A stark retreat from the relatively sunny sound of The Great Destroyer, Drums and Guns is, as its title suggests, inspired by the war in Iraq. True to the spirit of Low's other work, the outrage and regret expressed by these songs is just as timeless as it is timely, lamenting that war still exists as much as it addresses this particular war. And, while Drums and Guns' emotions and lyrics are complex (and on songs like "Murderer," with its "seems like you could use another fool," they don't pull any punches), its sound is often devastatingly spare and simple. It's almost hard to believe that the band worked with David Fridmann on this album as well as The Great Destroyer -- where that album was lush and overflowing with sonic tangents, Drums and Guns' sound is raw and restricted to just a few key sounds that underscore its themes. Fittingly, most of the album emphasizes percussion; whether it's the martial-yet-jazzy beat that drives "Sandinista" or the somber, almost industrial thud of "Dragonfly," this approach keeps the songs intimate, powerful, and uniquely modern-sounding. Organ also plays a key role on Drums and Guns, particularly on "Breaker," where it magnifies the anguish of lyrics like "my hand just kills and kills," and "Violent Past," where its massive sound closes the album by swallowing the listener in a cathedral of distortion. Aside from this song and the similarly epic "In Silence," most of Drums and Guns is gently but insistently tense, like a nagging conscience: "Take Your Time"'s looped church bells and "Belarus"' ghostly harmonies are bleakly, uncompromisingly beautiful. Low lightens up a little on the album's middle stretch, with "Hatchet," a plea for peace that's surprisingly playful ("let's bury the hatchet like the Beatles and the Stones"), and "Dust on the Window," where Mimi Parker's sweet voice sounds inherently comforting even as she wonders, "where can a girl get a meal?" Despite these bright spots, this is easily -- and understandably -- Low's darkest album since Trust. Unlike that album, however, Drums and Guns never feels dragged down by its weighty subject matter. It's a lean, potent work, and even if it's not one of Low's most superficially pleasant collections of songs, it's certainly among their most necessary ones.
Stream the documentary, by Dutch tv/documentary maker David Kleijwegt, here.I found the pacing, the performances and the confessional nature of this portrait of Low (mainly Alan Sparhawk) really engaging. Mimi usually fades to the background unless she's singing in performance. Her candor in this documentary reveals her personality and her qualities that probably keep Sparhawk somewhat grounded...
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Everybody’s favorite slo-core minimalists are back with a beautiful, intense, politically-relevant album called Drums and Guns, out last week on Sub Pop. Here’s a bit from my Dusted review: “Drums and Guns has a sparse, understated beauty to it, electronically-generated rhythms under otherworldly harmonies, and subtle violence buried in the words. It's dark, lovely and slow to blossom, bu
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The Minnesota quiet-rock trio Low have a new video, directed by Marc Gartman, out for "Breaker," a song off their latest album, Drums And Guns. One could interpret the video as an anti-war statement. In the video, front man/vocalist/guitarist Alan Sparhawk is seen wearing an army jacket, sitting at a table, stuffing his face with cake. Check it out:http://www.subpop.com/features/breaker/
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It's still a week shy of April, but these albums of 2007 to date are keeping my faith in new music:"Wincing The Night Away" - The Shins"Neon Bible" - Arcade Fire"We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank" - Modest Mouse"Drums and Guns" - Low"Sex Change" - Trans Am"Friend Opportunity" - DeerhoofI might do personal assesments of a few of them later on, when I get more inspired.Good day!
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The first thing that Low would like you to know is that you're going to die. And not in a sentimental, cushy, ""Do You Realize?":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tRXO9Q8LkY" sort of way, either. Your body will break and your blood will spill and spill. Throughout the length of ??Drums & Guns??, the fantastic new offering from the band, we're constantly reminded of our own mortality. Amid sparse ...
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One of my favorite bands on the planet is FINALLY coming out with their new record next Tuesday. I am talking about Minnesota's Low. This is their follow up to 'The Great Destroyer'...one of the finest cd's in my collectionI have only listened to it twice all the way through, and its quickly becoming my favorite cd of 2007 so far. It is just brilliant...the kind of music that sticks with you af...
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I am so happy that I am finally gong to get to see Low...a band that I had resigned myself to never seeing since they never, ever came to Columbus. They make such beautiful records...i am really curious to see how it translates live...Here is the alternate version of 'Hatchet' off of their gorgeous album, 'Drums And Guns'
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Here are some discs which can be found under the diamond of my gramophone.Of course, the laser-beam has long replaced the needle of my turntable which more likely than not has a scroll wheel.
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Stream the documentary, by Dutch tv/documentary maker David Kleijwegt, here.I found the pacing, the performances and the confessional nature of this portrait of Low (mainly Alan Sparhawk) really engaging. Mimi usually fades to the background unless she's singing in performance. Her candor in this documentary reveals her personality and her qualities that probably keep Sparhawk somewhat grounded...
More >
One of my favorite bands on the planet is FINALLY coming out with their new record next Tuesday. I am talking about Minnesota's Low. This is their follow up to 'The Great Destroyer'...one of the finest cd's in my collectionI have only listened to it twice all the way through, and its quickly becoming my favorite cd of 2007 so far. It is just brilliant...the kind of music that sticks with you af...
More >
Everybody’s favorite slo-core minimalists are back with a beautiful, intense, politically-relevant album called Drums and Guns, out last week on Sub Pop. Here’s a bit from my Dusted review: “Drums and Guns has a sparse, understated beauty to it, electronically-generated rhythms under otherworldly harmonies, and subtle violence buried in the words. It's dark, lovely and slow to blossom, bu
More >
The Minnesota quiet-rock trio Low have a new video, directed by Marc Gartman, out for "Breaker," a song off their latest album, Drums And Guns. One could interpret the video as an anti-war statement. In the video, front man/vocalist/guitarist Alan Sparhawk is seen wearing an army jacket, sitting at a table, stuffing his face with cake. Check it out:http://www.subpop.com/features/breaker/
More >
Low have a new album out, produced by Dave Fridmann, titled Drums And Guns, and this is a song off it titled "Breaker."
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The first thing that Low would like you to know is that you're going to die. And not in a sentimental, cushy, ""Do You Realize?":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tRXO9Q8LkY" sort of way, either. Your body will break and your blood will spill and spill. Throughout the length of ??Drums & Guns??, the fantastic new offering from the band, we're constantly reminded of our own mortality. Amid sparse ...
More >
It's been a long time since I've posted anything up here! Hi MOG friends. (Do I still have any MOG friends?)I've been real busy working on the next Roommate album and some other projects. I won't post any samples of the album yet, but I did perform one of its tracks on the U. of Texas' KVRX radio station the day after playing at the ridiculous circus that is SXSW, and I've posted the recording ...
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Yes, this Sunday I will be turning the big 20, which isn't as big considering the big 21 is right around the corner after that. The keywords here, though, are "this Sunday." April 8th. Not today, April 3rd. My mog already shows me as being 20. I don't really care all that much, just thought it was weird.So for awhile there it was touch and go for me with music. It seemed like nothing new and gr...
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It's still a week shy of April, but these albums of 2007 to date are keeping my faith in new music:"Wincing The Night Away" - The Shins"Neon Bible" - Arcade Fire"We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank" - Modest Mouse"Drums and Guns" - Low"Sex Change" - Trans Am"Friend Opportunity" - DeerhoofI might do personal assesments of a few of them later on, when I get more inspired.Good day!
More >
| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Pretty People |
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| 2 Belarus |
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| 3 Breaker |
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| 4 Dragonfly |
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| 5 Sandinista |
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| 6 Always Fade |
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| 7 Dust on the Window |
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| 8 Hatchet |
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| 9 Your Poison |
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| 10 Take Your Time |
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| 11 In Silence |
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| 12 Murderer |
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| 13 Violent Past |
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Click to purchase…
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 "Drums and Guns")
