LOU BARLOW > Goodnight Unknown

Updated:

October 23, 2018 4:40 pm

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LOU BARLOW

Goodnight Unknown

(MERGE)

[Rating: 3.5 stars]

On Lou Barlow’s second solo effort, the galloping leadoff track “Sharing” has the power of Dinosaur Jr. and the obscure lyrics of vintage Sebadoh. While the king of lo-fi is still using his four-track, he experiments more with layers and a live sound than on 2005’s primarily acoustic Emoh. Along with the surreal cover art, the introspective songwriter references creatures on “Sharing”; and on the brilliantly mechanistic, yet melodic–sounding “One Machine, One Long Fight,” 4 a.m. is “when the sirens and the animals explore.” With help from the Melvins’ drummer Dale Crover, guitarist Imaad Wasif (Folk Implosion, Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Barlow’s beloved bass synth, Goodnight Unknown consists of 14 quirky, yet accessible, pop songs, with touches of darkness.