Low

[BRoswell]

I've thought about making this thread before, but I always thought there might be an old thread that already existed. Unfortunately, due to the search settings on Ye Olde Message Board, I wasn't able to find out for sure, so here we are!

Low have a new album out today called HEY WHAT, the third in a trilogy of albums done with producer BJ Burton. It's really solid, and if you only know the band from their "slowcore" days (or not at all), you might want to give these last three albums a listen!


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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rNMKnHZAZc

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

[oldschool]

Low has become one of my favorite bands the last couple years. I still need to keep digging into their back catalog, but this trilogy (and sounds like they aren’t done working together) with BJ is incredible.

I was excited when I heard they were kind of picking up where they left off on Double Negative. But I still wasn’t quite sure how they would pull it off. HEY WHAT is the perfect follow up to Double Negative. It’s already a favorite after a few days of listening.

[BRoswell]

(and sounds like they aren’t done working together)

Yeah, trilogy was the wrong word to use I suppose. Even Alan said that the albums weren't necessarily designed to fit together as a whole, although it's hard not to see how they do in some ways beyond just the production.

[Reznor2112]

I have a love hate with Low. The singles from this one WORK really well on their own... but in the context of the album...every song feels repetitive and the in/out left/right channel effect they like using gets old after a while. REALLY wanted to like this one as a whole. Poor Sucker is still one of my favorite songs by them though.

[BRoswell]

...and the in/out left/right channel effect they like using gets old after a while.

Can you clarify what you mean by this?

I agree somewhat about the album not feeling as cohesive as it could, especially compared to Double Negative, which is one of the few albums that I absolutely have to listen to front to back. HEY WHAT feels more fragmented, possibly by design, but maybe because of how they had to record it too (a day or two with a few months in between). There's a start-stop-start energy to it. That's not a bad thing necessarily, but it's something I'm trying to get used to while listening to it.

[Reznor2112]

Can you clarify what you mean by this?

I agree somewhat about the album not feeling as cohesive as it could, especially compared to Double Negative, which is one of the few albums that I absolutely have to listen to front to back. HEY WHAT feels more fragmented, possibly by design, but maybe because of how they had to record it too (a day or two with a few months in between). There's a start-stop-start energy to it. That's not a bad thing necessarily, but it's something I'm trying to get used to while listening to it.

I may be using the wrong terminology but they are utilizing an effect or something has a very in/out or warping sound. Like covering your ear and uncovering it. throughout a lot of the songs. Gets exhausting after a while unfortunately. I am not very educated on their sound... like I said, I just really liked Poor Sucker and enjoyed the new singles in the context of hearing them as singles.

[BRoswell]

I may be using the wrong terminology but they are utilizing an effect or something has a very in/out or warping sound.

Ah, I get it now. I actually love that effect and I think it works well with the kind of music they're making, but I can see how it might wear on you after a while. To each their own, I suppose.

[Jinsai]

They blend Alan and Mimi's vocals w/ a variety of effects... It's not traditional pop vocal production. On the album Double Negative they did a lot of different cool vocal tricks. I love that stuff.

[BRoswell]

Low's Mimi Parker Has Died (https://pitchfork.com/news/low-mimi-parker-has-died)

[cdm]

This really bums me out. I knew she was sick but I was optimistic she'd beat it.

[BRoswell]

This really bums me out. I knew she was sick but I was optimistic she'd beat it.

I haven't cried about someone's death in a while, but I'm not ashamed to say I shed a few tears yesterday. I was hoping she would pull through too. So grateful I got to see them live once. It was something I'll never forget.

They just recently had their cover of "Dance Song '97" by Sleater-Kinney come out, and it's really good.


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

[Horican]

It’s funny there’s a lot in the production/arrangement of their last ever song ):
that reminds me of TR

https://youtu.be/EAhhF2Y9kI8

one of the best bands, and with those last records they came out high

[Elrickooo]

It’s funny there’s a lot in the production/arrangement of their last ever song ):
that reminds me of TR

https://youtu.be/EAhhF2Y9kI8

one of the best bands, and with those last records they came out high


I discovered this band today after seeing the news about the drumming passing and I am absolutely blown away by what I’ve heard. I actually heard Days like these on local radio in Perth Australia but I could never find the artist or song but heard it today when listening through Hey What. I love the super heavy effects they use on guitar/could be synth that sounds similar to Trent’s swarm guitar.

[BRoswell]

one of the best bands, and with those last records they came out high

They sure did. Those albums are so beautiful.