Some of you might recognize the band name Clem Snide more than you will its singer and songwriter, Eef Barzelay. But at this particular juncture, Clem Snide is Eef Barzelay and Eef Barzelay is Clem Snide. Barzelay recently released another album, and I've got a song from it to lay on you. It was hard for me to pick just one. I thought first of going for one of the numerous loud, rockin' numbers because it illustrates that, if I'm reading the news correctly, this disc started out as a Clem Snide project but eventually was released under Barzelay's name. His 2006 release, Bitter Honey was a solo acoustic affair, so it's refreshing to hear the amped-up tunes on this new record.

Instead, I picked the quieter "True Freedom" because it illustrates Barzelay's ability to create poignant and chilling characters in song. "True Freedom" is the first-person musings of a teenage suicide.


Right-click (or Cntrl + click on a Mac) this link and select "Save Link As" or "Save Target As" in order to download this song: Eef Barzelay - True Freedom

Thanks to Bruce Rosendahl and the good people at 429 records for allowing me to post this tune. Pick up Lose Big at your favorite independent record shop. If you're desperate, it's on Amazon.

More importantly, see Eef Barzelay at the Rumba Cafe on Friday, August 8. Friend of pat radio Lydia Loveless is opening.

Video Bonus

Here's the video for the title track to Eef's latest record, Lose Big.