You Were a Diamond
A guitar, cello/violin, and bass trio led by a guy named Eef, Clem Snide are every bit as unconventional as you might think. That their sound is firmly grounded in post-country melody makes the whole thing even more remarkable; think of  Nick Drake,  Ida,  Neil Young, and  Neutral Milk Hotel all meeting in the back corner of a rarely visited small-town bar and you'll get an idea of whatYou Were a Diamondsounds like. The lyrics are just as inscrutable as the sound; the first verse of "Better" simply asks the singer's friend to take off a sweater, "'cause it's warm outside." But it's sung with such drawn-out longing that it seems like the most important thing in the world; when Eef turns his attention to grander issues, such as "Your Night to Shine," the tone is heartbreaking. In a lesser band's hands, this sound and emotion would be an affectation--in Clem Snide's, it's simply sublime.--Randy Silver