Lou Barlow has announced a new solo album, Brace the Wave, due out September 4 via Joyful Noise Recordings. His first solo release in six years, it comes as a follow-up to 2009’s Goodnight Unknown and marks the third release under his own name. You can hear snippets of various album tracks — along with commentary from Barlow himself — in a new album trailer, which premiered with Pitchfork.
The album is currently available for pre-order, with 500 hand-numbered VIP copies available on pink and seafoam marbled vinyl. Of the 500 copies, 100 will include an original Lou Barlow Poloroid “selfie” inserted into the artwork.
Barlow’s extensive and celebrated discography includes releases from Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, Folk Implosion, and his first solo endeavor, Sentridoh. Most comfortable writing uncomfortable songs, Brace the Wave finds the songwriter exploring yet another transitional period in his life. Tracks like “Redeemed,” “Wave,” and “Moving” employ his early methods of tuning his ukelele down low and writing during the recording process, while album tracks “Lazy” and “C&E” are traditional-style folk songs that he performed live in the studio.
The album was recorded in about six days with Justin Pizzoferrato (who also worked on Dinosaur Jr.’s Beyond, Farm, and I Bet on Sky) in Easthampton, MA, not far from the area that Barlow now calls home after seventeen years in LA. Currently on tour with Dinosaur Jr.,
Barlow will celebrate the release of Brace the Wave with a string of solo dates kicking off on September 8 — see below for a full list of upcoming shows.
9/8: Boston, MA @ Great Scott
9/9: Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade
9/10: Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
9/11: Washington, DC @ DC9
9/22: San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
9/23: San Luis Obispo, CA @ SLO Brewing Co.
9/24: San Diego, CA @ Casbah
9/25: Pioneertown, CA @ Desert Stars
9/26: Costa Mesa, CA @ Wayfarer (early show)