Low: classic or dud?

By warm do you mean you were too hot 'cos I certainly was. Do you reckon it was some kind of Steve Albini thing that all the best and most popular bands were on the second stage? Certainly it was a major cause of the queus to get in and out of the second stage, and for those of you that don't know there was no toilet inside the second stage room, meaning you either missed 3 or 4 songs every time you went to the toilet or lived in fear of explo

Couldn't agree more. Low's albums do sound washy on the first listen or two, and even on the listens following this, only one or two tracks will seep into your brain. However, each track will eventually burrow its way into your head, and the whole mood of the album becomes engrossing. Very addictive and repeatable.

Im not gonna kick your ass, Geeta. The fact that you have no Low in your life is punishment enough.

dud, i say.

I liked Galaxie 500 better.

side note: i had tickets to see them four years running but never went because they were always playing in a club where i'd have to stand and where it would be smoky. my patience paid off with the opportunity to see them two years ago at the coolidge corner theater in boston, with ida. it was a great performance and i'm never going to see them again so that i can hold on ever-so-tightly to that memory.

And since they're all short records, all 3 of 'em should be cheaper than a full-length LP.

i'm not being perverse, i just don't get it, seems too obvious, too serious, too slow ..

do they ever do anything remotely fast ? that's fast in any way, just some way, just if it was fast in some way, please ?

how serious is this band name "low" anyway ? are they just serious ? slightly ironic ? slightly acerbic ? any surprises ?

should i hang around ?

i saw them play in boston last night and was underwhelmed for the most part, and i'm wondering if i'm about to go from thinking them near-classic in the same way that gareth does (ie a few too many dud songs per album) to coming round to geeta's opinion above. certainly the new album has maybe three songs that i love and half a dozen that i never want to hear again (unfortunately the concert kicked off with four or five of these); against that i think that josh said somewhere on his blog that he only properly "got" each of their albums when the next one came out, and i've found something similar with the last couple.

mostly i'm beginning to think that they're just empty; "it's in the drugs" made me feel like i should be feeling sad but just didn't connect. not that this is necessarily a problem but with low it feels like it should be the point and isn't.

against that "lent you my favourite dictionary" is prob my fave first line of an album ever; certainly when i was sixteen the idea that there were ppl with favourite dictionaries was u+k.

(against all the above i have had maybe 5 hrs sleep in the last 3 days, and the gig + this post were all in a caffeine haze; but i'm going to listen to "things we lost in the fire" on the walk home + see if i can pin this down more tomorrow).

Fair enough.

Besides which: they covered "little drummer boy" and are Mormons = I Would Hate Them Even If I Never Heard Their Very Boring Music.

I'm going to have to call "fuck you" on this one, though. I'm not a hardcore Low fan, nor am I Mormon, but this kneejerk reaction of "they're Mormons so their music must suck" has always annoyed me. In every Low interview I've read, neither Alan nor Mimi have ever come off as preachy or obnoxious/uptight about their religion. The only people who seem to make a federal case about their Mormonism are hack rock journalists.

Don't like their music? Fine. Don't like them because they're Mormon? That's pretty stupid.

Buy this:

http://www.fakejazz.com/images/covers/low.jpg

cos it's frickin' amazing and IMHO the best thing either band (Low or Spring Heel Jack) has touched.

Quite a bit of galaxie 500 'la la la'ing on Trust (and a song about a snowstorm!) as well but that isn't a fault. The urgent buzzy bass on Canada reminds me a bit of Ultra Vivid Scene.

I just wanted to say that Al and Mim are about the coolest people you'd ever want to meet. I drove up to something called the Geek Prom in Duluth with my girlfriend this spring, and there they were, wearing the most hideous colors, dancing like spazzes.

They're smart and generous, too. Al lends out equipment, produces bands in his basement for cheap (free?), volunteers time to the community. The bassist, Zak, lives in Minneapolis and is a gifted comic book artist and writer (he reviewed the new Cometbus book in City Pages). Al and Zak play in Black-Eyed Snakes, who sound something like the Fall backing Bo Diddley.

None of this has anything to do with Low's classic or dud status (I happen to think TWLITF is classic and the new one is a dud) but context helps understand them. Here's something I wrote about them and the church where they ended up recording the new album: http://www.citypages.com/databank/22/1053/article9340.asp

As it happens, Duluth is currently home to a ton of noisy, female-fronted punk bands. But even people who hate Low credit them with helping out the wider scene...

Also, I just wanted to point out Anthony Carew's review of Trust on Neumu. The review isn't great, but Carew is one of my favorite writers these days. And I really like these two sentences in particular:

"Sparhawk and Parker, husband and wife, have spent the last decade singing together, holding notes for so long that anyone trying to sing along turns blue in the face, singing in some kind of harmony not heard since, like, The Carpenters, or Simon & Garfunkel, or something. And, just as pets and owners begin to look alike, over all these years, over six albums and so many scattered singles that it's hard to keep up, their voices have started to sound more and more like each other, blending together in a pop-song craft so pure and spiritual and free from fashion that you still don't know how to describe it."

That describes Low beautifully, I think.

oh god please tell me you're joking. The guy is a sub-literate hack of the worst possible kid.

And they're not really that quiet live. They can be, but they're also fucking loud. They have the best dynamic control of any band I've ever seen, barring maybe Cowboy Junkies. Low are great.

oh, and all the new songs are great (particularly "violent past", which is beautiful), and we met them afterwards and they really are lovely people. so, classic.

I second the awesomeness of "Pissing" live. It really has to be seen/heard to be believed, especially the way that killer bassline just cuts right through it all like gunshots. "Murderer" and "Amazing Grace" were stnadouts as well.

all there years you've been speaking without breathing
spinning closer to the sun
had your way with an unsuspecting public
little threads are all it takes
la la la la ...
I have learned all your secrets, so familiar
I know where you lay your head
fear of god and a disappointing father
holds the hand around your neck
la la la la ...
sometimes I could just choke myself with laughter
sometimes everything's so true
so when you come down from your death-defying labors
I'll still be in love with you
la la la la ...

the hopeless romanticism of it just kills me and sort of makes me cry. low really are in a special league.

The new Radiohead makes me want to listen to Drums & Guns.

also worth noting that it is difficult to hear on the recording whether the lyric is "disappointing" vs. "disappointed." big difference. it's like an intentional stutter.

or maybe not a stutter at all. urgh.

'all the words.'

"Drag" and "Rope" from I Could Live In Hope were killing me tonight. Mimi's percussion = perfect.

Good time to mention that the Retribution Gospel Choir album is amazing, if way too short. Their versions of "Take Your Time" and "Breaker" are breathtaking.

Good to hear, I'm really looking forward to picking that up in a couple days.

do they fuck around with any dubby stuff on the album (like that live recording on their myspace)?

No. Pretty much a stright-up, economical rock record. Ten songs, thirty minutes.

all these years you've been speaking without breathing

just sayin

Ran into Al for the first time in years in Two Harbors. He was typically playing a benefit festival (Bradfest) where my wife and I were two of the rumored four paying customers that night due to rain--though things picked up (bellydancing!), and I heard they did well the next day. Can't really express how cool it is that they've stayed in Duluth and kept being so active in the community. Can't wait 'til their kids start bands!

really like this one, if a little atypical

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY-LaFHAfQc

wow, thank you! I actually never knew that existed, but it is vv good.

Me either, that's really good.

btw, I can't find that track anywhere, so plz to someone to send a webmail or post a link thx

It's on the Mothman Prophecies soundtrack. If you wish to drop 99 cents you can get the track from Amazon.

Are sdtrks to decade-old box-office failures generally kept in circulation indefinitely? That is a legit question b/c I almost never buy (or listen to) soundtrack albums.

Meanwhile, still no one has bothered to reissue Opal's Early Recordings

Guess this is a result of the long tail phenomenon. I hadn't heard of the track, soundtrack or movie before. Just thought I'd see if it existed on IMDB and Amazon. It's co-credited to someone(s) called Tomandandy who seem to have lots of movie work.

don't have it on file at the moment, but am pretty sure we still have the Mothman soundtrack here somewhere (never seen the movie though!) have to travel in the morning, and i suspect it's currently buried in a basement milk crate, so i might be able to dig it out a few days from now if anyone still wants it then.

i'll probably dig it out anyway because now i want to hear the rest again too.

nice atmosphere on this one by King Black Acid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gsTOwSFqOo

I remember staying to watch the credits of the film just to see it, and yelling at the projectionist when he tried to turn off the film in what he thought was an empty cinema.

doesn't robert plant cover low on his new album (out this month)?

(morbidly) curious to hear that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY4RLdMeSzc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXK5kASRRdo

Tonight, the monkey died.

*shudder*

The first one was so bad I don't dare queue up the second.

didn't think it sounded that bad really - it is a pretty scrappy live performance after all

Quite liked the version of Silver Rider tbh.

Watching those Plant vids makes me wonder if I've ever heard Alan and/or Mimi hit a bum note live; I've seen Low plenty of times and I cannot recall a single instance.

Whereas, ol' Planty cannot carry a tune in a bucket these days.

http://blogs.myspace.com/low

Thursday, September 02, 2010

Studio Update 1

hello all. we're having a great summer. the kids of course love being outside and out of school, but soon it's time for early mornings, piano lessons, and catching the bus. we are in the middle of recording a new full-length release. we're tracking here in duluth. i have no idea what to say about it at this point, but then i never do. recording is almost as humiliating as writing, and twice as confusing. there have been some nice surprises, though, so i think it's going well. we will be working with sub pop again. they have been great. hope yr all well and good.
=alan

Friday, September 03, 2010

day 6 or 7 in the studio

i worked on vocals last night. today is mim singing and more percussion.
i think my favorite moments in the studio are when mim adds vocals/harmonies - it's like she's breathing life into corpses.
mim is singing lead on at least 2 songs so far - "especially me" and "you see everything." other titles include "$20", "al green", and "try to sleep." we should be done and mixing by mid september. even then, i'm afraid it won't be released until february or march - such is the business. most people would be surprised at how much work and time a record company has to put in before something can officially be released. it's frustrating, but sub pop does a great job, so it's worth the wait. we've been recording at duluth's own Sacred Heart Studios - it's an old catholic church now a community music center. we've had a studio in there for a few years now ("trust" was one of the first recordings there when it opened.) the chapel is large and vaulted, and it has a working 100-year-old pipe organ on one end. engineer eric swanson is helping us with tracking. after today, we'll have a week off - plenty of time to completely change my mind and start from scratch again. hope y'all are well.
=alan

thanks, stan. i listened -- on a whim -- to the album version of hatchet today. it's a fierce, lean little rock song. full of attitude and grit.

i love this band.

It's about time!

hear plant's new album here http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129178865

mim is an adorable pet name

So much better than the alternative, imi

Haven't dug too far into the back catalog--or into all of the hidden posts within this thread, so my apologies if somebody's already brought this up--but the Low version of Jason Spaceman's "Lord Can You Hear Me?" is first-rate! Nearly as good as the original Spacemen 3 iteration and definitely as good as the Spiritualized re-do. The story, according to Wikipedia:

The final song, Lord Can You Hear Me, was originally written for and recorded by Spacemen 3 by Jason in 1989 and initially released on the album Playing With Fire. However, inspired by a cover of the song by the band Low, Jason started playing the song live and subsequently re-recorded it as a gospel ballad. Mimi Parker of Low appears on several tracks of the album as a backing vocalist, and is clearly audible duetting with Jason during Lord Can You Hear Me.

In retrospect, I'm certain someone has already brought this up. Just a reminder, I suppose.

Low is one of a handful of bands that is always great at doing cover versions. Also search their Smiths and Joy Division covers, for starters.

They did a Soul Coughing cover a while back that I wasn't too fond of, but basically otm.

Also, the Lifetime of Temporary Relief has some real dregs toward the end, including a Journey cover which is excruciating to listen to.

I love that Journey cover; it's hilarious.

Low have always been an A+ cover band imo. My POV:

Lord, Can You Hear Me?
Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
Fearless
Transmission
Blue Christmas

Can we make it a POVII and add "I Started a Joke" and "Sunshine"?

Might as well extend to POVIII and add "Nowhere Man." Some great harmonies even by Low's high standards.

http://blogs.myspace.com/low

Wilco's Nels Cline plays on the new album

ooh that is great news!

awesome. hope there are some more drums & guns-esque beats & programming, but it doesn't sound like it.

whoa! would never have expected that pairing.

drums & guns-esque beats & programming

exactly the worst elements of late-period Low

today is mim singing and more percussion.
i think my favorite moments in the studio are when mim adds vocals/harmonies - it's like she's breathing life into corpses.
mim is singing lead on at least 2 songs so far - "especially me" and "you see everything."

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone know who's producing/engineering? I'm pretty glad they're not working with Fridmann again, even tho I loved the last two records.

Echoing ^^

I like Fridmann *occasionally* but he's certainly one of those fellas who leaves a giant stamp on everything he does... for better or for worse.

exactly the worst elements of late-period Low

gtfo

exactly the worst elements of late-period Low

gtfo

oops doublepost

So stoked that they're finally recording again! I was getting worried.

whew, i was getting worried no one was getting worried

jk just a bit of fun. i like low,

Inspired by Lambchop? New album to be called C'mon (is that the final title though?)

http://blogs.myspace.com/low

it's very good, but that's the only time i'm going to say it. we should have a release date soon.

love this band

Due to an unforeseen circumstance, we have two very good spare seats for tonight's show in London (at the Barbican) - they're on stage in an hour, happy to give them to someone for free if they can make it.

New record.

"We're excited to announce our new album Ones and Sixes will be available worldwide on September 11th. You can pre-order the album on iTunes and get an instant download of "No Comprende." It's also available on Spotify and all other streaming services. The "Loser Edition" of the vinyl is available at SubPop.com, and all pre-orders via Sub Pop will grant access to an early stream of the entire record."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZfjysllZyg

We're also glad to announce that we will be back on the road in September in Europe and North America starting in September. Tickets and more information available on our website. We look forward to seeing all of you this fall.

-Low HQ

Ones and Sixes Tour Dates

Jun. 30 - Guang Zhou, CN - TU Space

Jul. 01 - Shenzen, CN - B10 Live House

Jul. 03 - Beijing, CN - YuGong Yishan

Jul. 04 - Shanghai, CN - Qian Shui Wan Cultural Centre

Jul. 17-18 - Eau Claire, WI - Eaux Claires Festival

Sep. 03 - Bergen, NO - Perfect Sounds Forever Fest @ Landmark

Sep. 04 - 06 - Wiltshire, UK - End of the Road Festival

Sep. 04 - 06 - Stradbally, IE - Electric Picnic

Sep. 18 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon*

Sep. 19 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall*

Sep. 21 - Toronto, ON - The Mod Club*

Sep. 22 - Montreal, QC - Bar Le Ritz PDB*

Sep. 23 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall*

Sep. 24 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg

Sep. 25 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s*

Sep. 26 - Washington, DC - Black Cat*

Oct. 07 - Manchester, UK - Cathedral ^

Oct. 08 - Glasgow, UK - Art School

Oct. 10 - London, UK - Roundhouse ^

Oct. 12 - Koln, DE - Gebaude 9

Oct. 13 - Hamburg, DE - Knust

Oct. 14 - Copenhagen, DK - Vega

Oct. 15 - Stockholm, SE - Kagelbanan

Oct. 17 - Berlin, DE - Lido

Oct. 19 - Munich, DE - Ampere

Oct. 20 - Bologna, IT - Teatro Antoniano

Oct. 22 - Zaragoza, ES - Las Armas

Oct. 23 - Barcelona, ES - Bikini

Oct. 24 - Valencia, ES - Deleste Festival @ Centro Cultural La Rambleta

Oct. 26 - Madrid, ES - Teatro Lara

Oct. 27 - Santander, ES - Escenario

Oct. 29 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso ^

Oct. 31 - Brussels, BE - AB

Nov. 11 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue*

Nov. 13 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge*

Nov. 14 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex*

Nov. 16 - Los Angeles, CA - The Troubadour*

Nov. 18 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall*

Nov. 20 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir*

Nov. 21 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile*

* w/ Andy Shauf

^ w/ Two Gallants

Man, the Roundhouse is a potentially disastrous place to see 'em too.

L..loser edition??

that's what they call all their "limited ed." type releases

The single sounds promising, nice muscular production and classic Low harmonies. The Invisible Way was the first Low album to bore me so I'm glad Tweedy's not involved this time

i'm glad they're going a different direction too, but there's something about the production on a lot of records done at Apr1l B@se that bothers me. it's definitely muscular and hi-fi, but also kinda featureless and too upfront (maybe not enough room sound?).

i'm always happy about a new Low album though, and will go see them again for sure.

Another new song, much breezier

https://soundcloud.com/subpop/low_what-part-of-me

Feeling like this album is going to be better than the last.

Streaming on NPR: http://www.npr.org/2015/09/02/435276845/first-listen-low-ones-and-sixes

really feelin' what part of me this morning

Haven't really been paying attention this decade. What's worth hearing?

Well, there's a new Christmas song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv_XqW005-w

And the rest, Ned?

i just got home from seeing them at the union chapel tonight. still great.

All of the albums except The Invisible Way are pretty damn great, and even that one has "Holy Ghost."

I remember 'Just Make It Stop' standing out too (so the Mimi songs basically), but yeah, that's my least favorite too. I'm a huge fan of Drums & Guns and C'mon. This reminds me I still need to go back and give the newest one some good listens.

I was at that Union Chapel gig as well, and despite missing the first 15mins due to a bewilderingly early start, it was fantastic. I last saw them there 15 years ago and really can't imagine Low in any other venue.

haha i missed the start too!

'ones and sixes' is seriously great

C'mon and Ones & Sixes are both terrific. Nothing in them will surprise you exactly but the quality is still high - both better than Great Destroyer and Drums & Guns. Invisible Way is not bad, just not special.

Thanks y'all.

saw them last night in a huge minister in yorkshire. still so strong after all these years.

Just your periodic reminder that Double Negative is an amazing album

After I caught their set at Pitchfork (always fun to see them play at a festival) I looked up a couple of online reactions, and I saw so many "I've never seen/heard of Low before, but holy shit!" I think that's great.

Bruce Adams, Kranky co-founder who wrote the book You're With Stupid on 90s indie rock and Chicago, has announced he's contracted with UNC Press to write an oral history of Low. I look forward to it already.

Per him, working title is I Sang the Words I Meant: A Book about Low.

Sounds awesome, keen to read