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- Date Released: April 26, 1993
- Genre: Alternative/Punk
- Style: Indie Rock
- Label: Domino Recording Co
Sebadoh's first hi-fi release provides a clear glimpse at these indie-rock legends' ultimate potential.
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We Say...
One of the most celebrated practitioners of classic ‘90s indie rock, Northampton, MA trio Sebadoh finally put their damnably disjointed pieces together on their fourth LP — their first for a big indie label (Sub Pop). Their first hi-fi release after several no-fi noodlers and one mid-fi work, Bubble (recorded, oddly enough, in a slaughterhouse) realized the promise in the quantum improvement (and improved recording quality) of 1991’s Homestead Records release, III.
As the last Sebadoh LP to feature founding member Eric Gaffney, it’s a transitional work. On his second LP after joining the band, bassist Jason Lowenstein assumes a greater songwriting/singing role, his work rivaling the sneakily catchy material of the more established, older Lou Barlow (late of Dinosaur Jr.). This serves to all but isolate the barely-still-involved Gaffney (who liked recording alone and was rarely in town), the atonal-noise lover of the three. Limited to only six songs, Gaffney’s contributions, such as the schizophrenic prog-psych of “Elixir as Zog” come across as a refreshing third angle, rather than an irritant impeding Barlow’s burgeoning pop progress.
Moreover, Barlow’s own writing has matured immensely. He’s still capable of hook-laden blasts of neo-punk like “Sacred Attention," but what’s more impressive are his folk-pop lovelorn laments, like the ‘60s-pop sugar drama of the moving opener “Soul and Fire.” Perhaps most developed is Lowenstein, whose propulsive tunes, such as “Sixteen” and “Happily Divided,” exude new confidence.
Crucially, the fully realized production doesn’t sacrifice a single dollop of edge, making Bubble a glimpse at the band’s ultimate potential. Soon, with drummer Bob Fay on 1994’s awesome Bakesale and 1996’s watershed Harmacy, Barlow and Lowenstein would prove their indie mettle for all time. -
They Say...
Bubble & Scrape is the last Sebadoh record to feature Eric Gaffney, and accordingly, his contributions are not so much songs as tantrums; blistering rants like "Telecosmic Alchemy" and "Elixir Is Zog" offer much in the way of dissonant noise but little in the way of substance. Still, the album has much to recommend it -- not only does Jason Loewenstein emerge here as an increasingly adept songwriter, but Lou Barlow truly hits his stride: both "Soul and Fire" and "Think (Let Tomorrow Bee)" are sterling additions to one of the most impressive catalogs of love songs on the planet, while "Cliche" stings with bitter intensity.
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You Say...
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| 01. |  |
Soul And Fire |
3:47 |  |
| 02. | |
Two Years Two Days |
3:08 | |
| 03. | |
Telescopic Alchemy |
2:15 | |
| 04. | |
Fantastic Disaster |
3:33 | |
| 05. | |
Happily Divided |
2:22 | |
| 06. | |
Sister |
2:43 | |
| 07. | |
Cliché |
2:28 | |
| 08. | |
Sacred Attention |
2:48 | |
| 09. | |
Elixir Is Zog |
2:06 | |
| 10. | |
Emma Get Wild |
1:21 | |
| 11. | |
Sixteen |
1:31 | |
| 12. | |
Homemade |
5:03 | |
| 13. | |
Forced Love |
3:20 | |
| 14. | |
No Way Out |
2:16 | |
| 15. | |
Bouquet For A Siren |
2:57 | |
| 16. | |
Think (Let Tomorrow Bee) |
3:14 | |
| 17. | |
Flood |
1:35 | |
| 18. | |
Reject |
2:22 | |
| 19. | |
Sister |
2:12 | |
| 20. | |
Bouquet For A Siren |
2:07 | |
| 21. | |
Emma Get Wild |
0:56 | |
| 22. | |
Flood / Ken |
2:07 | |
| 23. | |
Messin' Around |
1:37 | |
| 24. | |
Visibly Wasted II |
1:31 | |
| 25. | |
You Are Going Down |
0:55 | |
| 26. | |
Old Daze |
1:32 | |
| 27. | |
Part 1- Lou |
4:28 | |
| 28. | |
Part 2 - Eric |
2:09 | |
| 29. | |
Part 3 - Eric |
1:44 | |
| 30. | |
Part 4 - Jason |
2:22 | |
| 31. | |
Happily Divided |
2:49 | |
| 32. | |
Soul And Fire (Acoustic Demo) |
2:12 | |
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Credits
- Sebadoh - Main Performer // Lou Barlow - Guitar // Lou Barlow - Guitar // Lou Barlow - Vocals // Lou Barlow - Vocals // Seana Carmody - Vocals // Eric Gaffney - Bass // Eric Gaffney - Guitar // Eric Gaffney - Drums // Eric Gaffney - Harp // Eric Gaffney - Keyboards // Eric Gaffney - Vocals // Bob Weston - Engineer // Jason Loewenstein - Bass
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