In his own shambolic way, Todd Snider was a master songwriter — a follower of John Prine and Jerry Jeff Walker who specialized in sharp, often hilarious, story-songs about all manner of down-and-out characters, himself very much included. Over more than 30 years, Snider wrote about everything from the Kingsmen to pitcher Doc Ellis’ acid-aided no-hitter, always with empathy, self-awareness, and a winning stoner drawl. (Some of his best moments were not even songs — see the long, rambling, funny-as-hell monologues he’d tell onstage.) Here are 12 highlights.

‘Talking Seattle Grunge Rock Blues’

A minor hit in 1994, this talking blues is an early example of Snider’s humor, which was by turns stoner-friendly and biting. Snider satirizes the commercialization of alternative rock with a

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