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Defend Yourself

Sebadoh

Defend Yourself

First album in 14 years from lo-fi indie rock pioneers Lou Barlow and Jason Loewenstein

ADM rating[?]

6.9

Label
Domino
UK Release date
16/09/2013
US Release date
17/09/2013
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  1. 8.5 |   Bowlegs

    Defend Yourself is not only a return to romantic neurosis, but a slight return to form with a more mature and patient guitar attack
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  2. 8.0 |   All Music

    When Defend Yourself hits its stride, it's amazing how timeless and unique the classic Sebadoh sound really is
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  3. 8.0 |   Mojo

    A red-blooded, powerful live feel full of adrenalin and excitement. Print edition only

  4. 8.0 |   Q

    A return with soul and fire. Print edition only

  5. 8.0 |   PopMatters

    Defend Yourself might just be Sebadoh’s most consistent and coherent effort yet
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  6. 8.0 |   Paste Magazine

    Full of heartache, fear and uncertainty, the album has a particularly somber sense
    Read Review

  7. 8.0 |   The Skinny

    A good reminder of why the furious, distorted guitars of Sebadoh are still revered
    Read Review

  8. 8.0 |   FasterLouder

    There are great songs here, but part of what makes them great is that they teeter so close to ruin
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  9. 8.0 |   The 405

    This reunion album is no mere retread of past glories: as tracks like the bruising 'Inquires' and the beautiful penultimate track 'Listen' attest to
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  10. 7.0 |   Under The Radar

    Defend Yourself is a conscious throwback to the undefeated years, leapfrogging the sound of 1999's major label flop, The Sebadoh, and holding closer to the band's early- and mid-'90s triumphs
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  11. 7.0 |   Rolling Stone

    The album bristles with post-­divorce bummers both electric and gracefully acoustic
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  12. 7.0 |   musicOMH

    It’s well crafted and well paced, and features more than enough discordantly catchy riffs (at least two corkers in Beat alone) to sustain the listener’s interest. But for all that, it’s an album dusted only lightly with genuine greatness
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  13. 6.0 |   Consequence Of Sound

    When it falls, it’s awkward, but when it gets there, it gets there. The blunders are pure Barlow, but so are the gems
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  14. 6.0 |   Spin

    Musical achievements that once came easily (if not accidentally) to Sebadoh must now be persistently willed; processes that once pointed toward self-discovery now only offer a familiar balm
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  15. 6.0 |   NME

    The answer to a question nobody was asking
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  16. 6.0 |   Uncut

    This isn't quite vintage Sebadoh. Print edition only

  17. 6.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    Undeniably, unmistakably and enjoyably a Sebadoh record, and that’s surely enough for anyone?
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  18. 6.0 |   Slant Magazine

    While reuniting with that band has been good for Barlow's bank statement, it's been a bit of a drag on the gnarled genius that made us miss Sebadoh in the first place
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  19. 6.0 |   Pitchfork

    The best that can be said of Defend Yourself is that it isn't embarrassing; they didn't lose the plot like the Pixies, and it's better than The Sebadoh simply because they got out of that L.A. studio and back to their roots
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  20. 6.0 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    While dialing down the distortion has frequently been a good move for Barlow in the past, here it just sounds more like he’s out of gas
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  21. 5.0 |   A.V. Club

    A largely murky affair punctuated by a few bright spots of that old-time Barlow sadness. The sound remains the same, but the songs aren’t always there
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  22. Back to main chart

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Sebadoh: Defend Yourself

  • Download full album for just £8.49
  • 1. I Will £0.89
  • 2. Love You Here £0.89
  • 3. Beat £0.89
  • 4. Defend yr Self £0.89
  • 5. Oxygen £0.89
  • 6. Once £0.89
  • 7. Inquiries £0.89
  • 8. State Of Mine £0.89
  • 9. Final Days £0.89
  • 10. Can't Depend £0.89
  • 11. Let It Out £0.89
  • 12. Listen £0.89
  • 13. Seperate £0.89
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