Search - Clem Snide :: Soft Spot

With Al Green and sweetend ice tea

Thaddeus James | Arkansas | 02/09/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Have you ever taken a nap on a warm spring day under a tree? Ever gone straight from the lake to the kitchen and made a grilled cheese sandwich in your wet bathing suit? Have you ever had a crush on someone because of the radio staion they listen to? If not, you probably will not like this album. For everyone else (especially if you like Sufjan Stevens, Elliot Smith, or the Decemberists)this is a fine album. The playful spirit, the great melodies, and the conversational style of the singers voice make this a great album. If you like the samples of the songs at all, you will love the album."

No Cynics Allowed...This Time

James Carragher | New York | 02/01/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The title tells a lot of what you need to know about this CD and a glance at the reviews here shows that this Clem Snide is clearly not a taste for everyone. Although it credits plenty of instrumentation, almost every cut on Soft Spot is slow, quiet, and projects a languid contentment, wryly detailed and -- shall we say -- uniquely sung. The sound is perfect for lyric-philes like me (and Eef Barzeley -- a name that suggests to me a double life as a hobbit -- writes a good lyric), not so perfect for those looking for cut loose rock. Happy Birthday, one of only a couple uptempo songs and containing a wonderful saxophone riff, is also one of the album's best cuts. Dedicated to a new son, it offers a nice example of Barzeley's humor -- "but I hope that your song's not The Boys of Summer/just because you were both born on that day/And half Jewish boys make kick ass drummers/But if you need lessons I'll have to pay."



Other best bets: Tuesday October 24th, All Green, There is Nothing, and Fontanelle, with its wish "may God hold you in the palm of his hand." In fact, that good spirited hope pervades the entire disc. There's not a whole lot of "kick ass" anything here, but if you're in a wallow of contentment, Soft Spot will enhance it. And if you're down, well, it just might remind you that darkness passes too."

A Loving Display Of True Art

Tiffany Compton | Cloverdale, IN USA | 06/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hello.... It was suggested to me that I do a review of what I think
of the new Soft Spot since I have a copy to let you all know what to
sorta expect... I've never done anything like this but here's my
Track-by-Track review ......song 1: this could be the most welcoming first track on one of Clem's
cds... this song of a wonderful evening alone with the one you love
just "taking off your shoes, and dancing away the blues" is a
wonderful song to have playing while enjoying a lovely intimate
dinner with your lover. The violin and soft harp is just wonderful at
creating a very gentle, romantic mood... this is a theme I see very
strongly in this album and it's wonderful. Song2: this is a bit more upbeat, Eef's wonderful voice rings clear
talking of the connections between two people that nobody else can
see... this is a wonderful song that makes me feel like cooking for
some reason.... just don't know why.... the catchy little beat and
use of triangle and maracas makes this a fun little groove.Song3: another catchy little groove to it, this is a sweet song
of "the sweetness of thee" that he feels for his lover and the
greatness that the person brings to any situation. this song is
fabulous for sitting outside on a wonderful summer day with your
sweetie and just listening and enjoying the sun :) it just makes me
smileSong4: another ballad, slow and perfect for dancing after that
wonderful dinner you've just enjoyed during the first song lol...
This song about a romantic interlude in private between two lovers is
very charming... and overall this is another song that just makes you
smile... the simple ballad to this is very striking and has a
wonderful guitar part mid song... Eef;s voice sounds simply beautiful
on this track.Song5: this song is the first real shake up in this ice cream smooth
album... a fun and very catchy tune where Eef speaks of "where
there's love there's action".. this song is just incredibly fun !
that's the only way to put it. makes me want to jump around like a
little kid...lolSong6: a drastic change to this track.... very simple and calm
track.... Eef's very enticing voice on this track creates a very
close and intimate feeling to this track's lyrics of finding love and
then giving it all away ..... the extremely simple sounding guitar
piece in contrast with this little thwack thwack thwack make this
beat very melodic yet again active in small doses....Song7: again, this is a melodic and smooth track of love and what we
would give up or do to have the perfect love. (I pretend Eef is
singing to me...... LOL) again this is a catchy little tune and as
I'm guessing you're beginning to se there is a lot of similarity in
many of the tracks on this cd... unlike the scattered feeling of the
typical CS album.... Song8: Eef is once again displaying why I fell in love with his voice
the first time i heard it on this track.... very simple and stripped
down this track is simply beautiful...... *sigh... Eef, why do you
not love me ?* LOLSong 9: this track is more upbeat and alive with a fabulous beat to
get you awaken. the lyrics of finding how wonderful love makes us as
people are genius and I am sure this is a song that will become a
favorite of many. it is my favorite track on this album and is on
repeat while I do dishes this week lol..... he sings of "half Jewish
boys being wonderful drummers" and how he hopes that "if your heart
is broken you get a second chance" and this is just fun and
witty !!!!!Song10: back to the ballads in this track, this song is a very earthy
feeling track in which Eef seems to be speaking of wanting the very
best for someone very close to his heart..... with such lines
as "when your tired your time has reached its end, and then may
paradise be just around the bend" this is a very loving and caring
track from Eef, but sort of puts me to bed...Song11: this is a good bye track that really fits great here as the
last of this album. speaking of will love last and looking to the
future , along with a softy but again catchy tune this track is just
so sweet feeling :) like a hug before you depart for your plane after
a visit to your long distance love........"