bin. The humor of classics like "He Stopped Loving Her Today" and "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" is subtle to be sure, but they are poignant and hilarious comments on the human condition. Snider can be scathing, as he was on 2008's Peace Queer, but mostly he delivers his tunes with tongue more or less in cheek. The ironically titled Excitement Plan follows the template of his other albums, with bemused observations of human foolishness that manage to be biting and compassionate at the same time. Things open on a folky note with the acoustic "Slim Chance," one of the few optimistic songs on the album. He plays basic guitar and harmonica and sings: "I found a four-leaf clover in my yard today, it had one leaf missing off it, but that was OK." It's not laugh-out-loud funny, but a telling observation about our ability always to see the silver lining, even in a funnel-shaped cloud. The other tunes on the album aren't as upbeat.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9)

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