Hungry Bird, once billed as Clem Snide's swan song, is a sprawling bit of post-apocalyptic prog-rock, while The Meat of Life polishes its predecessor's weird edges to a smooth and appealing shine.

NPR: Exclusive First Listen: Clem Snide

Since then, Barzelay has released a solo acoustic record (2006's Bitter Honey), recorded Clem Snide's swan song (the still-unreleased Hungry Bird), and made Lose Big, a smart and compact collection of rock 'n' roll conversation-starters.

NPR: Eef Barzelay: A Blueprint For Finding Love