Sebadoh - Bakesale

As much as he'd like to think he was, J Mascis was not the only musical genius behind Dinosaur Jr. There was also his nerdy, inward thinking bassist, Lou Barlow. Many would argue that Mascis wrote most of Dinosaur's best work, and to some extent they would be right. However Barlow gave the band's essential release and resident on this page (check the archives), "You're Living All Over Me" one of it's finest tunes in the shape of the acoustic yet powerful "Poledo". I really can't imagine that record with out it and it also showed that Barlow was no mere support musician.

Sebadoh was started as a side project between Barlow and guitarist Eric Gaffney. However when Mascis went control crazy and fired the entire band, Sebadoh went full time and Dinosaur Jr's quality of musical output went to hell. Thus more proof that Barlow had strong importance, if not musically then at least in keeping Mascis focused.

Along with bands such as Pavement and Guided By Voices, Sebadoh were the founders of a style of indy-rock known as lo-fi, in which the production is usually very simple and sometimes recorded on a four track. The band's early work was somewhat typical of this. By all standard it was fantastic, simple music with a strong eye for a good melody. However the best was still to come.

Eric Gaffney left the band and was replaced by the multi-instrumental Jason Lowenstein as well as Bob Fray. They would go on to release Sebadoh's most fantastic release to date, "Bakesale". The new approach at guitar was some what refreshing and helped breath life in to a band that was starting to loose steam, Just listen to the way the guitar makes "License To Confuse" take off. Yet little of this was treacherous to their lo-fi roots.

License To Confuse
Not Too Amused

Expired