Alan Sparhawk's _Solo Guitar

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Not entirely very Low-like (or Black-Eyed Snakes-like if you prefer). Quite good, though, in a shifting-atmospheres way -- no one piece sounds like the other, and it ranges from total mood-setting atmospherics to rough, random skronk. Favorite song title -- "Eruption by Eddie Van Halen."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 20 July 2006 04:09 (nineteen years ago)

this is exciting news

― held tony (held tony), Thursday, 20 July 2006 04:56 (nineteen years ago)

Atmospheric is exactly right, Ned. Great album with a terribly bland title that is sure to turn some people off. Was that the point?

― yours fondly, harshaw. (mrgn), Thursday, 20 July 2006 15:36 (nineteen years ago)

cool! i did an alan sparhawk solo show a couple years ago and it was really fun. ill have to check this out.

― mts (theoreticalgirl), Thursday, 20 July 2006 18:26 (nineteen years ago)

what's wrong with the title?

― held tony (held tony), Thursday, 20 July 2006 19:53 (nineteen years ago)

The original title was Orgy Of The Flamepit Nymphets

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 20 July 2006 19:55 (nineteen years ago)

It's vaguely Zorn-ish and not at all representative of how the album sounds.

― yours fondly, harshaw. (mrgn), Thursday, 20 July 2006 20:09 (nineteen years ago)

i'm intrigued. i like sparhawk!

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 20 July 2006 20:12 (nineteen years ago)

It's vaguely Zorn-ish and not at all representative of how the album sounds.

Absolutely true, it's not solo guitar at all, but a choral group with harpischord.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 20 July 2006 20:28 (nineteen years ago)

would it be fair to say that at low live shows, sparhawk has been becoming a bit more playful and experimental with his guitar work? this is the impression i got, based on seeing them a couple of months back, having not seen them for a couple of years before that...not sure how this ties in with the album (having not heard it!). i intend to buy it, tomorrow maybe!

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 20 July 2006 20:35 (nineteen years ago)

If I hated Low's last album, will I like this? I like the Black-Eyed Snakes, and 'Trust' and 'Curtain' will always be somewhere close though I don't listen that often.

― trees (treesessplode), Thursday, 20 July 2006 21:56 (nineteen years ago)

low brought the noiz last time i saw them. people were bummed out, it was awesome. i'm excited to hear this

― 6335 (6335), Thursday, 20 July 2006 21:59 (nineteen years ago)

i'll buy it anyway. i'm intrigued. i'm still not sure what to make of the last low album, but hey.

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Friday, 21 July 2006 22:53 (nineteen years ago)

The last Low album was a disaster. Much too much of the Neil Young influence coming through, in a way that wasn't flattering to their style of songwriting nor their actual talents, which is clearly as singers. Though Alan can wail.

― trees (treesessplode), Saturday, 22 July 2006 05:46 (nineteen years ago)

i'd kind of agree with all that. but then it does have "pissing" on it, which is perhaps their finest moment so far.

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Saturday, 22 July 2006 08:44 (nineteen years ago)

come on. sing along a little with an early verse from 'silver rider,' w/lil' smile in your cheek. you hear mimi comin from above, broad harmony. tell me that doesn't feel lovely. it feels like God. who'm i talking to?

'pissing' is nice

i imagine this sparhawk album is right up my alley, possibly not enough percussive, chalky noise.

― held tony (held tony), Saturday, 22 July 2006 09:48 (nineteen years ago)

eighteen years pass...

new single sounds like Zomes + autotune

― Paul Ponzi, Wednesday, 21 August 2024 13:10 (one year ago)

eleven months pass...

I know more discussion of his solo stuff since Mimi's passing is elsewhere but probably we should either use a thread like this or a wholly separate one -- anyway, he'll be playing with Trampled By Turtles here in SF for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, which should also mean a livestream of it (this'll be first weekend of October).

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 6 August 2025 22:35 (six months ago)

six months pass...

Anyone who's seen him recently has probably heard these, glad he recorded them:
https://alansparhawk.bandcamp.com/album/alan-sparhawk-solo-band

Also I love the gesture of respect for Mimi that the drummer (Eric Pollard) doesn't use any of the drum kit pieces that she used. No ride, snare, or floor tom - he sticks to only a hi-hat, bass drum, and a shallow little tom (that also has snares on it, I think).

― Jordan s/t (Jordan), Wednesday, 18 February 2026 15:28 (one week ago)

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Alan Sparhawk's _Solo Guitar_