Clem Snide

Clem Snide are a four-man band of thoroughly modern country progressives who hail from
Boston. They mostly restrict themselves to guitar, drums, double bass and strings, and sing
about the lure of the road, faded good looks and sad music. They're either lonely in their
irony or ironic about their loneliness: To slow strumming and mournful cello, Eef Barzelay
sings about tenuous loves and friendships pulled between cynicism and sentime... More >

Too doleful and detached to be as compassionate as he feels he should be, Eef Barzelay turns his best impulses into slow tunes with homely words that express concern without quite holding together or committing him to anything. Don't think he'll "die for your sins"--"Take it easy or you'll hurt yourself" is as far as Eef'll go. Maybe he'd cheer up if he rechristened himself John Doe. (Grade: B+)