''New Connection'' is the fifth album by the American musician

Todd Snider Todd Daniel Snider (born October 11, 1966) is an American singer-songwriter whose music incorporates elements of folk, rock, blues, alt country, and funk. Early career Snider was born in Portland, Oregon and grew up in nearby Beaverton, wher ...

, released in 2002 on

Oh Boy Records Oh Boy Records is an independent American record label founded in 1981 by singer John Prine, his manager Al Bunetta, and their friend Dan Einstein. The label has released more than 40 audio and video recordings by singer-songwriters Prine, Kris ...

. Snider supported the album with a North American tour.

Production

Recorded at Home Depot Studios, in Nashville, the album was produced by R.S. Field. Snider wrote 30 songs for ''New Connection''. He delegated most of the music to his producer and the musicians.

Kim Richey Kimberly Richey (born December 1, 1956) is an American singer and songwriter. Early life Richey was born in Zanesville, Ohio, on December 1, 1956. She grew up in Kettering, Ohio, graduating from Fairmont East High school in 1973. Career Riche ...

provided backing vocals.

Will Kimbrough William Adams Kimbrough (born May 1, 1964) is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Biography Kimbrough was born in Mobile, Alabama. He started his musical career as a fo ...

played guitar. "Crooked Piece of Time" was written by

John Prine John Edward Prine (; October 10, 1946 – April 7, 2020) was an American singer-songwriter of country-folk music. Widely cited as one of the most influential songwriters of his generation, Prine was known for his signature blend of humoro ...

, who duetted with Snider. "Waco Moon" is a tribute to Eddy Shaver. "Vinyl Records" is about Snider's ever-expanding music collection. "Rose City" was inspired by Snider's

Portland Portland most commonly refers to: *Portland, Oregon, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon *Portland, Maine, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine *Isle of Portland, a tied island in the English Channel Portland may also r ...

childhood. "Close Enough to You" and "Easy" are love songs.

Critical reception

USA Today ''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...

'' wrote: "Like his pile of records, Snider's ''New Connection'' is full of good listening and unlikely combinations." The ''

Hartford Courant The ''Hartford Courant'' is the largest daily newspaper in the U.S. state of Connecticut, and is advertised as the oldest continuously published newspaper in the United States. A morning newspaper serving most of the state north of New Haven and ...

'' called the album "a cozy country-folk collection that nicely combines heartbreak, boozy tales and a few deep thoughts on life." ''

The Philadelphia Inquirer ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'', often referred to simply as ''The Inquirer'', is a daily newspaper headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded on June 1, 1829, ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is the third-longest continuously operating da ...

'' considered the album to be "full of his typically ingratiating blend of smart-aleck wit and sensitive heart." The ''

Dayton Daily News The ''Dayton Daily News'' (''DDN'') is a daily newspaper published in Dayton, Ohio. It is owned by Cox Enterprises, Inc., a privately held global conglomerate headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, with approximately 55,000 employee ...

'' wrote that the album "features some of the same sorts of trenchant insight and dark comedy that make Prine songs remarkable." ''

The Post and Courier ''The Post and Courier'' is the main daily newspaper in Charleston, South Carolina. It traces its ancestry to three newspapers, the ''Charleston Courier'', founded in 1803, the ''Charleston Daily News'', founded 1865, and ''The Evening Post'', f ...

'' panned Snider's delivery, writing that "at times he almost sounds like he's dozing off at the microphone." ''

The Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe,'' also known locally as ''the Globe'', is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes. ''The Boston Globe'' is the oldest and largest daily new ...

'' determined that "Snider is an original voice that pop fans should pay more attention to."

Track listing

References

{{reflist Todd Snider albums 2002 albums Oh Boy Records albums