Smash Your Head on the Punk Rock

Sebadoh’s Sub Pop debut compiles material from two 1992 EPs—<i>Rocking the Forest</i> and <i>Sebadoh vs. Helmet</i>—that capture their split personality at its most pronounced. On one hand, you have violently upchucked blasts like “Cry Sis” and a post-hardcore corruption of Nick Drake’s “Pink Moon” that betray their affinity for DIY punk pranksterism. But amid the warm ’n’ fuzzy rush of “Brand New Love” and corroded jangle of “Vampire”, you hear Lou Barlow emerge as indie rock’s foremost hapless romantic.