Formed in 1993, Low is from Duluth, Minnesota, and features Alan Sparhawk on vocals and guitar, Mimi Parker on vocals and drums, and Matt Livingston on bass and vocals. Sparhawk and Parker are married with two children;... more » they first met in fourth grade in rural Minnesota. Drums and Guns is the band's eighth full-length album and second for Sub Pop. It's also, after 2005's The Great Destroyer, the second album they've recorded with producer Dave Fridmann. Drums and Guns features a number of songs that ardent Low fans will recognize from the band's recent live shows. These songs appear here in substantially altered forms, as though they've been taken apart and reassembled in striking new ways, or seen with new eyes. Or, given the lyrical emphasis on murder and death, a more insightful interpretation might see the band killing these songs and bringing them back to life anew. There's no contrivance here, however. While these songs feature new elements (looped vocals, drum machines, etc.) and are thoroughly, radiantly contemporary, they remain undeniably Low's. Drums and Guns possesses the unique, subtle beauty and power we've come to expect from Low, but the record is also profoundly exciting in ways that it's easy to forget music can be.« less
Formed in 1993, Low is from Duluth, Minnesota, and features Alan Sparhawk on vocals and guitar, Mimi Parker on vocals and drums, and Matt Livingston on bass and vocals. Sparhawk and Parker are married with two children; they first met in fourth grade in rural Minnesota. Drums and Guns is the band's eighth full-length album and second for Sub Pop. It's also, after 2005's The Great Destroyer, the second album they've recorded with producer Dave Fridmann. Drums and Guns features a number of songs that ardent Low fans will recognize from the band's recent live shows. These songs appear here in substantially altered forms, as though they've been taken apart and reassembled in striking new ways, or seen with new eyes. Or, given the lyrical emphasis on murder and death, a more insightful interpretation might see the band killing these songs and bringing them back to life anew. There's no contrivance here, however. While these songs feature new elements (looped vocals, drum machines, etc.) and are thoroughly, radiantly contemporary, they remain undeniably Low's. Drums and Guns possesses the unique, subtle beauty and power we've come to expect from Low, but the record is also profoundly exciting in ways that it's easy to forget music can be.
"Okay, I was a huge fan of Low turning up the tempo and rockin' out a bit on their last album, "The Great Destroyer", but these guys (and gal) have done so much better on their latest effort, which slows things down again. Ironically, this album needs to be turned on high volume more than the last one, because its haunting, modest background effects create a mood that won't be topped by any band this year. Alan Sparhawk's vocals, which are in top form, are complemented beautifully by a wide range of electronic "noises" (quiet ones, at that) ranging from eerie electric guitar to organ chords to electronic clapping. And, unlike most albums that come out these days, the record has a continuous feel to it... when done listening, it's harder to point a finger at a single track than it is the whole listening experience. However, if one is to highlight a song that stands out, it might very well be the final track, "Violent Past", which isn't a climax to "Drums and Guns" as much as it is a powerful arousing that leaves me wanting to go back and examine the past 45 minutes.
And for those "Great Destroyer" fans who are wanting some sort of rock song on this record, the only satisfaction you'll get in this department is a quiet, goregous guitar riff on "Hatchet", a song that uses the inter-band relationships of the Beatles and Rolling Stones as a metaphor for a personal relationship."
Drones-ville
Peter D. Whitmore | Murrieta, CA USA | 08/18/2007
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I remember going to Low shows in the late 1990's/early 2000's and being blown away. I raved to all my friends about this band who performs haunting pop songs at a snail's pace. How much power they had, even in their minimalism! I WORE OUT their first three albums.
Their newer albums, however, are just not for me. Sparhawk and Mimi's vocals are often reduced to droning harmonic weaves. And I'm sorry, but I need a musical melody more than once in a while!
Sonic Youth went through this phase, too. Great, memorable albums in the 80s and 90s, then experimental, unlistenable drone-fests in the 2000s because they established themselves and "could."
Hey, Low and Sonic Youth can do whatever they want. But I don't have to like it. :)"
One of the best of 2007
A. Laye | Maryland | 05/12/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I think the spotlight review is a little unfair. Not that all artists need to be mindlessly praised, but I believe that Low has really acheived something here. I believe the album about more than war. That said, I think this is an amazing redeemer from some of the mediocrity on the Great Destroyer (of course there were a few amazing tracks on GD). However, this album is very cohesive and coherent thematically, lyircally, instrumentally, and production wise. They did not abandon their previous-self completely but there is certainly a degree of transformation here. The first couple listens didn't sit well with me, I wasn't sure what to make of this album but I didn't dislike it. Low fans have to leave some preconceptions at the door for this record or they might be hindered to accept something beautiful and progressive for this band. Even the production is slightly experimental and can catch you off gaurd, but Fridmann really steps it up on this record doing some of these songs great justice. Alan Sparhawk still retains his lyrical genious on this record, particularly on this last few tracks for my taste, but the sonic pallete is a bit different for this record. The last few tracks definately captures their ability to create epic, anthemic songs as they always do on each record. Generally, this record is a return to minimalist Low form, but without all the reverb. While I still love SN, Trust, TWLITF, it's almost hard to look back now because this band is still capable of evolving and producing something beautiful. After the Great Destroyer, I thought their glory days were probably behind but they have proven me wrong. I think they still have a bright future."
A slow-burn "grower"
Nonce | Los Angeles | 05/07/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Drums and Guns doesn't have the punch of 2005's underrated The Great Destroyer but it does have a lot of the tense immediacy of early, atmospheric Low records like Long Division and Songs for a Dead Pilot.
It won't immediately grab you but it rewards the patience of multiple listens, and while there's no standout track the album works as a whole."
On miners and peasants
Giuseppe A. Paleologo | Riverdale, NY United States | 05/01/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Truffaut (it must have been Truffaut, I think) said once that artists (and people) are either "peasants" or "miners". The peasants cover their territory horizontally: they must experiment with different forms and themes. Voltaire is the ultimate peasant. Miners dig deep: they stick to form until form is not a hurdle anymore. To me, Kavafy is the ultimate miner: 200 short poems, all focused on memory and desire. Among good rockers, I'd say PJ Harvey is a peasant, and Low are miners. Artistically, they were born full-formed: slow, even tempos, that classic stratocaster sound with effects, and husband-wife choirs. And deep lyrics. In 2007, they're still the same, without ever repeating themselves. There are new orchestrations and break beats, but you can tell that this is a Low album after four bars of "Breaker", even if you only hear a synth. This album is among their best, and definitely better than their last. The words are open to interpretation, but offer a glimpse into dark alleys. Loyal fans and newcomers will keep this album on repeat play for a long time."