Lou Barlow Somehow Not Embarrassed By Acoustic Demo Of “Soul And Fire”

anthonyjmiccio | June 16, 2008 2:00 am

Sebadoh recently re-released a double-disc version of 1993’s Bubble & Scrape, and the previously unreleased material includes alternate versions of Eric Gaffney shrieks and Jason Loewenstein whines, as well as an acoustic demo of Lou Barlow’s “Soul And Fire”–one of two tracks on the album that were originally designed to win back his girlfriend, Kath, who is now his wife and the mother of his child. While the album version is a mournful memorial of their initial romance, the demo is exactly the kind of wistful bullshit (“call me if you ever want to love again”) any friend of its target would advise them to ignore entirely. “If you decide you need me/ I’ll be wondering if I care” was harsh, but “If you decide you need me/ make a wish, and I’ll be there?” Run, girl, run! [Catbirdseat]