New projects from folk artists previously celebrated here on Cover Lay Down continue to spring forth into the ether and into our ears; with our archives permanently hosted off-site at The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine , any opportunity to bring these beloved names and voices back into the mix is especially welcome. Today, we add to the growing canon of delights with new releases from several perennial favorites. First featured here way back in 2008 as part of a look at the new tradfolk revival in the American Northeast, "New [...]
It's midnight and I'm recalling the phone interview I did back in 2010 with Eef Barzelay about his brilliant Clem Snide album "The Meat of Life." The conversation briefly took a dark turn when Barzelay's financial struggles came up — it was and remains disconcerting that such a prodigiously talented songwriter was going though tough times. Later that year, he generated some revenue (I hope) by doing cover songs chosen by fans , many of which are startlingly good, and a project that started with a Journey covers EP . Barzelay has followed those [...]
Given how little time I've had to do anything recently, I certainly haven't been able to make time for new music. So this means that this week's podcast is a little backward-facing really, looking at some of the 80s and 90s music I was into at the time - not the most famous stuff, just some of the stuff I personally liked the best, of course. Back when I was at Uni in the 90s, when 80s music was utterly reviled, I remember making a tape of 80s music I thought was good, and really, really enjoying it. [...]
[ a non-traditional photo , for an exceptional chapel session ] I mean no slight to the eminent photographability of the man behind this post, as I usually start all my Chapel Sessions with a visual of our time spent beneath those Romanesque arches. But I came across this photo as I was marveling for the three-dozenth time at the songs that Eef Barzelay poured out for us that night, and it just fit, so flawlessly. The ossified yellowy shades of need, affection, accident, and habit - all cradled and balanced [...]
5 Songs is a weekly series where we point out the strange, the grand, and the unique connections between our favorite songs. Let’s get weird. Words by Chris Growing up in Western Pennsylvania, there was always this weird anti-Ohio attitude that cut deeply. Although without Ohio, none of us in Beaver County, living on the border, would be drinking any beer in high school. So thanks, East Palestine, for your beat-up 7-Elevens. It’s a [...]
Eef Barzelay ( of clem snide ) is an artist to be discovered.
I recently came across a Clem Snide EP of Journey covers on Bandcamp, and it is quite lovely (especially his take on ‘ Faithfully ’). And it reminded me of their album ‘ The Ghost Of Fashion ’ (which this track is off) and of how much I used to listen to it. There was a stretch of months where I enjoyed the shit out of this album, in a way that was hard for me to put a finger on. Or more accurately, I always had trouble finding someone else who shared my enjoyment, which made me question why I [...]
Cakecast? Yes, the Cakecast, because I turn thirty-six today, and in the absence of a real cake and in honour of the fact that I have a gig tonight at the Wee Red and will hence be working, I decided that at least a picture of some cake was in order. I don't worry about age particularly, but I have to confess that thirty-six sounds suspiciously more like 'nearly forty' than it does like 'thirty-something'. Curse you time and your unrelentingly linear nature! Anyhow, as I said, tonight we have Gummy Stumps , Weird Era [...]
While normally we reserve Tuesdays for posts related to technology, yesterday after months and months of rumors, and a Beta launch earlier this summer, Google finally unveiled its latest project, Google Music , to the masses. The cloud-based service, which allows for up to 20,000 songs or roughly 300 gigs of music to be stored in your personal library, now has additional features and services that are looking to compete with the likes of iTunes and Amazon for your attention. In addition to aforementioned cloud storage, which allows users to seamlessly listen [...]
Clem Snide frontman Eef Barzelay brings his unique sound to covers of Eurythmics, Neutral Milk Hotel, Bob Dylan, The Bee Gees, Nine Inch Nails and others
They say that the road ain't no place to start a family. Well I could say more about Journey but what would be the point considering everyone already knows all the lyrics anyway. Back in 2010 Eef Barzelay and his band Clem Snide took part in the Onion AV Club’s undercover series where they did Journey’s 1983 epic “Faithfully”. This all led to an EP recorded and mixed in Nashville by Mark Nevers (Lambchop, Calexico, Silver Jews) featuring Eef Barzelay on vocals/baritone uke and Tony Crow on piano. The cover art is by Jen Uman with graphic design by Melissa [...]
Every day, Daily Downloads offers 10 free and legal mp3 downloads, plus free and legal live sets from around the internet. Today's free and legal mp3 downloads: Alyssa Graham : "Watching the Sky" [mp3] from The Lock, Stock & Soul EP [mp3] search for more Alyssa Graham posts at Largehearted Boy Anna Rose : "My Body [...]
Oct 26, 2011, 2:42am
NOMP
Sigh! This version of Velvet Undergrounds’ 1967 classic by Clem Snide is just so profoundly moving and goosebump inducing. I'll be your mirror Reflect what you are, in case you don't know I'll be the wind, the rain and the sunset The light on your door to show that you're home When you think the night has seen your mind That inside you're twisted and unkind [...]
No, they're way much more than that. Or at least they were. But now that Eef Barzelay has gone out on his own, he's trying to make a (few) bucks. You can buy the Clem Snide Journey album for just six bucks , and get a bigger, broader covers collection for name-your-price bucks . That means free, for you cheap sonsabitches! Great stuff! Especially the Neutral Milk cover, below. Download Clem Snide In the Aeroplane Over the Sea-Neutral Milk Hotel Clem Snide In the [...]
Marissa Nadler: Cortez The Killer [ purchase ] Carrie Rodriguez: Cortez The Killer [ purchase ] Built To Spill: Cortez The Killer [ purchase ] Clem Snide: Cortez The Killer [ purchase ] There's been a lot of great Neil Young coverage released since [...]
I've said before that I honestly think Eef Barzelay of Clem Snide is one of the most piercing, insightful, weirdly-perfect songwriters making music right now. I saw him live a few years ago in support of his 2009 release Hungry Bird , and his literacy and ability to emotionally incise caught me in an ambush. I commented that it was like an SAT study party, and we could invite John Darnielle and Colin Meloy and I would die happy. Around that time, this was one of my [...]
This past weekend, the always quality pop culture arm of the immensely popular Onion , The A.V. Club brought their expertise into the real world with the first annual A.V. Fest in Chicago, Ill. Hosted by the legendary Hideout, A.V. Fest was a time of hearty pop culture reflection, with a smattering of under-the-radar or nearly forgotten acts. Not to take away, most every band on the bill was necessary, and gave further insight into The A.V. Club and what the editors value as far as art is concerned. [...]
Clem Snide - Beautiful [Christina Aguilera] | od | zs
Frankly, I've no fucking idea what Friday is this week. Between our Electric Circus gigs (yes, good guess, the second of which is indeed tonight, and look, only a fiver in - what value!) keeping up with the blog and the minor matter of actually trying to run a record label I don't know whether I'm bloody coming or going at the moment. One of things I like about putting on gigs at the Electric Circus is that I get to DJ inbetween and after the bands. It's much like writing a blog, releasing records or putting on [...]
Clem Snide - Pray Major holidays invariably become about the vice directly opposing the moral that the holiday is supposed to champion. Christmas, once a celebration of humanity and the squalor of feces-scented births, represents consumerism and corporate interests. New Year's Day, ostensibly about fresh beginnings, starts in the same tired hangover haze as any given Monday. So of course all of Ramadan's self-discipline virtues have quickly made way for the my favorite vice of all: gluttony. Except for the pious, fasting month is all about the food. [...]
Cover Lay Down
Buzz Bands
Song, by Toad
I AM FUEL, YOU ARE FRIENDS
Draw Us Lines
Peach Otter
hi54lofi
Hidden Track
Cover Me
Parasites & Sycophants
largehearted boy
Berkeley Place
Star Maker Machine
Frontier Psychiatrist
The Cover Lovers
TUNE THE PROLETARIAT
Alena Diane Performs at Portland Playhouse 5.19
Lana Del Rey is the “Queen of Disaster” on New ‘Born To Die’ Leak
MS MR- “Hurricane (CHVRCHES Remix)”
