The Folk Implosion: One Part Lullaby : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Lou Barlow states his case on "My Ritual," the first song of the Folk Implosion's wonder-filled third album. Leading a sweet chorus of croons that would impress the Byrds, he declares, "It's getting easy not to suffer all the time . . . /Happy anarchy is all I really crave." That's the tenor of One Part Lullaby, a CD that takes sardonic low-fi minimalism and makes it into transcendentally tinny pop. Lullaby lilts and entices without losing its smirk. The analog-synth title track palpitates with trippy Sixties romanticism, backed by a cloud of shuffling drums that loop lazier than smoke from the far end of a bong. "Mechanical Man" casts a shrewd lyrical eye on relationship politics as its guitar-and-organ accompaniment blissfully bobbles along in a love-soaked daze. One Part Lullaby enjoys its contradictions. And with the sly grace of a beguiling child, it demands that we love them, too. (RS 818)