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Sebadoh was formed in 1986 in Westfield, Massachusetts. The band was originally a side project of Lou Barlow while he was still a member of Dinosaur Jr., though it soon evolved into his primary musical endeavor after his departure from Dinosaur Jr. in 1989. Sebadoh’s lineup has undergone several changes over the years, with the core members being Lou Barlow (vocals, bass, guitar), Jason Loewenstein (vocals, bass, guitar, drums), and Eric Gaffney (vocals, drums, guitar) until Gaffney’s departure in 1993 and subsequent occasional collaborations.
The band is known for its significant contribution to the lo-fi music movement of the early ’90s, emphasizing raw, low-fidelity recording techniques and a mixture of punk rock, folk, and noise elements. Sebadoh has released nine studio albums, starting with The Freed Man in 1989 and the most recent, Act Surprised, in 2019. They have also released one live album, several EPs, and numerous compilations, including The Freed Weed (1990) and Smash Your Head on the Punk Rock (1992). Despite their influential status in the indie rock scene, Sebadoh has not achieved significant mainstream success or major awards. Their chart success has been modest, with albums like Harmacy in 1996 peaking at number 123 on the Billboard 200, marking their highest chart position to date.
Throughout their career, Sebadoh has maintained a dedicated fan base and has been praised for their authenticity and the emotional depth of their music. The band’s DIY ethos and their fluctuating sound—from fragile acoustic folk to noisy, aggressive rock—have set them apart in the alternative music landscape.
SEBADOH STUDIO ALBUMS
The Freed Man (1989)
Released: 1989
This is Sebadoh’s debut album, known for its lo-fi, experimental sound that emerged from a variety of home recordings. The tracks were largely recorded on a four-track tape recorder, reflecting the raw and unfiltered origins of the band.
CD Track Listing
- “Bridge Was You”
- “Soulmate”
- “I Love Me”
- “Nest”
- “Careless Mind Hands”
- “True Hardcore”
- “Close Enough”
- “Loosened Screw”
- “Solid Brown”
- “Made Real”
- “Crumbs”
- “Narrow Stories”
- “Drifts on Through”
- “Wall of Doubt”
- “Lou Rap”
- “Growin’ Up with You”
- “Healthy Sick”
- “Land of the Lords”
- “Ladybugs”
- “Moldy Bread”
- “Squirrel Freedom Overdrive”
- “Burning Out”
- “Bolder”
- “Why Do You Cut Off Your Sleeves”
- “Wrists”
- “Last Day of School”
- “Punch in the Nose”
- “Deny”
- “Level Anything”
- “Jealous Evil”
- “K-sensa My I”
- “Mothra”
Weed Forestin’ (1990)
Released: 1990
Originally self-released by Barlow on cassette, this album further explores the lo-fi aesthetic with a mix of acoustic and electric elements. It was later reissued officially, bringing more structured songwriting to the fore.
CD Track Listing
- “Temporary Dream”
- “New Worship”
- “Subtle Holy Gift”
- “My Own Religion”
- “Ride the Darker Wave”
- “More Simple”
- “Jealous of Jesus”
- “Mr. Genius Eyes”
- “Perfect Power”
- “Feeding Evil”
- “Sexual Confusion”
- “Three Times a Day”
- “Gate to Hell”
- “Broken”
- “Whitey Peach”
- “I Can’t See”
- “Take My Hand”
- “Pound My Skinny Head”
- “I Believe in Fate”
- “Waited Forever”
- “Slightest Suggestion”
- “It’s So Hard to Fall in Love”
- “Brand New Love”
Sebadoh III (1991)
Released: 1991
Often considered a seminal album in the lo-fi genre, this record solidified Sebadoh’s influence. It features a blend of Barlow’s introspective lyrics and Gaffney’s experimental noises, alongside the introduction of Jason Loewenstein.
CD Track Listing
- “The Freed Pig” – 3:08
- “Sickles and Hammers” (Boon, Watt) – 0:50
- “Total Peace” – 3:02
- “Violet Execution” – 3:57 (Eric Gaffney)
- “Scars, Four Eyes” – 3:27 (Gaffney/Barlow)
- “Truly Great Thing” – 2:13
- “Kath” – 1:52
- “Perverted World” – 1:54
- “Wonderful, Wonderful” (Edwards, Raleigh) – 3:13
- “Limb by Limb” – 2:17 (Gaffney)
- “Smoke a Bowl” – 3:02 (Loewenstein)
- “Black-Haired Gurl” – 2:12 (Loewenstein)
- “Hoppin’ Up and Down” – 3:16 (Loewenstein)
- “Supernatural Force” – 2:43 (Gaffney)
- “Rockstar” – 2:42
- “Downmind” – 1:31
- “Renaissance Man” – 2:19
- “God Told Me” – 1:09
- “Holy Picture” – 2:53 (Gaffney)
- “Hassle” – 3:30
- “No Different” – 2:20
- “Spoiled” – 3:03
- “As the World Dies, the Eyes of God Grow Bigger” – 6:49 (Gaffney)
“Gimme Indie Rock EP”
- “Gimme Indie Rock” (Barlow/Gaffney/Loewenstein)
- “Ride the Darker Wave” (Barlow)
- “Red Riding Good” (Barlow)
- “New King” (Loewenstein)
- “Calling Yog Soggoth”
- “Stored Up Wonder (Supernatural Force)”
- “Melting Wall (Holy Picture)”
- “Design”
- “Attention”
- “Stars for Eyes” (Gaffney/Barlow)
- “Unseen Waste”
- “Violet Execution (Remix ’04)”
- “As the World Turns”
- “Cranberry Bog” (Loewenstein/Gaffney)
- “The Devil’s Reggae”
- “The Freed Pig (4-track)” (Barlow)
- “Never Jealous” (Barlow)
- “Showtape ’91” (Barlow)
Bubble & Scrape (1993)
Released: 1993
This album marked the end of Eric Gaffney’s regular involvement with the band and showcased a broader sonic range, incorporating more polished production while maintaining their distinctive, raw edge.
CD Track Listing
- “Soul and Fire” (Barlow) – 3:46
- “Two Years Two Days” (Barlow) – 3:07
- “Telecosmic Alchemy” (Gaffney) – 2:15
- “Fantastic Disaster” (Gaffney) – 3:33
- “Happily Divided” (Loewenstein) – 2:20
- “Sister” (Loewenstein) – 2:43
- “Cliche” (Barlow) – 2:27
- “Sacred Attention” (Barlow) – 2:47
- “Elixir Is Zog” (Gaffney) – 2:06
- “Emma Get Wild” (Gaffney) – 1:21
- “Sixteen” (Loewenstein) – 1:29
- “Homemade” (Barlow) – 5:02
- “Forced Love” (Barlow) – 3:19
- “No Way Out” (Gaffney) – 2:15
- “Bouquet for a Siren” (Gaffney) – 2:56
- “Think (Let Tomorrow Bee)” (Barlow) – 3:12
- “Flood” (Loewenstein) – 1:34
Bakesale (1994)
Released: 1994
Regarded by many as one of their most accessible albums, Bakesale saw Sebadoh refining their sound with clearer production and stronger song structures, making it one of their most successful releases.
CD Track Listing
- “License to Confuse” (Barlow) – 1:45
- “Careful” (Loewenstein) – 2:44
- “Magnet’s Coil” (Barlow) – 2:27
- “Not a Friend” (Barlow) – 3:40
- “Not Too Amused” (Loewenstein) – 4:15
- “Dreams” (Barlow) – 2:39
- “Skull” (Barlow) – 2:24
- “Got It” (Loewenstein) – 2:16
- “S. Soup” (Loewenstein) – 3:16
- “Give Up” (Barlow) – 2:27
- “Rebound” (Barlow) – 2:12
- “Mystery Man” (Barlow) – 3:08
- “Temptation Tide” (Fay) – 1:53
- “Drama Mine” (Loewenstein) – 2:42
- “Together or Alone” (Barlow) – 4:03
Extra disc (2011 reissue)
- “MOR Backlash”
- “Not a Friend” (4-track)
- “Foreground”
- “40203”
- “Mystery Man” (4-track)
- “Drumstick Jumble”
- “Lime Kiln”
- “Fancy-ass / Destitute”
- “Perfect Way” (4-track)
- “Give the Drummer Some”
- “Cementville”
- “Social Medicine”
- “On Fire” (acoustic)
- “Magnet’s Coil” (acoustic)
- “Rebound” (acoustic)
- “Punching Myself in the Face Repeatedly, Publicly”
- “Sing Something / Plate of Hatred”
- “III Screams”
- “Monsoon”
- “Rainbow Farm”
- “Hank Williams”
- “Careful”
- “Dramamine”
- “Not Too Amused”
- “Shit Soup”
Harmacy (1996)
Released: 1996
Following the success of Bakesale, Harmacy continued in a similar vein, featuring a mix of lo-fi and well-crafted pop songs. It includes some of the band’s most popular tracks and achieved moderate commercial success.
CD Track Listing
- “On Fire” (Barlow) – 3:36
- “Prince-S” (Loewenstein) – 2:52
- “Ocean” (Barlow) – 2:46
- “Nothing Like You” (Loewenstein) – 3:09
- “Crystal Gypsy” (Loewenstein) – 1:29
- “Beauty of the Ride” (Barlow) – 2:48
- “Mind Reader” (Loewenstein) – 1:50
- “Sforzando!” (Fay) – 3:30
- “Willing to Wait” (Barlow) – 3:32
- “Hillbilly II” (Loewenstein) – 1:59
- “Zone Doubt” (Loewenstein) – 2:18
- “Too Pure” (Barlow) – 3:46
- “Worst Thing” (Loewenstein) – 2:55
- “Love to Fight” (Loewenstein) – 0:54
- “Perfect Way” (Barlow) – 2:49
- “Can’t Give Up” (Loewenstein) – 2:02
- “Open Ended” (Barlow) – 3:28
- “Weed Against Speed” (Barlow) – 2:55
- “I Smell a Rat” (Jon Hardy, Jim Janota, Crispin Wood) – 1:34
The Sebadoh (1999)
Released: 1999
This album came after a brief hiatus and saw the band moving towards a more traditional rock sound, with more polished production values than their earlier work.
CD Track Listing
- “It’s All You” (Loewenstein) – 2:42
- “Weird” (Barlow) – 3:26
- “Bird in the Hand” (Loewenstein) – 1:36
- “Break Free” (Pollard) – 2:39
- “Tree” (Barlow) – 4:17
- “Nick of Time” (Loewenstein) – 2:52
- “Flame” (Barlow) – 4:56
- “So Long” (Loewenstein) – 1:57
- “Love Is Stronger” (Barlow) – 4:45
- “Decide” (Loewenstein) – 3:42
- “Colorblind” (Barlow) – 2:51
- “Thrive” (Barlow) – 4:12
- “Cuban” (Loewenstein) – 2:40
- “Sorry” (Barlow) – 3:03
- “Drag Down” (Loewenstein) – 2:50
Defend Yourself (2013)
Released: 2013
After a long break, Defend Yourself returned to the band’s earlier, more raw sound, incorporating themes of personal upheaval and change, which reflected the personal lives of the band members.
CD Track Listing
1. “I Will” Barlow 3:57
2. “Love You Here” Barlow 3:33
3. “Beat” Loewenstein 4:12
4. “Defend yr Self” Loewenstein 3:12
5. “Oxygen” Barlow 3:21
6. “Once” D’Amico 2:55
7. “Inquiries” Loewenstein 2:01
8. “State of Mine” Barlow 3:44
9. “Final Days” Loewenstein 4:22
10. “Can’t Depend” Loewenstein 4:23
11. “Let It Out” Barlow 4:29
12. “Listen” Barlow 3:37
13. “Separate” Loewenstein 1:59
Act Surprised (2019)
Released: 2019
Continuing the trend of their 2013 comeback, this album finds Sebadoh rejuvenated, mixing classic lo-fi elements with mature songwriting. It’s noted for its energetic delivery and was well-received by fans and critics alike.
CD Track Listing
- “Phantom” (Jason Loewenstein) – 2:23
- “Celebrate the Void” (Lou Barlow) – 3:09
- “Follow the Breath” (Loewenstein) – 2:13
- “Medicate” (Barlow) – 3:34
- “See-Saw” (Barlow) – 3:37
- “Vacation” (Loewenstein) – 2:06
- “Stunned” (Loewenstein) – 2:25
- “Fool” (Barlow) – 2:34
- “Raging River” (Loewenstein) – 3:11
- “Sunshine” (Barlow) – 3:30
- “Act Surprised” (Loewenstein) – 3:11
- “Battery” (Loewenstein) – 3:12
- “Belief” (Barlow) – 2:55
- “Leap Year” (Bob D’Amico) – 3:15
- “Reykjavic” (Barlow) – 3:32
Complete List Of Sebadoh Albums And Discography article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024