Clem Snide
The Ghost Of Fashion
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Clem Snide
The Ghost Of Fashion
SpinART, 2001
RiYL: Joel RL Phelps, Lambchop, Yo La Tengo |
But, in a retread of a story as old as capitalism , Sire merged with London Records, Clem Snide's record was delayed for a year, and the newly formed mega-label didn't give a damn. Fortunately, Clem Snide escaped the grasp of the major label, retained the rights to their precious and polished corporate-funded album, and re-released the aptly titled Your Favorite Music on SpinART this past March.
Now the quartet is back with The Ghost Of Fashion, an album full of fuzzier, more uptempo rock explorations. The opening track, "Let's Explode," begins with lead singer/songwriter/guitarist Eef Barzelay's strangely on-target nasal proclamation, "Love is only for the lovely." But, as is Clem Snide's trademark, the fine line between the lyrically flip and sincere is elegantly contrasted with layered arrangements featuring Jason Glasser's cello and Jeff Marshall's upright bass work.
While the string arrangements have always been a part of the Clem Snide sound, "Ice Cube" features allegro-tempoed horn parts that breathe a new energy into the generally slower, more pensive song. On the head-nod worthy, "Moment in the Sun," lead singer Eef Barzelay reflects, in his most tongue-in-cheek cry, "I think hunger, war and death are bringing everybody down." The track sounds like Hootie and the Blowfish if Darius Rucker had a whiny voice and understood sarcasm.
Though the rocking, uptempo songs pervade, the mellower "Joan Jett Of Arc" is a delicate orchestral song on which Barzelay weaves together '80s pop music references and images of suburbia to create a simple, nostalgic reflection on the significance of rock'n roll in adolescence.
Throughout The Ghost Of Fashion, Clem Snide constructs compelling tales of self-involvement and love gone awry against fantastic instrumental backdrops that expand and contract with the precision and guile of a corporate record label in the midst of a merger.
p.s. If you are interested in reading an interview A.K. Gold conducted with Clem Snide's Eef Barzelay, check it out here.
A.K. GOLD | A.K. Gold lives in Washington, D.C., where she slaves away for a non-profit organization and constantly compares everything to New York City or Chicago. She's earned her "cred" as a college radio and pre-1960 country music DJ, committed indie label street teamer, sporadic zinemaker/contributor, retired mail-order filler and occasional freelance writer. From time to time, she publishes Anecdotal Evidence, a per zine that will some day be considered for the National Book Award, or possibly not. If you want to buy a copy, or desire to write to her for some other reason, email criticgirl@hotmail.com.