It may not be
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
, but the third studio release from southern rocker
Todd Snider
sure sounds like it. There are plenty of suspended and liberated guitar breaks here, plus a gentle country twang, and despite the annoying imitation of
Tom Petty
on several tracks,
Viva Satellite
has enough of a good-ol'-boy honky-tonk feel, that it can stand well on its own merit. With a distinctive bluegrass/pop country slant,
has produced a collection of familiar sounding melodies that will win you over. The reverence paid to the masters of countrified blues-rock
Arlo Guthrie
and
Neil Young
may be a bit on the heavy side, however on cuts like
"Rocket Fuel,"
and the gospel-tinged "Godsend,"
proves he has a signature style all his own. ~ Roxanne Blanford