Lou Barlow Announces New Album Brace the Wave

The last solo album Lou Barlow (of Sebadoh and Dinosaur Jr.) released under his own name was 2009′s Goodnight Unknown. This year, he’s got another new one. Brace the Wave is out September 4 via Joyful Noise. Preview the album in the amazing, cat-featuring trailer below, and read Barlow’s statement about the album.

Barlow has also announced a series of tour dates—find those below the album details.

Brace the Wave:

01 Redeemed
02 Nerve
03 Moving
04 Pulse
05 Wave
06 Lazy
07 Boundaries
08 C & E
09 Repeat

Hi, my name is Lou Barlow. This is Brace the Wave. Here is my short bio. 

One of my first song writing attempts occurred in 1983— it is called “Lou’s Anxiety Song”, released by my first band, Deep Wound. The original title was ‘Pressures’, but the singer decided to scream “Lou’s anxiety song!!” at the beginning ( his commentary on the overly earnest lyrics ). The title stuck. 

Deep Wound evolved into Dinosaur Jr. While playing in that band I began recording short songs on a baritone ukulele that I modified with heavier strings and flexible tunings. I called myself Sentridoh. My first solo LP “Weed Forestin’’ was a cassette that I duplicated and gave away. I was too bashful to play any Sentridoh songs for my slightly older, much cooler bandmates.  I eventually started a band of my own called Sebadoh.  We gained some momentum in the 90s. And then in 1994, I started another band called Folk Implosion.  

By the early 2000s, everything had crashed and burned. I was alone again with my 4-track and a basic knowledge of recording. I still had a ukulele and was most comfortable writing uncomfortable songs. I love the cozy self-delusion of the creative process. Finishing songs, making records and holding the finished piece in hand is incredibly satisfying. In 2005 I made my first official solo LP under my actual name instead of a made-up, nonsense word. Around that time, I sensibly began touring with Dinosaur Jr. and Sebadoh again which brings me to now… 2015.

Having moved back to Massachusetts (after 17 years in Los Angeles), I recorded ‘Brace The Wave’ in 6 days with Justin Pizzoferrato at Sonelab studios in Easthampton. Justin was the engineer for the 3 Dinosaur Jr ‘reunion’ LP’s. My ease with Justin meant I approached the sessions with focus and confidence. Songs like “Redeemed”, “Wave” and “Moving” reprise my early methods of tuning my ukulele down low and writing the songs during the recording process. Others like “Lazy” and “C+E” are traditional-style folk songs that I performed live in the studio. 

Here it is, “Lou’s Anxiety Song(s)” 2015 , less fretful , still restless. 

Lou Barlow:

09-08 Boston, MA – Great Scott
09-09 Brooklyn, NY – Rough Trade
09-10 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
09-11 Washington, DC – DC9
09-22 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill
09-23 San Luis Obispo, CA – SLO Brewing Co.
09-24 San Diego, CA – Casbah
09-25 Pioneertown, CA – Desert Stars
09-26 Costa Mesa, CA – Wayfarer (early show)

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