Pitchfork

[Posted Tuesday, September 30th, 2003 01:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

It's gotta be a hard to be Clem Snide. You go and drop the cynicism and clever wordplay you've become known for, release a heartfelt ode to your new life and child with your recent LP Soft Spot, and do we appreciate it? Do you get a thank you, a pat on the back, a teary hug? Not hardly. You get a 2.9 from your favorite webrag, and you're shown politely but firmly to the door. But you're Clem Snide (our favorite band with a front-man named Eef!), so you turn the other cheek, hombre-- you record some covers and originals, slap together a fan-pleasing EP, and you hit the road running. Run, Forrest, run!

That's right, Clem Snide have announced an extensive U.S. tour with Califone, and a new release on spinART-- A Beautiful EP-- and yes, the title track is a cover of the craptacular Christina Aguilera tune. I can't believe Linda Perry had her grubby mitts on that one too (Lou Pearlman, eat your heart out!). However, if you've heard the Afghan Whigs' version of TLC's "Creep," you'll know there's a lot you can do with today's charttoppers, so we'll reserve judgement for now. The stated intention of the EP is to release some of the "popular songs and covers from the band's eccentric live performances," and as such, Beautiful is bolstered with a Velvet Underground cover and several originals, as well as the album version of Soft Spot's "All Green." Tracklist:

01 Beautiful [Christina Aguilera]
02 All Green
03 Mike Kalinsky [previously unreleased]
04 I'll Be Your Mirror [live]
05 Nick Drake Tape [live]

The release date for Beautiful isn't till November 4th, but they'll have it for sale on their upcoming tour, which is already under way on the East Coast (I guess everyone loves the hurricane season). Dates (all shows through October 26th are with Califone):

09-30 Baltimore, MD - Fletcher's
10-01 Washington, D.C. - Black Cat
10-02 Charlotte, NC - Visulite
10-03 Atlanta, GA - Echo Lounge
10-04 Nashville, TN - Exit Inn
10-06 Athens, GA - 40 Watt
10-07 Birmingham, AL - Zydeco
10-08 Memphis, TN - Hi-Tone
10-09 Baton Rouge, LA - Red Star
10-10 Houston, TX - Mary Jane's
10-11 Austin, TX - Emo's
10-12 Dallas, TX - Gypsy Tea Room
10-14 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress
10-15 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
10-16 Fullerton, CA - Cal State
10-16 San Diego, CA - Casbah
10-18 San Francisco, CA - Cafe Du Nord
10-19 Portland, OR - Dante's
10-20 Seattle, WA - Crocodile
10-22 Denver, CO - Bluebird
10-23 Lincoln, NE - Knickerbocker's
10-24 Minneapolis, MN - Ascot Room at Qwest
10-25 Chicago, IL - Logan Square Auditorium
10-26 Madison, WI - Luthers
10-28 Detroit, MI - Blind Pig
10-29 Toronto, Ontario - The Horseshoe
10-30 Montreal, Quebec - The Swimming
10-31 Ottawa, Ontario - Black Sheep