8. The Freed Man (1989)

Barlow was still playing in Dinosaur Jr. when he recorded this album, with the assistance of Gaffney, and much if it is composed of half-baked (no pun intended), ill-conceived ideas. “Soul Mate” is a tune Barlow would resurrect frequently for Sebadoh live shows, in a more fleshed-out form, and this version illustrates what was on Barlow’s mind at the time — sexual confusion, angst, and a sort of agoraphobia. And “Punch In The Nose” illustrates Barlow’s rather underrated sense of a humor, as the track, which would later become a carousing sing-along anthem at Sebadoh shows, is accentuated by a somber trumpet, as he implores, “I’m not looking for a punch in the nose.”