Lou Barlow's music has a character that's entirely its own and cannot be replicated. Since I was a young elk, I have been a rabid Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, and Folk Implosion superfan. I remember trips in the mid 90's to the TAANG! Records store in Harvard Square or Rockit Records in Saugus, where I would be totally eager to buy every Lou Barlow project cassette or cd in the store (in that giant packaging too). I could never really relate to the hardcore punk rock at the Rat or Axis that was out at the time. Though I enjoyed the intensity and songs of bands like Gang Green, Jerry's Kids, and even Slapshot now and again? It was always a little terrifying to me, and shows were VIOLENT AS FUCK back then. Mainstream punk bands like NOFX and Green Day were cool (to me at the time anyways), but struck me as a little "throwbacky" or "rehashy". Even bands like the Queers and New Bomb Turks with some real "punk cred" and great songs, weren't exactly right in my wheelhouse. After a much cooler friend recommended Sebadoh in a "because you like Dinosaur" fashion, I decided to give Sebadoh a try. It was late 1994 and I would finally get MY "punk rock". I first bought "Bakesale" and immediately fell in love with the whole record (but especially “Rebound” and “Got It”). When I found out the songs were sang by two separate members of the band that swapped instruments? It blew my little mind. Is that even possible? Nobody (except the Beatles) does that! The album was catchy as fuck. The entire songs were either one big guitar hook and vocal hook, or these groovy little psychedelic introspective moments with an “otherworldly” feel. The guitars were bouncy and angular, the beat was groovy, and those songs stuck in your head for days. A great record to throw on the blacklight to, while retreating into my own little fishbowl heaven. The lyrics were sometimes angry, sometimes introspective, sometimes psychedelic, but always resonating with the core of my being. “Black chalk living room couch professor” still remains one of of my favorite lines to this day. (Thanks Jason!) So? When we approached Lou Barlow to provide some low cost, royalty free music that regular people can use in films and podcast and stuff? We were shocked to find out that he dug the idea and would provide us with some really cool instrumental music to artfully edit and put on the site. This stuff has been blowing my mind for two months now and has made lockdown a lot easier to manage. “Dropkick” is such a rocker, a real piledriver of a track. “Duel” has a mysterious and ominous vibe like there’s gonna be a showdown. “Manatee”? Where can I start with how awesome this track is? It’s almost like 1950’s rock meets a Casio. Complete with “horns” and all (or at least keyboard horn noises). I’d have to say my favorite though is “Silver Lining”. Such a happy little song, complete with cool “tape” noises faintly in the background and cheerful, artfully placed xylophone. Part upbeat with Casio style beats, it's an uplifting and cheery gem. There are 22 clips total here averaging around 40 seconds each. Ever dream of having permission from Lou to use his amazing music in a film, podcast, radio ID or other project?
Now it’s possible at https://www.clipdad.com/lou-barlow
Get ready to get your mind blown and thanks for checking it out!
-Clipdad