Peace, Love and Anarchy (Rarities, B-Sides and Demos, Vol. 1)

Considering the fact one of Todd Snider's best-known songs, "Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues," was a throwaway hidden track on his first album, it stands to reason that his loyal fans would be interested in a collection of his odds and ends, and while Peace, Love and Anarchy (Rarities, B-Sides and Demos, Vol. 1) features a bit of filler, there's also a handful of tunes on this set that serve as a potent reminder of why he's one of the best-regarded singer/songwriters at work these days. The liner notes for Peace, Love and Anarchy don't make clear which is a demo, a B-side or a rarity, but a perusal of the song titles confirms two of these songs were previously released in more elaborate form by Snider ("Nashville" and "Missing You"), three are tunes he co-wrote that originally surfaced on the other writer's album (Jack Ingram had first shot at "Feel Like I'm Falling in Love" and "Barbie Doll," while "Deja Blues" was originally cut by Billy Joe Shaver), there's one cover (Jerry Jeff Walker's "Stoney") and the rest make their first appearance on album with this disc. "Combover Blues" and "Barbie Doll" are fine examples of Snider's well-documented sense of humor, "Some Things Are" and "I Will Not Go Hungry" show how moving he can be when he's not afraid to let his heart show, " "From a Rooftop" and "Dinner Plans" are unexpectedly effective spoken word pieces, and while Snider's voice is rough on the take of " "Missing You" that appears here, it also has a warmth and emotional force that more than merits its inclusion. The rough edges of Peace, Love and Anarchy don't make it well suited to folks checking out Todd Snider for the first time (they might want to try That Was Me: The Best of Todd Snider 1994-1998, drawn from his first four albums), but fans will find plenty to enjoy on this set.