YOU have probably never heard of Eef Barzelay or Clem Snide, the band he normally fronts. Neither Had I, until I saw Eef perform as Ben Folds' support act last year. Eef is a well-kept secret. I was immediately impressed with his acoustic country-meets-indie style and witty lyrics and was looking forward to this album, his first solo effort.
Eef does his best to avoid the expected country singer/songwriter stereotypes, as opening track Ballad Of Bitter Honey is a tale of life as a rap dancer, complete with references to "hoochie skanks".
His voice is going to divide music fans you will either love it or hate it.
It sounds almost whining, but it somehow seems right.
He definitely sounds original something you can't say about much of modern music.
I Wasn't Really Drunk stands out as the best track on the album.
Eef tells the story of a booze-fuelled night out desperately trying to get closer to the one he loves.
It is a song packed with some of the wittiest lyrics I have head since Billy Bragg.
The only downside is at 30 minutes long, this album is on the short side.
But with a new Clem Snide album on the way and a European tour to come this summer, I think I can let Eef off.
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