Part of Sebadoh's charm is that their records are always rather inconsistent, flipping wildly between sonic extremes as well as musical genres. In a sense, Harmacy is no different than its predecessors, but there are some crucial differences that makes it their most accessible effort. Previously, that title was held by 1994's Bakesale, but in between that record and Harmacy, Lou Barlow had a genuine Top 40 hit with the Folk Implosion's "Natural One." Although nothing on Harmacy sounds much like the hip-hop hybrid of "Natural One," its success did have an effect on Barlow, leading him toward more straightforward song structures and cleaner productions -- "Willing to Wait" even features strings. Instead of diluting the impact of Sebadoh's music, the clearer production actually strengthens it. Barlow's sighing melodies and jangling indie rock become more resonant and affecting, and his batch of songs is among his best ever. Jason Loewenstein, Sebadoh's other main songwriter, suffers somewhat at the hands of cleaner production. Loewenstein tends to stick closer to the band's hardcore punk roots than Barlow, so his songs usually could use the extra layer of hiss and murk that cheap productions lend recordings. It also doesn't help that he tends to sink into rather faceless indie /p>
oise rock. When Loewenstein takes a stab at pop melodies, such as "Can't Give Up," his songs are memorable, but on the whole, his songs are uneven and occasionally tedious. If it weren't for Loewenstein's erratic songwriting, Harmacy might rank as Sebadoh's masterpiece, but as it stands it's just another very fine and sometimes frustrating record from a band that produces nothing but very fine and sometimes frustrating records.
Kaleef's lovely post this morninghttp://mog.com/kaleef/blog_post/88880got me to thinking...which is always a dangerous thing, i realize, about life and my impeccable sense of bad timing. I have this amazing ability to always meet the most amazing women at the absolute worst of times...I think everyone has had this happen a time or two,no? Its such a bittersweet thing...This one is for K...thank...
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I was sitting here reading an email from a friend concerning the Sebadoh show in Louisville,KY that I was originally going to go to, but Coachella just got TOO expensive. The entire email is basically telling me how amazing it was...and to rub salt in the wound, my mp3 player plays like three Sebadoh songs in an hour, while on shuffle...EVIL!!
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ok, i think i'll cut this list at 40... surely i've overlooked a few of my favorites, but it gives you an idea anyway...31. modest mouse - the moon & antarctica32. mathew sweet - girlfriend33. pink floyd - dark side of the moon34. tribe called quest - low end theory *35. world party - goodbye jumbo36. sterolab - emperor tomato ketchup37. jane's addiction - nothing's shocking38. sebadoh - harmac...
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 "Harmacy")
