― alex thomson, Saturday, 17 February 2001 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink
― ethan padgett, Saturday, 17 February 2001 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink
― sundar subramanian, Saturday, 17 February 2001 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink
― Josh, Saturday, 17 February 2001 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink
― Jens, Saturday, 17 February 2001 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 18 February 2001 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink
I think they're alright, I think their obvious dedication to their sound and art is fairly admirable, but the resulting records don't move me (the Christmas one is quite nice).
In some of the praise of them there's an undertow of virtues-of- simplicity stuff, and I can see why - when I listen to Low the word that often comes to mind is 'quaint'. You feel a little better for owning a Low record, I suppose, like a piece of handmade furniture or something. They're not classic.
― Tom, Monday, 19 February 2001 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink
― Josh, Monday, 19 February 2001 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink
― the pinefox, Tuesday, 13 March 2001 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink
― Mitch Lastnamewithheld, Friday, 20 July 2001 00:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
― Josh, Friday, 20 July 2001 00:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
― Phil, Friday, 20 July 2001 00:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
― Mitch Lastnamewithheld, Saturday, 21 July 2001 00:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
― anthony, Saturday, 21 July 2001 00:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
― gareth, Sunday, 22 July 2001 00:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
ha I never said on this thread that 'the curtain hits the cast' is one of my few most favorite albums ever.
― Josh, Monday, 1 July 2002 00:00 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
― Julio Desouza, Monday, 1 July 2002 00:00 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
i watched that low documentary on cable last nite. maaaaaaaan, was that boring. not even two members of napalm death could pep things up. HOW IRONIC LOW DUDE THEY ARE IN NAPALM DEATH AND YOU ARE IN LOW AND YOU ARE IN THE SAME BUILDING WHAT ARE THE ODDS. on the other hand, it made me want to listen to low records. i do like low. and watching low live from my couch is, if you ask me, the best friggin' place on earth to watch low live.
― scott seward, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 20:25 (ten years ago) Permalink
hahah, interesting post. a boring documentary that made you wanna listen to the records. i can see that. good documentary i guess, rather slow, i own it but have only watched it once, so far.
― stephen, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 20:33 (ten years ago) Permalink
the live footage is indeed superb.
that's the Low In Europe thing, right? I've got that DVD too, should really watch it again too
― StanM, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 20:43 (ten years ago) Permalink
they should have set up the most boring people alive premise even more than they did. they sould have called the doc: HOW LOW CAN YOU GO:THE DIRTY DULUTH 3 LAY WASTE TO EUROPE! with girls gone wild cover art.
― scott seward, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 20:49 (ten years ago) Permalink
Maybe the sequel will be even lower
― StanM, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 20:52 (ten years ago) Permalink
Low & Lowerer, with new bass player Jim Carrey
― StanM, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 20:53 (ten years ago) Permalink
ultimately characterless and forgettable
lol. Heard Drums and Guns?
― Daniel, Esq., Wednesday, 9 January 2008 22:20 (ten years ago) Permalink
it hadn't been released back then
― electricsound, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 22:27 (ten years ago) Permalink
i have "low in europe" and only got halfway through it. hmm. and as you all know, i adore them.
vvv tickled to see the original post -- it was alex who got me into low, some ... fucking hell, 12 years ago now. christ.
― grimly fiendish, Wednesday, 9 January 2008 22:30 (ten years ago) Permalink
which album do I listen to right now if I've never heard any of them before? quick!
― Preview of the Matrix 12, Sunday, 27 January 2008 23:44 (ten years ago) Permalink
I think The Great Destroyer is very accessible, so that may be a good entry point. But I guess Things We Lost In The Fire might be a more representative disc.
A handful of songs on the new disc (called Drums and Guns) are also an excellent introduction to the band. Try, for example, this killer (no pun intended) version of Murderer, from a live, in-studio performance last year.
― Daniel, Esq., Sunday, 27 January 2008 23:48 (ten years ago) Permalink
Things We Lost in the Fire is a great introduction. I'd also recommend Secret Name, which was my intro, also very good.
― stephen, Monday, 28 January 2008 20:19 (ten years ago) Permalink
Things We Lost in the Fire, definitely. Worked for me at least, from the first chord change.
― Z S, Monday, 28 January 2008 20:26 (ten years ago) Permalink
Anyone see that film about Low that's now showing on Pitchfork.tv? It's called You Might Need A Murderer. I didn't know how troubled Alan Spearhawk was. Semi-boring film, but a totally compelling band.
― Daniel, Esq., Sunday, 22 June 2008 01:34 (nine years ago) Permalink
Oh it's on Pitchfork.tv? Sweet, I saw it in the local record store today and passed on it ($20 brand new) but i'll totally watch it for free. One of my all time favorite bands, love these guys.
― stephen, Sunday, 22 June 2008 01:58 (nine years ago) Permalink
npr interview with the sparhawks a while ago that touched on his issues
― mookieproof, Sunday, 22 June 2008 02:00 (nine years ago) Permalink
Catch it now, Stephen. It's the "One Week Only" feature on Pitchfork.tv.
― Daniel, Esq., Sunday, 22 June 2008 02:14 (nine years ago) Permalink
That NPR interview is fascinating. Sparhawk dances around his problems some, but this is the first time I've heard he was suicidal.
― Daniel, Esq., Sunday, 22 June 2008 02:41 (nine years ago) Permalink
Thanks Daniel, I'll be sure to check it out Sunday morning when i get up :D
― stephen, Sunday, 22 June 2008 03:53 (nine years ago) Permalink
Retribution Gospel Choir (Alan's new, catchier, LOUD, rock band) played a sparsely attended show in Montreal on Friday that was fucking amazing. PLayed their hearts out for we seated folk, left my ears so happily ringing. Was sad to see him loading up the van alone in the street afterward (last time I saw Low it was at ATP with another 1000 people). If Retribution Gospel Choir come to chez toi, go go go. terrific.
― sean gramophone, Sunday, 22 June 2008 16:52 (nine years ago) Permalink
Low have subtley crept, over the course of about ten years, into the position of being my favorite existing band.
― Pillbox, Sunday, 22 June 2008 18:28 (nine years ago) Permalink
"subtly"
Some good discussion on this thread, methinks.
― Pillbox, Sunday, 22 June 2008 18:41 (nine years ago) Permalink
Retribution Gospel Choir (Alan's new, catchier, LOUD, rock band) played a sparsely attended show in Montreal on Friday that was fucking amazing.
ARGH I was on the list for this but couldn't go, damn you, job.
― Simon H., Sunday, 22 June 2008 18:44 (nine years ago) Permalink
I've seen them 7-8 times since 1997 and have observed as the venue/audience size has grown in tandem with the expanse of the band's dynamic (louder choruses, distortion pedals and such). The songs from their last few records are perfectly suited to the mid-size theatres they play these days. But my favorite gigs were one in the mid-to-late 90's, when they would come through the Ann Arbor/Detroit area quite regularly and play at little hole-in-the-wall spots: The (small) audience would generally sit on the floor and remain dead silent until the band finished playing (save for the occasional applause). There was a communal reverence, churchlike almost, unlike anything else I've experienced at rock gigs (even a "seated" Yo La Tengo show from their And Then Nothing.. tour, in which the band/venue provided the audience with folding chairs, didn't come close). It was a beautiful thing to be a part of, really.
― Pillbox, Sunday, 22 June 2008 19:12 (nine years ago) Permalink
I totally get that. I'm sure you'd agree, though, that they deserve all the additional attention -- and higher audience attendance at shows -- that they now get. I'm with you: Low has become one of my favorite, if not my absolute favorite, band of the moment.
― Daniel, Esq., Sunday, 22 June 2008 19:34 (nine years ago) Permalink
I'll third that. Best band going today.
― stephen, Sunday, 22 June 2008 19:37 (nine years ago) Permalink
i saw RGC a few years back with Kozelek and they were alright but the drummer was really stiff; if it's the same guy I'm sure they've loosened up a bit. I'm assuming Kozelek isn't on this tour.
― akm, Sunday, 22 June 2008 20:06 (nine years ago) Permalink
the best thing they played though was a crazy ass cover of "the carpet crawlers"
I'm sure you'd agree, though, that they deserve all the additional attention -- and higher audience attendance at shows
Yeah, it has actually been very rewarding to watch a humble little band like Low build and expand their aesthetic over the years, and at the same time gain popularity because of the sheer quality of their art. Even thought I have those fond memories of tiny quiet shows, I have no problem sharing Low with The World.
Strictly in terms of popularity, though, I know Low is bigger in Europe than The States, at least circa early-2000s. Was it that way in the mid-to-late 90's too? I'd been used to Low concerts being generally as described above. But then, in 2000, I moved to Dublin for college and twice saw Low in sold-out concerts at The Olympia, a fairly large theatre (fantastic shows both, one with cello!).
― Pillbox, Sunday, 22 June 2008 20:13 (nine years ago) Permalink
"thought" = though
― Pillbox, Sunday, 22 June 2008 20:15 (nine years ago) Permalink
stop all the clocks, quieten all the whisperings about low's republican tendencies:
low are playing an obama benefit somewhere.
they're also doing christmas shows in the uk, in november.
― schlump, Thursday, 17 July 2008 11:32 (nine years ago) Permalink
http://liveweb.arte.tv/fr/video/Low_Route_du_Rock/
― StanM, Monday, 5 September 2011 18:25 (six years ago) Permalink
^excellent, thanks for the link
― that's not my post, Tuesday, 6 September 2011 06:06 (six years ago) Permalink
(fyi, setlist: Nothing But Heart / Nightingale / You See Everything / Monkey / Silver Rider / Especially Me / Sunflower / Try To Sleep / Canada / Violent Past / Last Snowstorm of the Year / Murderer )
― StanM, Tuesday, 6 September 2011 07:41 (six years ago) Permalink
Awesome, thanks for this.
― scott pgwp (pgwp), Wednesday, 7 September 2011 03:15 (six years ago) Permalink
http://devonrecordclub.com/2014/07/22/low-things-we-lost-in-the-fire-round-70-toms-selection/
― yugi ex, Tuesday, 22 July 2014 08:59 (three years ago) Permalink
something about early low is hitting me hard lately, like it hasn't in several years
― Karl Malone, Monday, 6 March 2017 22:21 (one year ago) Permalink
Same!!
― Evan, Tuesday, 7 March 2017 01:02 (one year ago) Permalink
Classic.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 7 March 2017 01:52 (one year ago) Permalink
"words" is a perfect first song first album statement.
― that's not my post, Tuesday, 7 March 2017 07:56 (one year ago) Permalink
You know that there is a part of Low that just wants to record an album where they croon "You're gonna die..........." over and over again for 40 minutes.
― scott seward, Wednesday, 30 May 2018 17:21 (three weeks ago) Permalink
You could play "Shots and Ladders" 5 times in a row and achieve the same result tbh
― Simon H., Wednesday, 30 May 2018 17:47 (three weeks ago) Permalink
Sometimes I can't handle "Pretty People" because it occasionally sounds like Low in self-parody mode, now I'm imagining it running 40 minutes.
― Tim F, Wednesday, 30 May 2018 17:50 (three weeks ago) Permalink
new album double negative out in september, produced by b.j. burton
― flamenco blorf (BradNelson), Monday, 11 June 2018 18:03 (one week ago) Permalink
Press release uses the terms "abrasive" and "defiant." fun!
― Simon H., Monday, 11 June 2018 18:06 (one week ago) Permalink
Also, that has to be the ultimate Low album title
― Simon H., Monday, 11 June 2018 18:10 (one week ago) Permalink
Low - Fun!
― Evan, Monday, 11 June 2018 18:11 (one week ago) Permalink
lol
― Simon H., Monday, 11 June 2018 18:18 (one week ago) Permalink
If "abrasive" and "defiant" mean "sounds like [their best album] 'Drums and Guns'" I'm very in.
― Soundslike, Monday, 11 June 2018 19:07 (one week ago) Permalink
It sounds like it's a noisier, tighter version of the last album.
― Simon H., Monday, 11 June 2018 19:10 (one week ago) Permalink
alan was rocking this incredible disintegrating guitar tone when i saw them a few months back, can't wait to hear that on record
― diamonddave85 (diamonddave85), Monday, 11 June 2018 19:27 (one week ago) Permalink
like the classic Neil Young jet engine guitar sound?
― StanM, Monday, 11 June 2018 20:01 (one week ago) Permalink
close to dead man but instead of letting the notes ring, they crumble
― diamonddave85 (diamonddave85), Monday, 11 June 2018 21:02 (one week ago) Permalink
Has the album been announced? They seem to have disappeared from the Sub Pop website. Looking forward to the Leeds show next week. I have a spare ticket if anyone's after one.
― michaellambert, Monday, 11 June 2018 22:36 (one week ago) Permalink
only via this listing AFAICT
https://www.cargo-records.de/en/item/126785/katalog_art.123.html
― Simon H., Tuesday, 12 June 2018 01:40 (one week ago) Permalink
hope this is as great as The Great Destroyer/Trust/Secret Name/Things We Lost In The Fire because nothing they have done since those has been as compelling imo
― Dan S, Tuesday, 12 June 2018 02:05 (one week ago) Permalink
I'm a little sad it doesn't seem like we're ever getting a Mimi solo album as I seem to imagine Alan teased quite a long time ago. (Though for anyone who hasn't heard it, his Solo Guitar is a neat bit of soundscaping.)
― Simon H., Tuesday, 12 June 2018 02:13 (one week ago) Permalink
first 15 mins of the new album:
https://open.spotify.com/album/6nfpfcAiNLaxyFxwcj0lkm
― matt h, Tuesday, 12 June 2018 11:51 (one week ago) Permalink
holy shit @ glitch ghost Mimi!
― Simon H., Tuesday, 12 June 2018 13:14 (one week ago) Permalink
oh good this sounds like autechre
― flamenco blorf (BradNelson), Tuesday, 12 June 2018 13:20 (one week ago) Permalink
I really hate to make this comparison ever but this is sounding very Kid A and I'm into it
― Simon H., Tuesday, 12 June 2018 13:24 (one week ago) Permalink
it's amazing that The Invisible Way was only two albums ago lol
― Simon H., Tuesday, 12 June 2018 13:25 (one week ago) Permalink
aoty probably
― flamenco blorf (BradNelson), Tuesday, 12 June 2018 13:25 (one week ago) Permalink
:D
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Tuesday, 12 June 2018 13:31 (one week ago) Permalink
whoa
― diamonddave85 (diamonddave85), Tuesday, 12 June 2018 15:02 (one week ago) Permalink
Very excited for this. I thought that Ones and Sixes was a great look for them (especially the colder parts like the first two tracks and "DJ") and am pleased that they seem to have travelled some distance further down that road.
"Quorum" really does sound like Autechre.
― Tim F, Tuesday, 12 June 2018 17:52 (one week ago) Permalink
Going #fullBrad here but aoty. This is amazing.
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Tuesday, 12 June 2018 18:42 (one week ago) Permalink
I've listened to these 4-5 times and I'm just mad we have to wait three months for the rest
― Simon H., Tuesday, 12 June 2018 18:43 (one week ago) Permalink
For real.
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Tuesday, 12 June 2018 18:47 (one week ago) Permalink
Didn't see this coming at all. Awesome music.
― Jeff W, Tuesday, 12 June 2018 19:07 (one week ago) Permalink
There's video too, suitably glitchy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvEozu4Obfs
― Jeff W, Tuesday, 12 June 2018 19:12 (one week ago) Permalink
Sub Pop is offering a pretty good deal for a bundle of their last 5 LPs.
― Simon H., Tuesday, 12 June 2018 19:12 (one week ago) Permalink
holy shit these new songs are amazing. i'm so gutted that the local show for me (leeds, UK) is sold out... though i did see them in LA last year, and briefly met alan. he was sweet.
― meaulnes, Tuesday, 12 June 2018 21:05 (one week ago) Permalink
wowowowowowow
excellent video too
― obviously DLC (Karl Malone), Tuesday, 12 June 2018 22:20 (one week ago) Permalink
when did they turn into Andy Stott?
― boxedjoy, Tuesday, 12 June 2018 22:30 (one week ago) Permalink
each of the three are so good in different ways. "dancing in blood" in particular raises goosebumps at times. if they hadn't done anything since trust/great destroyer times, then released this, it would sound like a portishead third kind of return. really refreshing to hear their voices and some of the same guitar tones in a new context
― obviously DLC (Karl Malone), Tuesday, 12 June 2018 22:31 (one week ago) Permalink
Wow. I'm surprised and amazed. These are utterly unexpected, but progress into something that is unmistakably them and really beautiful. Dancing In Blood gave me goosebumps too, then the latter stages of Fly hit and... just wow.
― brain (krakow), Tuesday, 12 June 2018 23:19 (one week ago) Permalink
This is fucking fantastic. Exactly what I've been hoping for from them since 'Drums & Guns'. They're wonderful even when they're just doing what comes naturally, and sometimes amazing with it (i.e. 'Secret Name'). But they're always so exciting when they take the sweet simplicity of their elemental sound and just absolutely fuck with it (i.e. 'Bombscare' EP, 'Drums & Guns').
I've been listening intently for 22 years, and based on these three songs, this has the potential to be their best work yet, at least for ears like mine.
― Soundslike, Wednesday, 13 June 2018 00:07 (one week ago) Permalink
Karl Malone, if you're digging this--the way you're referencing Trust/Great Destroyer as their last great work--did you hear 'Drums & Guns'? If not, you're in for a huge thrill.
― Soundslike, Wednesday, 13 June 2018 00:08 (one week ago) Permalink
If somehow there are folks that don't know the 'Bombscare' EP, it's fantastic and maybe the most direct precursor to the sound of these new tracks, from 18 (!?! I'm old) years ago, and what firmly cemented my love of Low:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRoIbBbJx4U
― Soundslike, Wednesday, 13 June 2018 00:13 (one week ago) Permalink
the bombscare EP is really good! thanks for posting that. it does have a very different sound from their other work around the turn of the century, but i dunno, these new tracks still sound like a different place altogether to me.
i listened to drums & guns exactly in full exactly once, but the last two tracks are the ones i always go back to.
― obviously DLC (Karl Malone), Wednesday, 13 June 2018 20:10 (one week ago) Permalink