Albums to watch

Brace The Wave

Lou Barlow

Brace The Wave

Founding member of both Sebadoh and Dinosaur Jr releases his third solo album of lo-fi indie rock, his first since 2009

ADM rating[?]

6.5

Label
Domino Records
UK Release date
04/09/2015
US Release date
04/09/2015
  1. 7.5 |   A.V. Club

    Isn’t exactly original or inventive, but what it lacks in innovation, it makes up for in emotional honesty
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  2. 7.1 |   Pitchfork

    Life and relationships rarely offer easy answers, and Brace the Wave doesn't either
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  3. 7.0 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    The album rides out on Barlow repeating the phrase "learn with me", as if it needed any further invitation: we've been learning with Barlow for 30 years now
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  4. 7.0 |   The Music

    The album's routinely sparse instrumentation — featuring his trademark down-tuned ukulele — puts focus squarely on Barlow's melancholic worldview
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  5. 7.0 |   Gig Soup

    His uncomplicated acoustic sounds make way for his poetically distressed lyrics to be the focal point on the album
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  6. 7.0 |   Uncut

    As good as anything he has done with Sebadoh or Folk Implosion. Print edition only

  7. 7.0 |   PopMatters

    Thank goodness Lou Barlow has returned to soundtrack the onset of middle age life
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  8. 7.0 |   musicOMH

    Whilst it hardly breaks new ground, either generally or for Barlow as an artist, Brace The Wave offers further evidence of Barlow’s core talent
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  9. 7.0 |   Under The Radar

    Wave is a different animal, though; this is a mostly unembellished, minimal collection of starkly maximal songs
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  10. 6.7 |   Consequence Of Sound

    I often feel centered and wiser after listening to Barlow’s music, and Brace the Wave is no exception
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  11. 6.0 |   Q

    A skilled and timely reminder of his own uniquely vulnerable vision as a songwriter. Print edition only

  12. 6.0 |   The Irish Times

    It’s good enough
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  13. 6.0 |   Spin

    It’s a fix for now, but don’t worry, there’ll be another soon, in one of his guises anyway
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  14. 6.0 |   Spectrum Culture

    Few are as willing to write with as much brutal honesty as Barlow
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  15. 6.0 |   Mojo

    A surprisingly engaging listen. Print edition only

  16. 5.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    Feels like an opportunity missed
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Lou Barlow: Brace The Wave

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