Lou Barlow : Goodnight Unknown :: Review
Lou Barlow is a man that’s hard to pin down on “Goodnight Unknown” as he delivers spoonfuls of saccharinely bittersweet songs that rival his best work in his myriad of projects including : Sebadoh, Sentridoh, Folk Implosion and Dinosaur Jr. “Goodnight Unknown” finds the forever angst filled singer-songwriter reinvigorated from his recent stint in Dinosaur Jr. Not a lot has changed lyrically with Barlow, as the themes on this album tread the typical ground of longing, desire, entitlement and cynicism. “Goodnight Unknown” features a bolstered production which suits these songs which Barlow has been quoted as sounding like a cross between Folk Implosion and earlier Sebadoh.
“Goodnight Unknown” opens with a kick, “Sharing” plays to its pop strengths ragged glory style conjuring an image of The Raspberries filling in for Crazy Horse. The fuzz drenched title track follows with its stately drumming and warbly synths. For those nostalgic for early Sebadoh, “Too Much Freedom” “Faith In Your Heartbeat” and “The One I Call” should suffice allowing the world-weary Barlow to do the thing that he mastered all those years ago. The percolating “The Right” signals the end to side one and allows the album to breathe a little.
The album switches moods on side two and this seems like it is Barlow has parlayed most of his angst and cynicism in a triptych of songs. Current lead track, “Gravitate” feels like a natural progression from “Natural One” albeit fourteen years later but still ripe with sarcasm. “I’m Thinking…” is a pensive and unsure track regarding growing older while “One Machine, One Long Fight” captures the irritated Barlow at his best. There’s some respite from the irony on “Praise” and the lullaby inspired “Take Advantage.” However this respite is quickly removed as Barlow closes things on “Don’t Apologize” and the spare kiss off of “One Note Tone.”
“Goodnight Unknown” is available October 6th on Merge.
Rating: 
admin Reply:
August 11th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Nope, not until October.
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Andy K. Reply:
August 11th, 2009 at 11:48 am
How did you hear it then?
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admin Reply:
August 11th, 2009 at 11:51 am
At Ventvox, we get releases early to preview and review them.
Andy K. Reply:
August 11th, 2009 at 11:52 am
That’s awesome! I’m so excited for the album..
admin Reply:
August 11th, 2009 at 11:55 am
It’s been in heavy rotation here for a while now.
Andy K. Reply:
August 11th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
What can you compare the album to in terms of Lou’s solo stuff or even Sebadoh stuff? What album does it most sound like?
admin Reply:
August 11th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
It reminds me a lot of Bakesale and Sentridoh stuff.
Andy K. Reply:
August 11th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Bakesale, huh? That’s really cool!!! So excited..