Ed Snodderly – ES Pearl Aka Ed Snodderly Baggage Flies Free
On first listen, I’m struck by how Ed Snodderly cruises through like a modern-day Woody Guthrie crossed with Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. He plays in their traditional manner, with the pristine clarity of modern technology & guitar picking, to get his folky country pieces across with a minimum of retro-ness. The opening tunes “Coming Down This Road” & “Willow Green” even have that melodic tint that was persistent in the best of the late songwriters Tim Hardin & Geoffrey Stephens (“The Girl That Stood Beside Me”).
The songs are also mindful of the Bobby Darin folk era – the lyrics have significance; the melodies have a natural instinctive flavor. The songs Ed sings are all short stories surrounded by fingerpicking & Ed’s distinctive singing. There are 13 original stickers on the musical suitcases that hold ES Pearl Baggage Flies Free (Dropped May 1/Majestic Records/55:09) recorded by Sean Sullivan in Nashville.
There are swipes at singers like Eric Bogle, Mickey Newbury & Malcolm Holcomb, but the themes are tightly Ed. The wonderful arrangements that possess some songs (“The Place”) is remarkable. There’s enough country gumption to keep the material thick as a chocolate milkshake & folky, without being radical or preachy.
Snodderly has his finger on the pulse of this musical style. “Fixing This Old Gate” has a pinch of Lee Hazelwood & Chip Taylor in its flow, yet Ed’s spirit is what decorates this piece & the instrumentation is a delight. What’s attractive, as well, is that Ed (guitar/vocals) isn’t picking up on the growl style of some troubadours. Instead, he finds the tough center of a song & builds from within. His narration is grandfatherly; his voice is Cavendish, bourbon & a spoonful of honey. These are personal songs, well thought out & yes, homegrown.
Lots of storytellers have left us: John Hartford, Tim Hardin, Townes Van Zandt, David Olney, John Prine, Guy Clark & Gordon Lightfoot. So, having someone like Ed who knows how to cook up similar tales is a gift. No commercial fanfare, no mainstream dream, just the magic trick of conjuring tears that come from the heart & reminiscing for the soul. I like this guy. Music-wise, it’s the difference between polyester & wool blend. Ed is a wool blend.
The inside image of Ed with guitar neck, woolen hat & LPs behind him would’ve been a far better CD cover. That’s him. That’s what he represents with that expression on his face.
Highlights – “Coming Down This Road,” “Willow Green,” “The Place,” “Fixing This Old Gate,” “Malcolm Holcomb – For Another Time,” “See You In the Morning,” “This Old Guitar” & “High In the Rhyme,” with Amythyst Kiah.
Musicians – Tim O’Brien (mandolin/vocals), Pete Wasner (piano), Brandon Story & Daniel Kimbro (bass), Verlon Thompson (guitar/vocals), Kenny Vaughan (guitar), Steve Hinson (pedal steel), John Gardner (percussion), Lisa Pattiuson (fiddle), Amythyst Kiah & Eugene Wolf (vocals).
CD photo courtesy of Sandlin Gaither. CD @ https://www.edsnodderlymusic.com/