they really capture how memories can be both vague and sharp simultaneously.
In many ways one of the greatest evocations of memory in all of art, some vague facts or ideas linked with a couple of specific points.
― Long enough attention span for a Stephen Bissette blu-ray extra (aldo), Wednesday, 24 November 2021 00:11 (two years ago) link
"Trust" the hardest to whittle down, but across all the records it seemed the angrier, weirder-production tracks like John Prine remained standing and left a much stronger impression over the breezier Canadas and Californias. I guess it's the name of the game, but still painful to fit into the 30. Maybe they felt cul-de-sac'd by the same since the last two records.
― matt h, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 00:15 (two years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/PU8peJD.png44. LiesReleased on Ones and Sixes (2015)273 points, 9 votersMusic video
― ufo, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 00:16 (two years ago) link
one of the highlights from ones and sixes but i couldn't quite get it on my ballot
― ufo, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 00:30 (two years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/G1mwVPw.png43. JulyReleased on Things We Lost In The Fire (2001)274 points, 10 votersMusic video
'always up' was my #2-- such a beautiful song. i think the only reason it's not my #1 is because i've only lived with it for a few years
― diamonddave85 (diamonddave85), Wednesday, 24 November 2021 00:48 (two years ago) link
I love the triptych of "Always Up" / "Always Trying To Work It Out" / "Always In The Dark" - feels like a real descent.
― Tim F, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 00:50 (two years ago) link
Happy to see some of the C'mon tracks make it, after the album DNPed in the albums poll. "Nightingale" is one of those tracks that might sound generic or sleepy to some, but to me has an ineffable beauty
Very impressed by the variety of the tracks so far, what a band
― Vinnie, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 00:51 (two years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/lyJT2xI.png42. CaliforniaReleased on The Great Destroyer (2005)276 points, 9 votersMusic video
― ufo, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 00:52 (two years ago) link
Xp the word "Always" falls on the same beats in all three songs, makes me wonder if they were all born out of the same idea
― Vinnie, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 00:52 (two years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/Tcj5iLG.png41. The Price You Pay (It Must Be Wearing Off)Released on HEY WHAT (2021)277 points, 9 votersStudio version
last one for today. i really meant to get through these a little quicker but i got distracted. probably should have settled for stopping at 46, oh well
― ufo, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 00:58 (two years ago) link
one of my favorites from the new one. the way mimi's voice is consumed by and struggles with the noize section is incredible
― diamonddave85 (diamonddave85), Wednesday, 24 November 2021 03:05 (two years ago) link
yes, one of my faves as well, and in my top 10
― just staying (Karl Malone), Wednesday, 24 November 2021 03:17 (two years ago) link
I didn't vote for anything from HEY WHAT more out of principle -- too new, too many other great Low songs -- but in all fairness should have voted for The Price You Pay and one or two others. If this poll had happened next year then I probably would have.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 05:02 (two years ago) link
“Venus” was a really lovely surprise while doing a deep dive through their Temporary Relief comp.
― Western® with Bacon Flavor, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 07:03 (two years ago) link
So far I've voted for Gentle, Spanish Translation, Dancing and Blood (love that pulse sound), Especially Me, Lies, Anon (too low ! that sustained note in the near-void) and July. Would have liked to vote for Immune, it was one of the last one to go.
― Nabozo, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 07:49 (two years ago) link
For me, John Prine is the centrepiece of Trust, it feels like an exercise to produce a seven minute track with the maximum amount of space between the notes (even for Low). It encapsulates what the album is about, at least for me, and that's why I voted for it even though I don't think it's necessarily the best song on the album.
I just realized that Pissing (on GD) has the same chord progression (I think) as John Prine and sees them taking that exercise to the opposite extreme -- maximize the number of notes filling up the space between simple chord changes.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 08:55 (two years ago) link
July ended up being my #3, they restrain themselves from taking the brakes off and doing the more maximal sun-breaking-through-the-melancholy a lot more than I remembered but when they do (Like a Forest, Soon, Will the Night etc) it's devastatingly effective.
― matt h, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 09:11 (two years ago) link
I was the #1 voter for Immune. Secret Name was my route into Low after I had a real 'moment' with Immune during the John Peel Festive 50 countdown in late-Dec 1999 - it was played unannounced and felt so much more insistent and coiled and warm than I'd previously perceived them to be; I was really surprised and delighted when I found out who it was.
California also in my top 5 - such an addictive track!, and really interesting that this and Just Like Christmas haven't just defaulted to top 10 placings. I think that (from a UK perspective at least), these two are kind of 'the hits'.
― technopolis, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 09:21 (two years ago) link
A little shocked that Anon was so low, but then again I'm shocked that Curtain wasn't voted #1 album.
I'm starting to think I should have ranked my tracks so I'd agree with this list more.
― I'm a sovereign jizz citizen (the table is the table), Wednesday, 24 November 2021 11:47 (two years ago) link
Immune and California both in my top 10 - Immune is such a simple song but it's totally perfect; California maybe not totally representative of The Great Destroyer but it definitely unlocked that album for me.
― Gavin, Leeds, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 15:27 (two years ago) link
only voted for one of these tracks so far, but I like a lot of them!
― Dan S, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 16:35 (two years ago) link
I've been thinking a lot about any reasons beyond sentiment and age that might influence my feelings toward Low's output, and I realize that there might be something about the earlier albums *lyrically* that could be part of it. The lyrics of the early records feel hermetic and cryptic yet strangely associative and narrativizing (I think of "Mom Says" or "Cut" as good examples). Starting around "The Great Destroyer," there was a sense (for me) that their lyric was expanding and becoming more outward-facing, and I think that the more recent records certainly put that in relief, in that they're pretty direct sociopolitical statements. And maybe that's why the more threatening and cryptic vibes of tracks like "Murderer" or "Take Your Time" or "Dancing and Blood" tend to be the tracks from the later records that feel most like older Low to me, and why I like them best of the newer stuff...there's something about suggestion that is much more interesting to me than directness.
That could just be me spitballing too much, tho.
― I'm a sovereign jizz citizen (the table is the table), Wednesday, 24 November 2021 17:18 (two years ago) link
so far:61. Nightingale - 176 points, 5 voters61. I Remember - 176 points, 5 voters60. Gentle - 177 points, 6 voters58. Spanish Translation - 186 points, 7 voters, 1 #1 vote58. Like a Forest - 186 points, 6 voters57. Days Like These - 202 points, 7 voters55. John Prine - 206 points, 7 voters55. Belarus - 206 points, 6 voters54. Soon - 216 points, 8 voters, 1 #1 vote53. Sleep at the Bottom - 233 points, 8 voters, 1 #1 vote52. Dancing and Blood - 237 points, 7 voters50. More - 238 points, 10 voters, 1 #1 vote50. Especially Me - 238 points, 9 voters, 1 #1 vote49. Immune - 250 points, 5 voters, 1 #1 vote48. Anon - 257 points, 7 voters47. Just Like Christmas - 266 points, 7 voters46. Venus - 270 points, 11 voters45. Always Up - 271 points, 6 voters44. Lies - 273 points, 9 voters43. July - 274 points, 10 voters42. California - 276 points, 9 voters41. The Price You Pay (It Must Be Wearing Off) - 277 points, 9 voters
― ufo, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 20:16 (two years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/9nQOrwL.png40. TempestReleased on Double Negative (2018)278 points, 7 votersStudio versionEarthQuaker Session
― ufo, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 20:17 (two years ago) link
What is that thing on the cover anyway
― licorice in the front, pizza in the rear (Whiney G. Weingarten), Wednesday, 24 November 2021 20:18 (two years ago) link
some sort of mask i think
― diamonddave85 (diamonddave85), Wednesday, 24 November 2021 20:25 (two years ago) link
i really love "tempest", those waves of sidechained distortion are gorgeous
― ufo, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 20:31 (two years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/whaWxK5.png39. Last Snowstorm of the YearReleased on Trust (2002)279 points, 8 votersStudio version
― ufo, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 20:32 (two years ago) link
I love Tempest so much! I discovered that EarthQuaker session yesterday while following the rollout, and looked back in disbelief at how low I had it on my ballot. Really a perfect summation of what's so great about Double Negative: there are amazing, amazing songs at its core.
― cwkiii, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 20:38 (two years ago) link
Last Snowstorm of the Year is also incredible. :)
― cwkiii, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 20:39 (two years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/XX4CDB1.png37. WhitetailReleased on Things We Lost In The Fire (2001)285 points, 8 votersMusic video
https://i.imgur.com/GpBCMwN.png37. LandslideReleased on Ones and Sixes (2015)285 points, 11 votersStudio version
― ufo, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 20:46 (two years ago) link
I know you can probably say something like this about pretty much any song so far, but how does the band that wrote Landslide have 36 better songs? They really might be the best band.
― cwkiii, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 20:52 (two years ago) link
I am here for the content-free filler while everyone else is busy.
Oh shit, they're playing here in February! I should snag tickets.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 20:53 (two years ago) link
“tempest” didn’t make my ballot but it’s a really incredible track - those last 30 seconds where it sounds like the band is drowning
― donna rouge, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 21:00 (two years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/nEItCQr.png35. Weight of WaterReleased on Secret Name (1999)291 points, 9 voters, 1 #1 voteMusic video
https://i.imgur.com/cUMZQMo.png35. No ComprendeReleased on Ones and Sixes (2015)291 points, 11 votersStudio version
― ufo, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 21:00 (two years ago) link
“whitetail” otoh did make my ballot - amazing creeping dread
― donna rouge, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 21:01 (two years ago) link
I had Weight of Water at number one and I can't quite believe that it's so far down in the rankingsSame for Whitetail which was second in my list
― treefell, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 21:02 (two years ago) link
Hearing "No Comprende" the last time I saw them live was the precise moment where I recognized, whoa, I clearly didn't give "Ones and Sixes" the time and attention it deserved.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 21:03 (two years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/nm1a8s8.png34. Broadway (So Many People)Released on The Great Destroyer (2005)302 points, 7 votersStudio version
― ufo, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 21:15 (two years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/PtF6Tfu.png33. The LambReleased on Trust (2002)303 points, 7 voters, 1 #1 voteStudio version
― ufo, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 21:30 (two years ago) link
I guess for the 25th time I am going to need to give Trust another try to see why you all rate it so highly amongst all their albums. Like all things Low I love every album but I still have always placed this album near the bottom of my personal rankings. And I only nominated one song in my top 30.
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Wednesday, 24 November 2021 21:33 (two years ago) link
Whitetail way too lowwwwwwwwww
― licorice in the front, pizza in the rear (Whiney G. Weingarten), Wednesday, 24 November 2021 21:33 (two years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/09hXPao.png31. Violent PastReleased on Drums and Guns (2007)310 points, 10 voters, 1 #1 voteStudio versionLive 2013
https://i.imgur.com/3HepswN.png31. Will the NightReleased on Songs For A Dead Pilot (1997) & Secret Name (1999)310 points, 11 voters, 1 #1 vote56 points for the Songs For A Dead Pilot versionSongs For A Dead Pilot music videoSecret Name versionPeel SessionDemo
― ufo, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 21:47 (two years ago) link
Woah. Some serious TOO low placings here. Weight of Water - I thought was a lock for Top Ten. I adore Broadway but I can see how it may not be everyone's idea of Low.
I'm a Dead Pilots voter for Will The Night. In retrospect it's another of those recordings that sound a little like the early stuff. A bit more ambient maybe.
Dead Pilots was my entry level to Low and I'm a little concerned my Number one might not make it?
― kraudive, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 21:59 (two years ago) link
There are number one places all over the place here. This is unprecedented, right?
― kraudive, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 22:00 (two years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/xstlYtJ.png30. White HorsesReleased on HEY WHAT (2021)331 points, 10 votersMusic video
― ufo, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 22:01 (two years ago) link
there is not a huge amount of consensus with the #1 votes yeah
not sure exactly how unusual that is though
The Lamb was my #1. Every distant creak and reverberant stomp is magical to my ears.
― Hideous Lump, Wednesday, 24 November 2021 22:01 (two years ago) link