# Bakesale

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This article is about the Sebadoh album. For the fund raising event, see [Bake sale](/source/Bake_sale).

***Bakesale*** is the fifth album by American [indie rock](/source/Indie_rock) band [Sebadoh](/source/Sebadoh), released by [Sub Pop](/source/Sub_Pop) in 1994. It was the first Sebadoh album released following the departure of founding member, [Eric Gaffney](/source/Eric_Gaffney), though he did drum on four of the album's tracks from a session engineered by [Bob Weston](/source/Bob_Weston). [Tara Jane O'Neil](/source/Tara_Jane_O'Neil) contributed drums to three tracks. Bob Fay, who had previously filled in for Gaffney, officially joined the band for this record. The cover is a photograph of [Lou Barlow](/source/Lou_Barlow), one year old, taken by his mother. The back cover features Bob Fay in his childhood, along with his two brothers. For the reissue, the can of Comet (originally sitting on the toilet tank) was airbrushed out of the cover.

## Recording

Initial sessions for the album were done at [Steve Albini](/source/Steve_Albini)'s home in [Chicago, Illinois](/source/Chicago,_Illinois) with [Bob Weston](/source/Bob_Weston), though the band didn't work with Albini. Four songs were recorded with Gaffney, which became his final recordings with the band. Further sessions were held at [Fort Apache Studios](/source/Fort_Apache_Studios) in [Boston, Massachusetts](/source/Boston,_Massachusetts) after Gaffney had quit and been replaced by Fay.[1]

## Music

As a result of Gaffney's departure, the songwriting on *Bakesale* was handled primarily by Barlow and Loewenstein, with Fay contributing the lone track, "Temptation Tide". The album continues the band's departure from the largely [acoustic](/source/Acoustic_guitar), [lo-fi](/source/Lo-fi_music) sound and shorter song structures that characterized their first three albums, and boasts a more polished production value than previous Sebadoh albums. This helped the band not only expand its underground following but flirt with mainstream success,[2] and several [singles](/source/Music_single) and even a few [music videos](/source/Music_video) were released from the album.

## Reception

*Bakesale* was initially well received by critics. It was included in a number of year-end lists in 1994, including *[Spin's](/source/Spin_Magazine)* "20 Best Albums of '94" (#16), the *[Village Voice](/source/Village_Voice)**s "1994 [Pazz & Jop Critics Poll](/source/Pazz_%26_Jop_Critics_Poll)" (#20), the*****[NME](/source/NME)**s "25 Best Albums of 1994" (#27), and *[Mojo's](/source/Mojo_Magazine)* "25 Best Albums of 1994" (unranked).

In the years since its release, *Bakesale* has come to be regarded as Sebadoh's most accessible album, with a more polished production than previous Sebadoh albums, and consistent songwriting from Barlow and Loewenstein.[3] Upon its re-release in 2011, Jess Harvell of *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))* called it "their most focused and purely pleasurable record", and "a strong and lovable essay on 90s [indie's](/source/Indie_rock) charms".[4] Zachary Houle of *[PopMatters](/source/PopMatters)* called it "a totemic touchstone of a record, one that is arguably as important to the development of indie-rock as a form as [Guided by Voices](/source/Guided_by_Voices)' *[Bee Thousand](/source/Bee_Thousand)* and [Pavement](/source/Pavement_(band))'s *[Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain](/source/Crooked_Rain,_Crooked_Rain)*."[5] In 2014, John Everhart of *[Stereogum](/source/Stereogum)* wrote that the album "doesn't have the highs of *[Bubble & Scrape](/source/Bubble_%26_Scrape)*, nor the epochal status of *[Sebadoh III](/source/Sebadoh_III)*, but *Bakesale* is the [Sebadoh] record you'll find yourself captivated by most immediately, listening to from start to finish."[6]

Barlow himself wrote that *Bakesale* seems to be "the most fondly remembered and the most highly regarded" Sebadoh album, though he doesn't consider it the band's best, calling it less interesting than *Sebadoh III*, *Bubble & Scrape* and *[The Sebadoh](/source/The_Sebadoh)*.[7]

In July 2008, it was listed by *Pitchfork* as one of the publication's 20 favorite Sub Pop albums, with Stuart Berman writing that it represented "a long overdue document of the band's pop prowess" for many longtime fans.[8] In July 2014, *[Guitar World](/source/Guitar_World)* placed *Bakesale* at number 37 in their "Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994" list.[9]

## Singles

"[Rebound](/source/Rebound_(Sebadoh_song))" was released as the album's first single in 1994, as a [7" vinyl record](/source/Gramophone_record) in the UK. The second single was for the song "[Skull](/source/Skull_(song))", released in 1994 as a 7" in the US and as a CD in the UK, both versions featuring the same three [B-sides](/source/B-side), but the US version featuring a [remixed](/source/Remix) version of "Skull". The UK releases were handled by [Domino](/source/Domino_Recording_Company), while the US release was put out by Sub Pop.

The following singles, both on CD, were for the songs "[Careful](/source/Careful_EP)", released in 1994 in Germany by [City Slang](/source/City_Slang), and "[Magnet's Coil](/source/Magnet's_Coil)", released in 1995 in Australia by [Shock](/source/Shock_Records). The final single was for the song "[Not Too Amused](/source/Not_Too_Amused_EP)", released in 1995 as a CD and 7" in the UK by Domino. A "Rebound" [EP](/source/Extended_play) was released by Sub Pop in 1995, featuring different b-sides and cover art from the 1994 UK 7".[10]

## Music videos

Music videos were released for the songs "Rebound" and "Skull".

## Reissue

The album was reissued in 2011, featuring a second disc of bonus material and new [liner notes](/source/Liner_notes).

## Track listing

1. "License to Confuse" (Barlow) – 1:45
1. "Careful" (Loewenstein) – 2:44
1. "Magnet's Coil" (Barlow) – 2:27
1. "Not a Friend" (Barlow) – 3:40
1. "[Not Too Amused](/source/Not_Too_Amused)" (Loewenstein) – 4:15
1. "Dreams" (Barlow) – 2:39
1. "[Skull](/source/Skull_(song))" (Barlow) – 2:24
1. "Got It" (Loewenstein) – 2:16
1. "S. Soup" (Loewenstein) – 3:16 - Short for "Shit Soup"
1. "Give Up" (Barlow) – 2:27
1. "[Rebound](/source/Rebound_(Sebadoh_song))" (Barlow) – 2:12
1. "Mystery Man" (Barlow) – 3:08
1. "Temptation Tide" (Fay) – 1:53
1. "Drama Mine" (Loewenstein) – 2:42
1. "Together or Alone" (Barlow) – 4:03

### Extra disc (2011 reissue)

1. "MOR Backlash"
1. "Not a Friend" (4-track)
1. "Foreground"
1. "40203"
1. "Mystery Man" (4-track)
1. "Drumstick Jumble"
1. "Lime Kiln"
1. "Fancy-ass / Destitute"
1. "Perfect Way" (4-track)
1. "Give the Drummer Some"
1. "Cementville"
1. "Social Medicine"
1. "On Fire" (acoustic)
1. "Magnet's Coil" (acoustic)
1. "Rebound" (acoustic)
1. "Punching Myself in the Face Repeatedly, Publicly"
1. "Sing Something / Plate of Hatred"
1. "III Screams"
1. "Monsoon"
1. "Rainbow Farm"
1. "Hank Williams"
1. "Careful"
1. "Dramamine"
1. "Not Too Amused"
1. "Shit Soup"

## Personnel

- [Lou Barlow](/source/Lou_Barlow) – vocals, guitar, organ
- [Jason Loewenstein](/source/Jason_Loewenstein) – vocals, bass guitar, guitar
- Bob Fay – drums, vocals

**Additional personnel**

- Anne Slinn – vocals, organ
- [Eric Gaffney](/source/Eric_Gaffney) – drums
- [Tara O'Neil](/source/Tara_Jane_O'Neil) – drums

## Charts

### Weekly charts

Chart (1994) Peak position UK Albums Chart[11] 40

### Singles

Year Song Chart Position 1994 "Skull" UK Singles Chart[11] 84

## References

1. ["The Making of Sebadoh's Bakesale | Wondering Sound"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150723182600/http://www.wonderingsound.com/interview/the-making-of-sebadohs-bakesale/). Archived from [the original](http://www.wonderingsound.com/interview/the-making-of-sebadohs-bakesale/) on July 23, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2015.

1. ["Sebadoh"](http://www.allmusic.com/artist/sebadoh-mn0000840523). AllMusic. Retrieved August 10, 2014.

1. Deming, Mark. ["Bakesale – Sebadoh"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/bakesale-mw0000625153). [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic). Retrieved September 30, 2011.

1. Harvell, Jess (June 14, 2011). ["Sebadoh: Bakesale \[Deluxe Edition\]"](http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15522-bakesale-deluxe-edition/). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))*. Retrieved September 30, 2011.

1. Houle, Zachary (June 15, 2011). ["Sebadoh: Bakesale (Deluxe Edition)"](https://www.popmatters.com/142334-sebadoh-bakesale-deluxe-edition-2496009306.html). *[PopMatters](/source/PopMatters)*. Retrieved May 1, 2020.

1. Everhart, John (August 22, 2014). ["Bakesale Turns 20"](https://www.stereogum.com/1700531/bakesale-turns-20/franchises/the-anniversary/). *[Stereogum](/source/Stereogum)*. Retrieved May 1, 2020.

1. ["Sub Pop reissues Sebadoh's 1994 classic Bakesale"](https://www.sandiego.com/articles/2011-06-27/sub-pop-reissues-sebadohs-1994-classic-bakesale). *www.sandiego.com*. June 27, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2020.[dead link]

1. Staff, Pitchfork (July 11, 2008). ["Staff Lists: Sub Pop 20 | Features"](http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7150-sub-pop-20/). Pitchfork. Retrieved September 30, 2011.

1. ["Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140715053900/http://www.guitarworld.com/superunknown-50-iconic-albums-defined-1994). *[GuitarWorld.com](/source/Guitar_World)*. July 14, 2014. Archived from [the original](http://www.guitarworld.com/superunknown-50-iconic-albums-defined-1994) on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.

1. ["sebadoh – singles and eps"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110826225615/http://sebadoh-and-suchlike.org/discography/sebadoh/singles.html). sebadoh and suchlike. Archived from [the original](http://sebadoh-and-suchlike.org/discography/sebadoh/singles.html) on August 26, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2011.

1. ["Sebadoh | full Official Chart History"](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/33016/sebadoh/). [Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company). Retrieved September 9, 2020.

## External links

- ["Skull" music video](http://russellbates.com/work/sebadoh-skull/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bakesale](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakesale) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakesale?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.