From grungy alt-rock with Dinosaur Jr. through lo-fi sounds with Sebadoh and folk-influenced recordings with The Folk Implosion, Lou Barlow is an alternative music hero for many reasons. Unless you count collaborations or his Sentridoh side-project, this year's 'Brace The Wave' was his third proper solo album, and the first for six years, and with a wave of live dates in the US, New Zealand and Australia announced for January, this month has seen him release the video for album cut 'Nerve'.
It's a fitting title for a track from a record that's been described as some of his most intimate work, and this song in particular focuses on a failed relationship, although it avoids the slush that can go along with such a subject. The almost demo-like production that's characterised much of his work is in evidence, but the chorus becomes a little more grand with the addition of extra instrumentation. Musically you could draw comparisons with certain Syd Barrett songs, but lyrically it's not quite as obtuse or cryptic, taking an interesting but straightforward approach that lays emotions bare.
Lou Barlow's website
Buy the album
Catch him live:
Jan 17 – Chicago, IL @ Schuba's - Tomorrow Never Knows Festival
Jan 21 – Dunedin, New Zealand @ Chicks Hotel
Jan 22 – Christchurch, New Zealand @ Churchills Bar
Jan 23 – Auckland, New Zealand @ Kings Arms
Jan 24 – Wellington, New Zealand @ San Francisco Bathhouse
Jan 25 – Brisbane, Australia @ Brightside
Jan 26 – Sydney, Australia @ Sydney Festival
Jan 28 – Melbourne, Australia @ Northcote Social Club
Jan 29 – Adelaide, Australia @ Crown + Anchor
Jan 30 – Fremantle, Australia @ Mojos
The Sound Of Confusion on Twitter and Facebook
No comments:
Post a Comment