Over the years, Low have been on labels as diverse as Kranky and Virgin offshoot Vernon Yard, worked with distinctive producers like Kramer and Steve Albini, and have managed to adapt their sound without losing any of their identity. All of this applies to Great Destroyer, the band's first album for Sub Pop and their first collaboration with producer Dave Fridmann. Fridmann's detailed sound is a far cry from either Kramer or Albini's minimalist tendencies, but his work here shows that Low can sound as good in elaborate settings as they do in simple ones: "Monkey"'s intricate layers of distorted drums, organ, and guitar have an unusual depth, and the synth strings and heartbeat-like electronic drums on "Cue the Strings" just add to the intimacy and subtlety of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker's harmonies. Ironically enough, Great Destroyer is by far Low's most polished and accessible-sounding album, even more so than their quasi major-label output. That may turn off purists yearning for I Could Live in Hope's simplicity, but aside from the bigger sound, there's something for almost every kind of Low fan on the album: chilly, brooding songs ("Pissing," "Everybody's Song"), gentle but powerful songs ("On the Edge Of," "Silver Rider") and gorgeous epics ("Broadway (So Many People)"). The group's touted ock direction offers some of Great Destroyer's strongest, and weakest, moments. "California"'s soaring warmth has odd but appealing early- to mid-'90s alt pop sheen to it, sounding a bit like Girlfriend-era Matthew Sweet played at half speed. However, "Just Stand Back" and "Step" are somewhat clunky and contrived, with the production overwhelming the songs. The tracks about aging and acceptance -- a major theme on Great Destroyer -- feel much more genuine, particularly "When I Go Deaf," another of the band's bittersweet and slightly disturbing songs like "In Metal." "Death of a Salesman," a short, stripped-down tale of what's left behind with age, is also affecting; though an album full of songs like these might be too much, they're wonderfully intimate glimpses. "Walk Into the Sea" provides a relatively uplifting -- if not happy -- ending to this thoughtful, graceful album, but at this point, it's difficult to expect anything less from Low.
I love this song, this whole record in fact. Low's 'The Great Destroyer' album is one of those seminal albums in my life...it has just etched a certain space out in my soul...and I will take it with me for the rest of my life. I probably have 10 or 15 albums that have had that affect on me...maybe. So, every couple of weeks I like to share a track off of one of those... Low - 'When I Go Dea...
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Thinking of recent shows I've seen, Low played while back at the Gallery Sounds Concert Series at Randy Bacons Studio. Which has been bringing in great music such as Cat Power, Danielson,The High Strung, More Shallows, Hockey Night and more to our sleepy little Midwestern College Town. Obviously Low has been the poster child for "slowcore" and a night of mellow audio pleasure was had. They of ...
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Here is one of my favorites. Beautiful words....and I love how the song just kind of explodes in the middle....if you don't have Low's 'The Great Destroyer' you are really missing out.
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Music, as usual, as been my saving grace. I am having a great time out here trying to find myself, but I still have bouts of lonliness and...dare I say...home sickness. And I am just not the kinda guy to pick up the phone and chat...I am just not a phone person. But what I can do is listen to music....in my music obsessed mind, each and every great memory I have of my friends and family back in...
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Why did I wait so long to move out west again? Low is one of the bands that I was resigned to never seeing in Ohio. This is why I am so happy to finally have Low tickets in my possession...Sept 29 @ The Troubadour in LA. Of course I have no idea where that is, but i have 2 months to figure it out...
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I love this song, this whole record in fact. Low's 'The Great Destroyer' album is one of those seminal albums in my life...it has just etched a certain space out in my soul...and I will take it with me for the rest of my life. I probably have 10 or 15 albums that have had that affect on me...maybe. So, every couple of weeks I like to share a track off of one of those... Low - 'When I Go Dea...
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Oh man. Along with David Foster Wallace, now this. Clearly Alan Sparhawk is wrangling with his demons. From stage at the End of the Road, on Mic, he was heard as follows:"All the people I love,' declared frontman Alan Sparhawk last night, "told me they hated me today."and this:Sparhawk didn't seem to listen though, and as his band's mardy-but-ace set came to a close, he started spinning round ...
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Thinking of recent shows I've seen, Low played while back at the Gallery Sounds Concert Series at Randy Bacons Studio. Which has been bringing in great music such as Cat Power, Danielson,The High Strung, More Shallows, Hockey Night and more to our sleepy little Midwestern College Town. Obviously Low has been the poster child for "slowcore" and a night of mellow audio pleasure was had. They of ...
More >
| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Monkey |
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| 2 California |
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| 3 Everybody's Song |
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| 4 Silver Rider |
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| 5 Just Stand Back |
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| 6 On the Edge Of |
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| 7 Cue the Strings |
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| 8 Step |
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| 9 When I Go Deaf |
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| 10 Broadway (So Many People) |
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| 11 Pissing |
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| 12 Death of a Salesman |
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| 13 Walk Into the Sea |
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 "The Great Destroyer")
