The Folk Implosion-Dare To Be Surprised (1997)
Artist: The Folk Implosion
Title: Dare To Be Surprised
Label: Communion
Format: CD
Cat #: comm 45
Year of Release: 1997
Country and Year of Edition Issue: US 1997
Listed Condition: VG+/NM
Sell Date: 11/10/25
Sell Price: $4.59
Discogs Last Sold: 9/23/25 VG+/VG $3.50
Low: $1.00
Median: $4.11
Average: $4.69
High: $9.30
Current low price: $1.78
Current Number on Sale at Discogs: 45
Have/Want: 1146/81
Where Sold: Ashburn, VA
Time it took to sell: 15 years
Where and When Bought: new either sounds or Kims on St. Marks
Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: B
Sad To See It Go: No
"Next month will be over the bump/and tomorrow it's pumpkin pie"-Fall Into November
Lou Barlow made a timely seasonal classic for mid-November on Dare To Be Surprised. Outside of "Alice's Restaurant" ON Thanksgiving, I can't think of any other songs that lead up to Thanksgiving. There were a couple good single EP's that led up to this full length--"Pole Position" and "Insinuation" that made this album seem more familiar than it actually was. I do remember being somewhat excited to hear it when it came out in 1997. It was hot off the heels of the Kids Soundtrack where suddenly Folk Implosion was producing more popular material than Sebadoh or Dinosaur ever did. If only for a blip in time.
That blip didn't stick and John Davis followed the path of people like Ed Fromohio and went back to his chosen profession (teaching) after a few years in the spotlight. While watching the "Insinuation" video I had a disturbing thought that they were the Simon & Garfunkel of 90's indie rock in presentation if not actuality. Davis lyricism, Barlow's higher voice blend, but then I let that thought evaporate. Except it went from a funny thought to one where there was some critical heft behind it that I'd rather not explore.
New blood, new inspiration, bigger success, but the charts are a fickle beast. In recent years there has been some activity after a 20 year hiatus, so I guess an old dog or a little lamb in this case can be taught new tricks after all. Trip hop light made dense neuroticism palatable for the masses in a way freak folk 4-track dorkin' around never could. This new record sounded pretty good passively streaming it in the background while writing this. Perhaps I will give it a focused listening someday.
As for Dare To Be Surprised, it is pleasant enough if not particularly; surprising (save for the pumpkin pie song "Fall Into November" that jumped out at me after decades of having no recollection of it). "Ball and Chain" was another one that stuck out on the third listen. Fitting for the last Folk Implosion record I genuinely cared about even if I bought the one after it. There was a late-night barroom conversation recently where somebody that wasn't me claimed that the only Dinosaur Jr. song he really thought was any good was outted by someone else as a Lou Barlow song that probably wasn't "Don't" or "Poledo" and went on to rip all things Mascis in vocal presentation and content. I doubt I'd present Dare To Be Surprised as a crucial exhibit to further back his claim.
I let the conversation ride.
FOR FURTHER REVIEW:
Sentridoh-The Mysterious Sentridoh EP (1993)
Sebadoh-Local Band Feel (1994)
Sebadoh-Rocking The Forest (1992)
Sebadoh-Smash Your Head On The Punk Rock (1992)
Various Artists-The Lounge Axe Defense and Relocation Compact Disc (1996)
Dinosaur Jr. @ Lena Horne Bandshell, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY 7/17/25
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