My Top 2000 Songs #1160: Brand New Love

Sebadoh's simultaneously gorgeous and emotionally grueling "Brand New Love" went through a number of permutations. It was first recorded by Lou Barlow (under the moniker Sentridoh) in the 1980s, while he was still playing with Dinosaur Jr., as a stripped-down acoustic home recording. That version, gorgeous and hushed but gradually building, saw release on Sebadoh's 1990 compilation The Free Weed, collecting various Barlow home recordings.

Superchunk then covered it for a 1991 EP of Sebadoh covers, turning the gentle ballad into a rousing post-punk anthem, retaining its sweet melody but cranking the amps up to 11. Barlow, presumably inspired by the cover, seized it back, creating a hybrid of sorts for a 1992 EP (showing up on the collection Smash Your Head On The Punk Rock); the re-recording retains the slowed-down acoustic verses of the original, while plugging in the guitars for the thrashier chorus and ultimately devolving into thrashing Velvet Underground chaos.

All of these are great, and I don't really have a favorite. Superchunk highlights the pop hooks, but Barlow's vocals best convey the schizoid sentiments of the song, which varies from an earnest ode to love and obsession to something far darker and more bitter.

Barlow original:

Superchunk cover:

Sebadoh remake:

Sebadoh live 1995:

Superchunk live 1993:

Pretty Ben Lee cover:

Death Cab For Cutie's cover, part of a medley ("Love" kicks in around 3:00 into the song):

Yo La Tengo try to figure it out during one of their all-request radio fundraisers:

Deadsy cover: