(429)

www.429records.com

Clem Snide's never had an easy go of it. Even in their prime, the band suffered through a steady succession of membership shake-ups and run-ins with their record labels, difficulties that eventually led to an extensive hiatus prior to the release of their last album. As a result, singer/songwriter Eef Barzelay continues to vent his angst and uneasiness, and with this latest attempt, he plies that anxiety into a series of hollow-eyed ruminations underscored by a distinct air of melancholia and a sense of vacant yearning.

No surprise then that The Meat of Life boasts an uneasy aura; this is after all a band that named itself after the William S. Burroughs novel "Naked Lunch," and so to some degree that unsettled circumstance is to be expected. Yet for all its weary subterfuge, Clem Snide remains a tuneful pop band, whether they're carousing through the sprawling "I Got High," riding on a tear with "BFF," or echoing the distant sadness of "Stoney."  Enhanced with supple, subtle instrumental touches, Barzelay and his compatriots exhibit a craftman's skill when it comes to fine-tuning these arrangements. So for all its introspection and restlessness, The Meat of Life has a certain flourish that's both rare and well done.

Standout Tracks: "Stoney." "Walmart Parking Lot," Denise" LEE ZIMMERMAN