Too LOW: ILM Artist Poll #111 - Low - RESULTS

I like the cover of "Fearless" because the song itself rules, but they don't really do anything with it. Unlike "Down by the River" and "Transmission," they don't make it a Low song.

I ultimately cut all covers from my Top 30 ballot, but "Down" and "Trans." were the last to go.

My #1 was Ones and Sixes, I really can get lost in that album, which is very consistent and like an enclosed universe. Double Negative probably gives a similar impression. I voted for Long Division over I could live in hope, both high in my ballot, surprised this album is not more loved. Trust, Things We Lost in the Fire, and The Curtain Hits the Cast (voted for in that order next to each other) I find of similar strength, with many highlights, but with passages that occasionally keep me at bay over an album length.

Curtain was my #1. I'm actually surprised less of the current era fans get behind it, not least because of the imperious DYKHTW - which unsurprisingly became the centrepiece of touring Double Negative since it"s clearly the progenitor in their history.

Who else was the Exit Papers voter? Love that record.

I didn't expect "Things We Lost in the Fire" to get the most #1 votes, at least not by that margin. It was my #2, and DN my #1, so I can't really complain.

Their covers have never done much for me, having not heard most of them, I didn't send a covers ballot. "Transmission" is too slow (a dumb and obvious thing to say, but it is what it is), "Lord Can You Hear Me?" is one of the worst songs on an otherwise excellent S3 tribute album. "Sunshine" works as a stylistic coda to "I Could Live In Hope" but is otherwise bland and uninspired. I do like the Smiths cover though.

Enjoyed reading that interview Soundslike, first time I read his thoughts outside their music, thanks for sharing !

A day behind here but I did not expect those album results - was sure Curtain would be a runaway #1, Things We Lost and Trust were my top two so I'm happy to see the love for them. I know it's early days but I think Hey What improves slightly on Double Negative, just a bit stronger melodically.

Hey What is more accessible because on that one vs DN the vocals are not also buried in noise, and that discrepancy sounds more powerful to me as a result as well.

man, that "down by the river" cover is something else

i am unfortunately awake far too early so i'll kick off the tracks rollout soon

https://i.imgur.com/itAHVla.png
61. I Remember
Released on Secret Name (1999)
176 points, 5 voters
Studio version
Alternate version (released on "Immune" single)

https://i.imgur.com/InlDTd8.png
61. Nightingale
Released on C'mon (2011)
176 points, 5 voters
Studio version

almost voted for 'I Remember'! one of many Low songs that are perfect in the context of the album its on

Love "I Remember," and it was one of the last I cut from my list of tracks.

Who did the images?

it's all my work

for those who are into such things

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1GrLJ5GUNVF4UJtRDA9iT0?si=ea3c57f12296426f

Images are v nice ufo, good work

https://i.imgur.com/u3J7sDx.png
60. Gentle
Released on Ones and Sixes (2015)
177 points, 6 voters
Studio version

ah thanks whiney, my graphic design skills are fairly amateur but i'm quite happy with how most of the images for this turned out

i'm a big fan of "gentle", my favourite from ones and sixes. probably the most direct predecessor to double negative? the slight shift halfway through is wonderful

Ones and 60s

I Remember was my #5. The layers of tape hiss make it feel like some mysterious recovered broadcast from a ghostly numbers station.

Low should have played the Roadhouse in Twin Peaks season 3.

Good call

https://i.imgur.com/OBUpf8m.png
58. Like a Forest
Released on Things We Lost In The Fire (2001)
186 points, 6 voters
Music video

https://i.imgur.com/v5An7Mn.png
58. Spanish Translation
Released on Ones and Sixes (2015)
186 points, 7 voters, 1 #1 vote
Studio version

Whoever put Spanish Translation at #1, I will buy you a beer

https://i.imgur.com/8fcmPk4.png
57. Days Like These
Released on HEY WHAT (2021)
202 points, 7 voters
Music video

I'll have that beer. As incomprehensible as it will be for some, I hesitated between Gentle, Spanish Translation, Caroline and Anon as #1. I think it's the combination of softness, delicate harmonies, hisses that have won my heart over. I'd play Spanish Translation as an introduction to the band, it's caressing and abrasive, drifting, the vocal line is addictive, love Mimi's backing vocals too. I guess it speaks of the talent of the band that you can vote for almost any of their songs as #1.

"everything once within reason" <3 <3 <3

i dig that alternate version of "i remember" with mimi on vocals that sounds like a lost factory recordings track

"Like a Forest" is a song of theirs that was the last one cut from TWLITF for me, mostly because I used to *hate* it, yet in the past few years it's become one of my favorite tracks on that particular record.

One thing I've noticed with Low is how one single line perfectly sung can make you fall in love with a song
'It doesn't have to end this way'

https://i.imgur.com/jdbZn3t.png
55. Belarus
Released on Drums and Guns (2007)
206 points, 6 voters
Music video

https://i.imgur.com/526cNqg.png
55. John Prine
Released on Trust (2002)
206 points, 7 voters
Studio version

xp to Nabozo: I spaced out and forgot to submit my ballot, but "Caroline" would have been my #1

John Prine is such a weird song to me, it's like a match going out. It seems like it's setting you up for another big crescendo and then it just slowwwwly fades away.

one of their creepiest/funniest songs

https://i.imgur.com/ivNfyCs.png
54. Soon
Released on Secret Name (1999)
216 points, 8 voters, 1 #1 vote
Studio version

There are some really funny moments on Trust, for all of its doom and gloom

i couldn't quite fit "belarus" on my ballot but it's a fascinating direction i wish they'd explored further

Roll out reminding me of all the great songs I left off my ballot.

https://i.imgur.com/gXLOGqz.png
53. Low, Piano Magic & Transient Waves - Sleep at the Bottom
Released as a single (1998) & on A Lifetime of Temporary Relief
233 points, 8 voters, 1 #1 vote
Studio version

No real complaints but just noting there's already been 7 songs that didn't make my top 50. I picked a ton of TWLITF songs but not "In a Forest," and I like a lot of Ones and Sixes but I think only one song made my top 50. I'm going to be really interested in seeing what I chose that doesn't place at all.

That single really does use Comic Sans

it's one of the best fonts out there

https://i.imgur.com/ZhggrLN.png
52. Dancing and Blood
Released on Double Negative (2018)
237 points, 7 voters
Music video
Live at NOX ORAE 2019

oh i should have mentioned, 175 different tracks were voted for

XD

Cool, glad to see Sleep at the Bottom make it (which reminds me, hats off to the other A Lifetime of Temporary Relief voter in the albums section).

only four of the songs announced so far were on my ballot. "dancing and blood" was in my top ten

I forgot to vote for "Sleep at the Bottom" because thinking about all the material on A Liftime... was too exhausting a proposition, but it's lovely. Reminds me of A.R. Kane's 69 but prettier.

the graphic design here is so sweet & it's so good to see the best band in the world getting so much love.

https://i.imgur.com/qT2u2xY.png
50. Especially Me
Released on C'mon (2011)
238 points, 9 voters, 1 #1 vote
Music video

https://i.imgur.com/o1BZTnP.png
50. More
Released on HEY WHAT (2021)
238 points, 10 voters, 1 #1 vote
Music video

5 of the first 10 tracks garnered a #1 vote. Shows the depth of the catalog and how everyone finds their own personal Low track.

'Soon' was my number one. Beautiful song.