Clem Snide – The Meat of Life [Album Review, Music Video]

Over the years of Clem Snide’s existence, I’ve heard a tune here or there and always thought to myself, “Hey self, these guys are pretty good and you should think about picking up one of their albums.” And you know what I did about it? Fuck all.

So there I was last week with more eMusic credits than I knew what to do with. And there, staring in the face was the new Clem Snide release The Meat of Life. So acting with an impetuous nature that I’d lacked in our previous encounters, I pulled the trigger. Upon its entry into my iPod, we made the awkward niceties. Do I call you Clem? Mr Snide? We eventually settled on Clem Snide and went from there.

After46 minutes, I once again was left muttering, “Woody, you are a moron.” This is a very good album that makes me regret not jumping on the Clem Snide band wagon sooner. Songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Eef Barzeley (is hailed in some circles as brilliant) fronts Clem Snide, a band named after a character in several William S. Burroughs novels.‚  While best known for their “hit” song “Moment In The Sun” that was featured as the theme song in the NBC show Ed, the band has continued putting out solid music. Meat of Life, their seventh album, is consistent with Snide’s past works featuring a simmering blend of alt-country and acoustic pop with some some pretty darn good lyrics.

I have since dipped into their back catalog to get lost in Your Favorite Music and found that to be damn engaging as well. That’s the funny thing about music. Sometimes a band can just slip by and barely register with you and then that odd encounter can lead to an appreciation for their entire body of work. While I am not about to appoint myself the new President of Clem Snide’s fanclub, I certainly have a much greater appreciation for their music.

Clem Snide – Wal Mart Parking Lot