Audio By Carbonatix
Sometimes it’s nice just to call a spade a spade. Low provides just that sort of truth in advertising, easily earning high marks in the “slowcore” hall of fame. Through nearly fifteen years and ten albums scattered across half a dozen labels, including major backing from Virgin subsidiary Vernon Yard, the band has managed to remain true to a style that makes it an acquired taste, to say the least. Favoring extremely down-tempo, sparse arrangements, Low nevertheless manages to pack epic quantities of emotion and, as strange as it may seem, rock-and-roll ballsy swagger into its sound. On its two most recent releases, the outfit even conjures some sunshiny power-pop moments — even if the pop is drowned in ten gallons of NyQuil and the power is running on backup batteries. If you’re looking for something that will lift your spirits, don’t go down this aisle; it’s bleak, dirge-like, and far more than you bargained for. It’s also far better.
Wed., July 16, 9 p.m., 2008
Will you step up to support Westword this year?
We’re aiming to raise $50,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to this community. If Westword matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.
