The Folk Implosion: Dare To Be Surprised

By now, The Folk Implosion's story should be familiar to most: It's a duo consisting of Sebadoh frontman Lou Barlow and singer/librarian John Davis. Though it's the act responsible for Barlow's only pop hit ("Natural One," from the Kids soundtrack), most of The Folk Implosion's recordings have consisted of raucous, impenetrable, abruptly conceived clatter. But listen to the duo's new Dare To Be Surprised, and you'll hear neither the slick, Steve Miller-fied dance-pop of "Natural One" nor the raw bursts of noise found on The Folk Implosion's early releases. Instead, Dare To Be Surprised is a decidedly accessible, angular-sounding pop-rock record that combines Barlow's and Davis' talents and idiosynchracies nicely. For every quirky, jumpy number like the ramshackle "Ball & Chain" or "Fall Into November," there's a radio-ready, atmospheric little pop ditty like "Insinuation." And fans of either singer/songwriter should enjoy Dare To Be Surprised for what it is: a sly collection of likably unconventional rock songs.