Celebrating its 15th birthday in 2020 is Emoh by Lou Barlow (Sebadoh, Dinosaur Jr.), an album that Rolling Stone described as “full of quiet lyricism and Nick Drake beauty” upon release. On July 31, Merge will reissue the album as a double-LP in a gatefold jacket—its first appearance on vinyl domestically—with a bonus digital download of eight rare demos from the era. Pre-order the reissue of Emoh today in the Merge store.

Listen to & pre-order Emoh by Lou Barlow now

At 4pm ET, adjust your internet dial to Lou Barlow’s Instagram account or Facebook page, where he will perform and chat about Emoh-centric songs live from his home in western Massachusetts.

Watch & share Lou Barlow’s Emoh livestream at 4pm ET today 

Lou Barlow, March 2020:

Emoh was released in January 2005, within a day or two of my first child, Hannelore, being born. I put my real name on it, and it felt like the beginning of a new, more confident era. At the same time, I was asked to rejoin Dinosaur Jr, so, instead of spending the next year touring in support of Emoh, I started a Dinosaur Jr reunion that continues to this day. It was a bittersweet decision because my LP was warmly received and seemed to point to a self-reliant future.

Though Emoh was a positive step forward for me, listening to it now, I realize the songs clearly track the slow dissolution of my first marriage, the fatal break of several partnerships, and my struggle to acclimate to living in LA. That I was able to describe my decline in such detail then hand it out to friends and family members as my “comeback” LP kind of amazes me now.   

Though there was a short run of LPs through Domino UK at the time, vinyl was all but dead in 2005 and this is the first time Emoh has been available domestically in that format.