Wednesday, October 19, 2016

EP Review: "Apocalypse Fetish" by Lou Barlow

Apocalypse Fetish
About 5 or 6 years ago, I noticed something.

Ukuleles weren't just something used by the Hawaiians anymore. Around this time was when my eyes were beginning to open up to a wider world of music.

This is when music, technologically speaking, began taking step backwards, which I just love.

But as for the Ukulele...

This guy right here...he's never been a fan of that instrument. Every time I've heard it there's just a scratchy, uneasiness to it that puts me off.

It should be neglected to mention that about three months ago, your friend and humble narrator was sitting in Oahu, HI drinking Mai Tais and hearing these instruments at every single turn.

What is Lou Barlow holding here.....
To me, ukuleles have a plink plink sound that is just unpleasing to my ears no matter who plays it.

What if someone wrote some riffs with one them?

Well, this ain't no luau, Don Ho.

Again, we hear from, in my opinion, master songsmith, Lou Barlow (often of Dinosaur Jr.).

He's a master of the craft because, like an earlier generation (think Robert Johnson), his songs are light, sparse, and melodic.

There's no rhythm section and lead guitar behind him. It's just Barlow and his instrument. This and Brace The Wave are hardly masterpieces of technical and recording prowess. They just aren't and there's nothing wrong with that.

Apocalypse Fetish is raw and it sounds like the tracks were recorded in Barlow's bathroom, where the good acoustics are. Barlow's ability to raise the power to a crescendo along with his ability to evoke feelings in his listener is what makes Apocalypse Fetish a worthy successor to Brace The Wave.

Release: 10/28/16
Genre: Pop
Label: Joyful Noise
Formats: LP, CD, Digital
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