The Folk Implosion
Encyclopedia
The Folk Implosion was an American indie rock
/lo-fi
band founded in the early 1990s by Lou Barlow
and John Davis. It was initially a side-project started by Barlow to explore different territory than that being canvassed with his primary band at the time, Sebadoh
. The name is a play on the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.
film Kids
, and its soundtrack, most of which contained original compositions by Barlow and Davis. The song "Natural One
" from this soundtrack was a hit single, peaking at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100
, #4 on the Billboard Modern Rock Charts
and #20 on the Mainstream Rock Charts
. The track peaked at #45 in the UK Singles Chart
. Though the band attempted to duplicate the success of that song, their subsequent albums and singles were nowhere near as successful as "Natural One". In 1995, the band contributed the song "Indierockinstrumental" to the AIDS
benefit album, Red Hot + Bothered
, produced by the Red Hot Organization
.
After Davis left the band in 2000, Barlow recruited Russ Pollard
and Imaad Wasif
from the band Alaska!
to record The New Folk Implosion
. In 2002, the band appeared as the backing musicians for the main character played by Alessandro Nivola
in the film, Laurel Canyon
.
The band has not been active since 2004.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
/lo-fi
Lo-fi music
Lo-fi is lower quality of sound recordings than the usual standard for music. The qualities of lo-fi are usually achieved by either degrading the quality of the recorded audio, or using certain equipment. Recent uses of the phrase have led to it becoming a genre, although it still remains as an...
band founded in the early 1990s by Lou Barlow
Lou Barlow
Louis Knox Barlow is an American alternative rock musician and songwriter. A founding member of the groups Deep Wound, Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh and The Folk Implosion. Barlow is credited with helping to pioneer the lo-fi style of rock music in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
and John Davis. It was initially a side-project started by Barlow to explore different territory than that being canvassed with his primary band at the time, Sebadoh
Sebadoh
Sebadoh is an American indie rock band, formed in 1986 in Westfield, Massachusetts by Eric Gaffney and Dinosaur Jr bass player Lou Barlow. Along with such bands as Pavement and Guided by Voices, Sebadoh helped pioneer lo-fi music, a style of indie rock characterized by low-fidelity recording...
. The name is a play on the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.
History
The band's status was relatively obscure prior to the Larry ClarkLarry Clark
Lawrence Donald "Larry" Clark is an American film director, photographer, writer and film producer who is best known for the movie Kids and his photography book Tulsa...
film Kids
Kids (film)
Kids is a 1995 drama film written by Harmony Korine and directed by Larry Clark.The film features Chloë Sevigny, Leo Fitzpatrick, Justin Pierce, Harold Hunter, and Rosario Dawson, all of them in their debut performances...
, and its soundtrack, most of which contained original compositions by Barlow and Davis. The song "Natural One
Natural One
"Natural One" is an alternative rock song by the band The Folk Implosion.It was released as a single in 1995, and was featured on the soundtrack to the Larry Clark film Kids, but does not appear in the film itself...
" from this soundtrack was a hit single, peaking at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, #4 on the Billboard Modern Rock Charts
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
and #20 on the Mainstream Rock Charts
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
. The track peaked at #45 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Though the band attempted to duplicate the success of that song, their subsequent albums and singles were nowhere near as successful as "Natural One". In 1995, the band contributed the song "Indierockinstrumental" to the AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
benefit album, Red Hot + Bothered
Red Hot + Bothered
Red Hot + Bothered is an anthology of the indie rock scene from the 1990s produced by Paul Heck. It was released as part of the Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series....
, produced by the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
.
After Davis left the band in 2000, Barlow recruited Russ Pollard
Russell Pollard
Russell "Russ" Pollard is an American rock musician, who has been a member of Sebadoh, The Folk Implosion, Alaska!, and Everest.-Biography:...
and Imaad Wasif
Imaad Wasif
Imaad Wasif is a Canadian singer, guitarist and songwriter whose music combines elements of both folk and rock music. Wasif’s music has been described as “unbelievably intense with sparkling, raga-influenced guitar and a mystic bent.”...
from the band Alaska!
Alaska!
Alaska! is an indie rock trio from the United States. The band was formed in San Francisco by Russell Pollard , Imaad Wasif , with Lesley Ishino later joining as drummer.-Discography:The band released their debut album, Emotions, in 2003, and a second, Rescue...
to record The New Folk Implosion
The New Folk Implosion
The New Folk Implosion is the fourth album released by indie rock band Folk Implosion. Released on March 4, 2003, it was the first album by Folk Implosion without co-founder and writing partner John Davis.- Track listing :...
. In 2002, the band appeared as the backing musicians for the main character played by Alessandro Nivola
Alessandro Nivola
Alessandro Antine Nivola is an American actor, perhaps best known for his roles in the films Best Laid Plans, Jurassic Park III, Face/Off, and the first two films of the Goal! trilogy.-Personal life:...
in the film, Laurel Canyon
Laurel Canyon (film)
Laurel Canyon is a 2002 American drama film written and directed by Lisa Cholodenko. The film stars Frances McDormand, Christian Bale, Kate Beckinsale, Natascha McElhone, and Alessandro Nivola.-Plot:...
.
The band has not been active since 2004.
Albums
- Take A Look InsideTake a Look Inside (The Folk Implosion album)Take a Look Inside is the debut album by The Folk Implosion. It was released in 1994 on Communion Records.-Track listing:# "Blossom" – 1:00# "Sputnik's Down" – 1:16# "Slap Me" – 1:44# "Chicken Squawk" – 0:53# "Spiderweb-Butterfly" – 1:20...
(Communion, 1994) - Dare to Be SurprisedDare To Be SurprisedDare to Be Surprised is the second album by The Folk Implosion. It was released in 1997 on Communion Records.-Recording information:As per liner notes, the album was "recorded at Bliss onto videotape, 8-16 tracks." Also, "no analog equipment was used in the production of this record ".-Track...
(Communion, 1997) - One Part LullabyOne Part LullabyOne Part Lullaby is the third album by The Folk Implosion. It was released in 1999 on Interscope Records. The album is the last Folk Implosion album to feature founding member John Davis. The song "Kingdom of Lies" was featured in the Danny Boyle film A Life Less Ordinary . "Free to Go" was...
(Interscope, 1999) - The New Folk ImplosionThe New Folk ImplosionThe New Folk Implosion is the fourth album released by indie rock band Folk Implosion. Released on March 4, 2003, it was the first album by Folk Implosion without co-founder and writing partner John Davis.- Track listing :...
(Domino USA, 2003)
Singles and EPs
- Walk Through This World with the Folk ImplosionWalk Through This World with the Folk ImplosionWalk Through This World with the Folk Implosion is the first EP by The Folk Implosion. It was released on cassette by Chocolate Monk Records in 1993, catalog number Choc.5 .And it was re-released on 7" vinyl in 1994 on Drunken Fish.-Track listing:...
cassette (Chocolate Monk Records UK, 1993) - Walk Through This World with the Folk ImplosionWalk Through This World with the Folk ImplosionWalk Through This World with the Folk Implosion is the first EP by The Folk Implosion. It was released on cassette by Chocolate Monk Records in 1993, catalog number Choc.5 .And it was re-released on 7" vinyl in 1994 on Drunken Fish.-Track listing:...
7" EP (Drunken Fish Records US, 1994) - "Electric Idiot" (Ubik Records, 1995)
- "Natural OneNatural One"Natural One" is an alternative rock song by the band The Folk Implosion.It was released as a single in 1995, and was featured on the soundtrack to the Larry Clark film Kids, but does not appear in the film itself...
" (LondonLondon RecordsLondon Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
, 1995) - "Palm of My Hand" (Communion, 1996)
- The Folk Implosion (EP)The Folk Implosion (EP)The Folk Implosion is an EP by The Folk Implosion. It was released in 1994 on Communion.-Track listing:#"Palm Of My Hand"#"Mood Swing"#"Opening Day"#"Electric Idiot"#"Lo-Fi Suicide"#"I Reserve The Right To Rock"#"Final Score"-Personnel:...
(Communion, 1996) - "Pole Position" (Communion, 1997)
- "Insinuation" (Communion, 1997)
- "Free to Go" (Domino, 2000)
- "Brand of Skin" (Domino, 2003)
- "Pearl" (Domino, 2003)