Clem Snide
Encyclopedia
Clem Snide is an alt-country band featuring Eef Barzelay
(guitar, vocals), Brendan Fitzpatrick (bass) and Ben Martin (drums).
, including Naked Lunch
, The Ticket That Exploded
, and Exterminator!
. The band Clem Snide was started by songwriter and singer Eef Barzelay, Jason Glasser, and drummer Eric Paull in Boston in 1991. A few years later, with the addition of bassist Jeff "SweetBread" Marshall, the band made its first record, You Were a Diamond
with producer Adam Lasus
. After building up a local following they attracted the attention of the Seymour Stein who signed them to the Sire label for whom they recorded Your Favorite Music
in 1999.
A couple years later Clem Snide released their third album The Ghost of Fashion
on indie stalwart SpinArt Records. The record received some mainstream attention due to the song "Moment in the Sun", which was used as the theme song for the second season of the NBC
program Ed.
After an ill-fated post-9/11 tour, the band began to unravel but not before completing two more records: Soft Spot
(2003) and End of Love
(2005). After beginning work on another record, the strains of life in the music industry became too great and Clem Snide broke apart. Barzelay went on to release two solo records, Bitter Honey
and Lose Big.
In 2009, the group re-banded and released their sixth record Hungry Bird
on 429 Records. On February 23, 2010, Clem Snide released their seventh long-player, The Meat Of Life
also on 429 Records.
Eef Barzelay
Ifar "Eef" Barzelay is an American musician, born in Tel Aviv, Israel on May 12, 1970. Most notably known as the principal songwriter and singer of alt country band Clem Snide, he has performed in a number of Boston-based bands, as well as toured as a solo act, both as headliner and as...
(guitar, vocals), Brendan Fitzpatrick (bass) and Ben Martin (drums).
History
"Clem Snide" is a character in several novels by William S. BurroughsWilliam S. Burroughs
William Seward Burroughs II was an American novelist, poet, essayist and spoken word performer. A primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodernist author, he is considered to be "one of the most politically trenchant, culturally influential, and innovative artists of the 20th...
, including Naked Lunch
Naked Lunch
Naked Lunch is a novel by William S. Burroughs originally published in 1959. The book is structured as a series of loosely-connected vignettes. Burroughs stated that the chapters are intended to be read in any order...
, The Ticket That Exploded
The Ticket That Exploded
The Ticket That Exploded is a novel by William S. Burroughs first published in 1962 by Olympia Press and later published in the United States by Grove Press in 1967. It is the second book in a trilogy created using the cut-up technique, often referred to as The Nova Trilogy...
, and Exterminator!
Exterminator!
Exterminator! is a short story collection written by William S. Burroughs and first published in 1973. Early editions label the book a novel)....
. The band Clem Snide was started by songwriter and singer Eef Barzelay, Jason Glasser, and drummer Eric Paull in Boston in 1991. A few years later, with the addition of bassist Jeff "SweetBread" Marshall, the band made its first record, You Were a Diamond
You Were a Diamond
You Were a Diamond is the debut album from indie rock band Clem Snide. It was originally released on Tractor Beam Records, and later reissued on spinART.-Track listing:# "Better"# "Nick Drake Tape"# "Row"# "Your Night to Shine"...
with producer Adam Lasus
Adam Lasus
Adam Lasus is an American musician and record producer.Adam Lasus credits include albums by Yo La Tengo, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Lilys, Helium, Juliana Hatfield, Mark Mulcahy, , Clem Snide, Amy Ray, Madder Rose, Michael Cerveris, , Chris Harford, Versus, Dumptruck, Varnaline, Saturnine and...
. After building up a local following they attracted the attention of the Seymour Stein who signed them to the Sire label for whom they recorded Your Favorite Music
Your Favorite Music
Your Favorite Music is the second album by indie rock band Clem Snide. The album was originally released as their major-label debut by Sire Records, but the label dropped them prior to the release...
in 1999.
A couple years later Clem Snide released their third album The Ghost of Fashion
The Ghost of Fashion
The Ghost of Fashion is the third album by indie rock band Clem Snide. The song "Ice Cube" was released as a single in Europe, and the song "Moment in the Sun" was used as the theme song during the second season of the NBC television program Ed, later spawning an EP of the same title.-Track...
on indie stalwart SpinArt Records. The record received some mainstream attention due to the song "Moment in the Sun", which was used as the theme song for the second season of the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
program Ed.
After an ill-fated post-9/11 tour, the band began to unravel but not before completing two more records: Soft Spot
Soft Spot
Soft Spot is the fourth album by alt-country band Clem Snide; as Eef Barzelay describes it, the album is the "good love songs" counterpart to the bad love songs of The Ghost of Fashion.-Track listing:#"Forever, Now and Then"...
(2003) and End of Love
End of Love
End of Love is the fifth full-length album by indie rock band Clem Snide. The album includes longtime live staple "Weird," as well as "Made for TV Movie," a song about Lucille Ball which includes a duet between lead singer Eef Barzelay and the daughter of one of the album's guest musicians.-Track...
(2005). After beginning work on another record, the strains of life in the music industry became too great and Clem Snide broke apart. Barzelay went on to release two solo records, Bitter Honey
Bitter Honey
Bitter Honey is the solo debut album by American singer/songwriter and Clem Snide head Eef Barzelay. Essentially performed only by Barzelay on an acoustic guitar, it was released in 2006 on spinART records...
and Lose Big.
In 2009, the group re-banded and released their sixth record Hungry Bird
Hungry Bird
Recorded in 2006 prior to the band's break-up, Hungry Bird is the sixth album by indie rock band Clem Snide. To promote their upcoming North American and European tour in the Spring of 2009, the album was released on the 429 Records label on February 24, 2009...
on 429 Records. On February 23, 2010, Clem Snide released their seventh long-player, The Meat Of Life
The Meat Of Life
The Meat of Life is the seventh studio album by indie rock band Clem Snide. It is the first entirely new album by the band since singer Eef Barzelay's brief stint as a solo artist.-Track listing:# "Walmart Parking Lot" - 2:35# "Denise" - 3:28...
also on 429 Records.
Albums
- You Were a DiamondYou Were a DiamondYou Were a Diamond is the debut album from indie rock band Clem Snide. It was originally released on Tractor Beam Records, and later reissued on spinART.-Track listing:# "Better"# "Nick Drake Tape"# "Row"# "Your Night to Shine"...
- CD - Tractor Beam Records - 1998 - Your Favorite MusicYour Favorite MusicYour Favorite Music is the second album by indie rock band Clem Snide. The album was originally released as their major-label debut by Sire Records, but the label dropped them prior to the release...
- CD - Sire Records/spinART RecordsSpinART RecordsspinART Records is a now-defunct New York City-based independent record label that released recordings by artists such as The Apples in Stereo, Clem Snide, Frank Black and Michael Penn....
- 1999 (vinyl in 2010 via Microfiche Records) - The Ghost of FashionThe Ghost of FashionThe Ghost of Fashion is the third album by indie rock band Clem Snide. The song "Ice Cube" was released as a single in Europe, and the song "Moment in the Sun" was used as the theme song during the second season of the NBC television program Ed, later spawning an EP of the same title.-Track...
- CD - spinART Records - 2001 (vinyl in 2011 via Microfiche Records) - Soft SpotSoft SpotSoft Spot is the fourth album by alt-country band Clem Snide; as Eef Barzelay describes it, the album is the "good love songs" counterpart to the bad love songs of The Ghost of Fashion.-Track listing:#"Forever, Now and Then"...
- CD - spinART Records - 2003 - End of LoveEnd of LoveEnd of Love is the fifth full-length album by indie rock band Clem Snide. The album includes longtime live staple "Weird," as well as "Made for TV Movie," a song about Lucille Ball which includes a duet between lead singer Eef Barzelay and the daughter of one of the album's guest musicians.-Track...
- CD - spinART Records - 2005 - Suburban Field Recordings: Volume OneSuburban Field Recordings: Volume OneSuburban Field Recordings: Volume One is an mp3-only album released by alt-country band Clem Snide in 2005. This was a repeat of their prior tour-only album Early Home Recordings: Volume One, with a near-identical tracklisting...
/Early Home Recordings: Volume One - MP3/iTunesITunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
- SpinArt Records - 2005 - Suburban Field Recordings: Volume Two - MP3/iTunes - spinART Records - 2006
- Have a Good Night: Live Recordings 1999-2005Have a Good Night: Live Recordings 1999-2005Have a Good Night: Live Recordings 1999-2005 is a live album by indie rock band Clem Snide. Released in 2006, it was originally a tour-only recording later made available to the general public.-Track listing:# "My Beloved Marie"...
- Self-released - 2006 - Hungry BirdHungry BirdRecorded in 2006 prior to the band's break-up, Hungry Bird is the sixth album by indie rock band Clem Snide. To promote their upcoming North American and European tour in the Spring of 2009, the album was released on the 429 Records label on February 24, 2009...
- CD - 429 Records - February 24, 2009 - The Meat Of LifeThe Meat Of LifeThe Meat of Life is the seventh studio album by indie rock band Clem Snide. It is the first entirely new album by the band since singer Eef Barzelay's brief stint as a solo artist.-Track listing:# "Walmart Parking Lot" - 2:35# "Denise" - 3:28...
- CD - 429 Records - February 23, 2010 - Suburban Field Recordings: Volume three - Amazon MP3/iTunes - snideco - November 23, 2010
EPs
- Moment in the Sun EPMoment in the Sun EPMoment in the Sun is an EP by indie rock band Clem Snide. The release was intended to capitalize on the success of the song "Moment in the Sun," which was featured as the theme song to the NBC program Ed during its second season...
- CD - spinART Records - 2002 - A Beautiful EPA Beautiful EPA Beautiful EP is an EP release by indie rock band Clem Snide. It was released primarily to capitalize on the band's performance of the Christina Aguilera single "Beautiful" during live shows....
- CD - spinART Records - 2004 - A Beautiful EP - CD - Fargo Records - 2004 (European release)
- Clem Snide's Journey EP (Vinyl, Digital Download)- Bandcamp release - June 29, 2011
Singles
- "I Love the Unknown" - CD - Cooking VinylCooking VinylCooking Vinyl is a UK-based independent record company, founded in 1986. Its original orientation was toward contemporary folk music—notably Billy Bragg, and Michelle Shocked's Texas Campfire Tapes, recorded on a Sony Walkman, one of its first releases...
- 1999 (European release) - "Ice Cube" - CD - Cooking Vinyl - 2001 (European release)
- "Song for Bob Crane/Frustrated Poet" - 7" - Self Starter Foundation - 2001
- "Moment in the Sun" - CD - Cooking Vinyl - 2001
Non-album compilation tracks
- "Tears on my Pillow", from Stubbs the Zombie: The Soundtrack
- "Grievance", from The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered CoveredThe Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered CoveredThe Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered is a 2004 Gammon Records two-disc set. The first disc features covers of Daniel Johnston songs by a variety of different artists...
- "Keep Your Feelings to Yourself", from This Is Next Year: A Brooklyn-Based CompilationThis Is Next Year: A Brooklyn-Based CompilationThis is Next Year is a compilation album released July 17, 2001 by Arena Rock Recording Co.-Disc 1:#"Radio" – The Walkmen#"I've Got A Fang " – They Might Be Giants#"Wasting In The Sun" – #"Keep Your Feelings To Yourself" – Clem Snide...
- "Accident", from Never Kept a Diary Compilation on Motorcoat records
- "The Ballad of David Icke", from Future Soundtrack for AmericaFuture Soundtrack for America-External links:**, the companion book from McSweeney's...
External links
- Clem Snide's official site.
- Clem Snide on Microfiche Records site.
- [ Clem Snide] at Allmusic.
- Clem Snide's Journey EP