Emoh

Lou Barlow is my favorite songwriter of all-time. Yes, I said "ALL-TIME!" I've been listening to him for over ten years now and I buy everything I can find he is associated with. This new album of his does not disappoint. My favorite songs are "Monkey Begun," "Holding Back the Year," "Legendary," "If I Could," "Mornings After Me," etc. He has a great voice, great lyrics, and I just love everything he does. When "Monkey Begun" begins, and you hear that trademark Lou Barlow guitar strum, you know exactly who is playing for you. All of us Sebadoh lovers will recognize that strum. Since the last Sebadoh album, Lou has put out some great stuff. Loobiecore Vol. 1, One Part Lullaby, The New Folk Implosion. All we need now are the old Sebadoh records to be reissued so a new generation can begin to fall in love with this guys music. If this guy has been moving you all your life, pick up this album and be moved some more. I can't say enough about the man. I can't wait to hear what he does next.

Lou Barlow started his career in a hardcore band, Deep Wound. Once the time came to move on from that band, Barlow reunited with Deep Wound member J. Mascis in Dinosaur. They released a few albums before their differences became too involving, so Barlow departed and formed Sebadoh. Like Stephen Malkmus of Pavement started a wave of inspiration for artists who had the aspirasions but not the voice to sing, Barlow and Sebadoh inspired lo-fi artists to bask in their sound lesser quality, but more raw sound.

Since he formed Sebadoh, Barlow has released a number of side projects, include a lo-fi (non-folk) rock group, Folk Implosion, among others.

Let's get this out there: "Home" should be considered contender for song of the year. It is pure and simple-brilliant song. It's one of the most layered tracks on this lo-fi release. It also possesses an incredible melody and beautiful lyrics that from Lou Barlow's vocals just become essential to the songs quality. "Legendary" is another amazing song that about half way through, once the beat is introduced, becomes one of the most hypnotic songs on the album. The chorus of "Royalty" is the best on the album, and a reason it is one of the albums best songs. After "Home", "Caterpillar Girl" is the next most layered track. It's a little heavier than the rest, but just as beautiful. "Puzzle" is a beautifully melodic song from beginning to end. Other excellent tracks to note are "If I Could", "Monkey Begun", "Holding Back The Year", "Round-N-Round", "Mornings After Me", "The Ballad Of Daykitty", "Confused" and "Imagined Life".

If you pay close attention, you should have noticed that's just about every song on the album. It's that good; the only track I will often skip is "Mary".

I stumbled upon this album from looking at other indie folk releases this year, like "Black Sheep Boy" by Okkervil River and "Picaresque" by The Decemberists. Now let me be the first to say, that this release is right up there with both of those aforementioned [titanic] albums as the best indie folk releases this year, and what a great year it has proven to be!

I am really sad that no one else appreciated how deliciously blasphemous the song "Mary" is. Along with the commonly mentioned tracks "Puzzle" and "Caterpillar Girl" it is the highlight of this CD in my opinion.