On the surface, Snider sings in a rustic, sub-Dylan kind of voice and plunks at his beat-up nylon-six-string with little flourish -- both recorded dry and reverb-less. But the whole is deceptively complex. Behind the roughened surface simplicity lies a rare intelligence and elegance of style, delivery, and content that has long championed by other performers on the Toronto music scene. One can view Snider as simply a classic rambling street performer; a witty raconteur one-man-band traveling caravan. Where Snider goes, entertainment value is never far behind. His best material really does combine both perspectives. While there's an air of "novelty" about it, burlesque/doggerel it is not. Snider's social commentary is gentle and humorous, devoid of cynicism, which actually makes it more potent than many of his more strident colleagues. Acoustic blues, vaudeville, and country touches flavor several selections. Some numbers demand only Snider and his guitar, and are so treated. For others, producer Don Kerr adds unobtrusive splashes of cello, violin, piano, bassoon, pennywhistle, electric guitar, and tuba. Caterwaul and Doggerel captures the work of a true Canadian original for whom "sitting in the kitchen is my favorite thing to do/I can sit in that room and ruminate until the chickens come home to roost/I never have to go very far to cook my own goose." ~ Roch Parisien, All Music Guide
Tracks
Track Title
Composers
Performers
Time
Parkette
Bob Snider
Bob Snider
(1:34)
Talk to Me Babe
Bob Snider
Bob Snider
(4:23)
What I Don't Know (Is Hurting Me)
Bob Snider
Bob Snider
(2:49)
Rejection Blues
Bob Snider
Bob Snider
(3:47)
What's Up Doll?
Bob Snider
Bob Snider
(3:35)
If I Sang It Pretty
Bob Snider
Bob Snider
(3:27)
Hurry Up Blues
Bob Snider
Bob Snider
(2:54)
Bums in the Park
Bob Snider
Bob Snider
(3:53)
Darn Folksinger
Bob Snider
Bob Snider
(4:49)
Sittin in the Kitchen
Bob Snider
Bob Snider
(3:59)
Clear Blue Sky
Bob Snider
Bob Snider
(3:37)
Caught Again
Bob Snider
Bob Snider
(2:18)
They Oughtta Bottle Friday Night
Bob Snider
Bob Snider
(4:14)
When the Wind Blows
Bob Snider
Bob Snider
(4:01)
Credits
Don Kerr (Bass (Acoustic)), Bob Snider (Guitar), Dave Bidini (Guitar (Electric)), Jeff Burke (Penny Whistle), Megan Oldfield (Art Direction), Ian Guenther (Violin), Colin Couch (Tuba), Don Kerr (Drums), Bob Snider (Illustrations), Don Kerr (Piano), Don Kerr (Producer), Victor Bateman (Bass (Acoustic)), Don Kerr (Arranger), Bob Snider (Vocals), Bob Wiseman (Piano), Megan Oldfield (Design), Jeff Burke (Bassoon), Lynda Simmons (Vocals), Don Kerr (Engineer), Gord Cumming (Slide Guitar), Bob Wiseman (Accordion), Don Kerr (Cello)
