You Were a Diamond is the debut album by the American band Clem Snide.[3] It was released in 1998 on Tractor Beam Records, and later reissued on spinART. It received favorable reviews and landed the band a following playing clubs in the Northeastern United States. As of 2002, it had sold about 1,000 copies.[4]

You Were a Diamond
Studio album by
Released1998
Recorded1997[1]
GenreAlternative country[2]
LabelTractor Beam/spinART
ProducerAdam Lasus
Clem Snide chronology
You Were a Diamond
(1998)
Your Favorite Music
(1999)

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[5]
Christgau's Consumer Guide(2-star Honorable Mention)(2-star Honorable Mention)[6]
The Encyclopedia of Popular MusicStarStarStar[7]
Pitchfork7.9/10[8]

The New York Daily News noted that Barzelay "sometimes gives into his sentimental streak, yet his mournful voice and elegant melodies make even his more gooey observations believable."[9]

Track listing

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All tracks composed by Eef Barzelay; except where noted.

  1. "Better" - 3:54
  2. "Nick Drake Tape" - 4:07
  3. "Row" - 4:11
  4. "Your Night to Shine" - 3:58
  5. "I Can't Stay Here Tonight" - 3:23
  6. "Yip/Jump Music (Daniel Johnston)" - 3:49
  7. "Uglier Than You" - 3:01
  8. "Fruit Salad Stains" - 4:37
  9. "Lost on the River" (Hank Williams) - 3:04
  10. "Nothing Is Over, Not Yet" - 3:56
  11. "Chinese Baby" - 2:33

The spinART reissue contained the following bonus tracks:

12. "Accident"
13. "Estranged Half Brother"

References

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  1. "Clem Snide's Debut "You Were a Diamond" to Be Released on Vinyl for the First Time – Tractor Beam". Tractor Beam (Press release). November 2, 2016. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  2. Simpson, Peter (January 18, 2003). "Recordings". The Ottawa Citizen. p. J4.
  3. Houlihan-Skilton, Mary (October 2, 1998). "Club-Hopping". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 4.
  4. Appleford, Steve (March 21, 2002). "A Longing for Meaning". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  5. Rounds, Gregg. "You Were a Diamond - Clem Snide". AllMusic. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  6. Christgau, Robert (October 15, 2000). "Clem Snide: You Were a Diamond". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 9780312245603.
  7. Larkin, Colin (2000). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195313734.
  8. Dahlen, Chris (November 3, 2002). "Clem Snide: You Were a Diamond Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  9. Farber, Jim (July 18, 1999). "Clem Snide". Showtime. Daily News. p. 14.