Music Tuesday #023: Oh my, it’s lo-fi!

Sebadoh is a side project of Dinosaur Jr bass player Lou Barlow. He started writing songs and recording them at home somewhere in 1988.  The band got on my radar with the 1993 release Bubble & Scrape which came out at the height of lo-fi indie music. Other names in that realm you might know are Pavement and Beck.  

Not only the music grabbed my attention. When I first got to hear this album at a friend’s place, the lyrics of the first song were spot on, especially at a time in my life when music needed to soothe my soul now and then. Soul and fire is a song about a former lover leaving you for another, and each verse focusses on a different aspect.  As with all good literature, the character in the song evolves (from “I think our love is coming to an end” to “I know our love is coming to an end”, it doesn’t necessarily end well...

It's all a matter of soul and fire
Infatuation or true desire
The thrill of discovery, divine intervention
Cruel, cruel change, pain of rejection

As you walk away, think of all the joy we shared
If you decide you need me, I'll be wondering if I care
Not there to soothe your soul, friend to tender friend
I think our love is coming to an end

King persuader, congratulations
Share her heart, you bought her soul
Princess confusion, come to me again
Saying goodbye was so much fun

When you walk away, feel the freedom in your heart
There's a joy in letting go, free to find a love apart
When I lose control, I need a kind, forgiving friend

But I think our love is coming to an end
I know our love is coming to an end

Sebadoh - Bubble & Scrape
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSx5J5sqJZg

O, and if you think the sound quality is bad… erh that’s the point.