Even in these hyper-politicized times, it may take a moment for listeners to identify the subject of “You Got Away With It (A Tale of Two Fraternity Brothers),� the fifth of 11 tracks on The Devil You Know from Todd Snider. Once recognition dawns, however, it should prompt a rude guffaw—or a bloodthirsty growl. Snider, the pride of East Nashville, specializes in such musical sucker punches. In that regard, this New Door/UMe disc finds him in fine form. “If Tomorrow Never Comes,� its opener, itself opens with a delicate piano figure before barreling into Jerry Lee Lewis territory. Thereafter, the loping “Looking for a Job� sketches a labor-management dynamic at once deadly earnest and laugh-out-loud funny, and “Just Like Old Times� focuses on two ex-schoolmates “livin’ out a different kind of American dream� of hustling pool and hooking. Snider matches his skill as a raconteur with his musicianship, juxtaposing full-throttle offerings like the title track with the sweet little love song “All That Matters,� whose melody largely reduces to a tambourine and a snare drum. “If life is anything,� he sings on “Happy New Year,� the CD’s closer, “it’s embarrassing.� If so, though, Snider should feel no embarrassment about The Devil You Know; it’s a disc of notable compassion and craft.
Release date: August 8, 2006
Bryan A. Hollerbach
