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Snockgrass

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Snockgrass
Studio album by
Michael Hurley
Released1980
Recorded1979
GenreFolk
Length50:59
LabelRounder
Michael Hurley chronology
Long Journey
(1976) 		Snockgrass
(1980) 		Blue Navigator
(1984)

Snockgrass is a 1980 folk album by Michael Hurley.[1][2] The album was released by Rounder Records, with a reissue in 1997.[3][4]

The album places emphasis on Hurley's vocals. There is traditional folk influenced by freakbeat, blues and jazz. Lyrics on the tracks tend to be serious, satirical, and humorous. Hurley sometimes shift tones in the middle of a song, creating humor out of a serious situation or vice versa.

Hurley was backed by a band that he dubbed the Sensitivos.[5] He played mandolin on "Goin' to Florida".[6]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
The Buffalo News[8]
Robert ChristgauA−[9]
Daily Press[10]
MusicHound Folk: The Essential Album Guide[11]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[12]
Spin Alternative Record Guide9/10[13]

The Buffalo News called Snockgrass Hurley's "brightest and most accessible record."[8]

In 1993, the Daily Press wrote that "thoughtful love songs [balance] some of Hurley's funniest deprave-ups."[10] Reviewing the 1997 reissue, The Star-Ledger determined that "Hurley's deadpan delivery, his chunky rhythm guitar, the occasional loopy background vocals, off-center drums and groaning fiddles conjure up a vanished era of American hippiedom."[14] City Pages stated that Hurley "found mercy in weaving simple, languid, folk tunes, rooted in detailed accounts of quotidian delights—watching sunsets, drinking porter, eating pork chops, going down."[15]

Track listing

[edit]

Side one

[edit]
  1. "Midnite Rounder" – 3:09
  2. "O My Stars" – 3:29
  3. "Tia Marie" – 4:01
  4. "I'm Gettin' Ready to Go" - 3:52
  5. "Watchin' the Show" – 3:34
  6. "Automatic Slim & the Fat Boys" – 4:05

Side two

[edit]
  1. "Don't Treat Me Bad" – 2:32
  2. "I Heard the Voice of a Porkchop" (Jim Jackson) – 2:46
  3. "No Home" – 2:02
  4. "Jolé Blon" – 2:34
  5. "I Think I'll Move" – 3:23
  6. "Goin' to Florida" – 3:42
  7. "You Gonna Look Like a Monkey" (Williams, Hall) - 3:57

1997 CD release bonus tracks

[edit]
  1. "Sweet Lucy" (alternative take) - 4:02
  2. "Grapefruit Juice Blues" - 4:24

References

[edit]
  1. ^ DeLuca, Dan (9 Jan 2022). "Bucks-born folkie brings his sound to Philly label". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. D1.
  2. ^ "Gimme that old-time music". Weekender. The Columbus Dispatch. p. 8.
  3. ^ Weitz, Matt (1998-01-08). "Come Again". Dallas Observer. Village Voice Media. Archived from the original on 2011-06-17. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  4. ^ "Linen Shorts". Dirty Linen. Apr 1998. p. 78.
  5. ^ "Michael Hurley returns". Barre Montpelier Times Argus. May 19, 2006.
  6. ^ Friskics-Warren, Bill (April 16, 1998). "Watchin' the Show—Loner returns". Nashville Cream. Nashville Scene.
  7. ^ AllMusic review
  8. ^ a b Anderson, Dale (16 May 1980). "Change of Pace". Gusto. The Buffalo News. p. 29.
  9. ^ "Robert Christgau review". Archived from the original on 2010-02-11. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
  10. ^ a b Harrison, Don (21 Mar 1993). "Uneasy Truce with Stardom". Daily Press. p. I1.
  11. ^ MusicHound Folk: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 384.
  12. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 337.
  13. ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. p. 179.
  14. ^ Spencer, Peter (October 19, 1997). "Unplugged musicians generate acoustic sparks". Spotlight. The Star-Ledger. p. 4.
  15. ^ Dolan, Jon (January 21, 1998). "Time's Arrow". City Pages.
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