The Folk Implosion has always been
Lou Barlow's respite from his day job
Sebadoh, and as such generally shuns the alternative rock trappings of that band to favor a more intricate sound. The first two songs (originally issued as the Palm of My Hand 7") are prime examples, his perfect balance of bubblegum pop and lo-fi murk on full display. The rest of the record, originally issued as the Electric Idiot EP, is divided between "traditionals" and so-called "experimentals." The traditionals are decent pop songs but lack the emotion that makes much of
Barlow's work great, while the experimentals are failed attempts at the avant-garde that just sound bad. Overall, a decent release lacking the consistency of
Sebadoh's Harmacy or the sweeping beauty of the Folk Implosion's later work. ~ Ari Wiznitzer