from the kings of slow core (slow, usually sad, sparse music), this is a sampler from a 3-disc box set of rare and b-side recordings. Out of Duluth, MN, Low is Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker (husband and wife) and some bass player. It’s hard to compare low to other bands; if you’re confused about there sound, just pop this in and listen to a track or two. usual instrumentation: guitar (open G tuning), sparse drums (often using a tom instead of a snare), bass. low characteristics: Mimi’s high harmonies over Alan’s usually smooth but fragile vocals, sparse instrumentation, slow tempos (some slower than others). reverb often plays a roll. these run the gamut from their earliest recordings to a b-side from self-released 7” a couple years ago. some of them depart from the “typical” low sound, others nail it right on. If you like this watch for a new album coming out on sub pop in 2005.
I’d start with 2, 4, 9, 10
-Adrian

1. uncharacteristic. drum machine beat and sloppy bass. atmospheric, far-off vocals.
2. pretty typical low song—a really good one at that. simple progression and repeated lyrics but a pretty song nevertheless, slight organ and reverby guitar add to it.
3. reverby drums, slow. just Alan and drums for a while. guitar enters little by little.
4. white noise background (either that or a noisy recording), Mimi lead vocals. slow build. gets pretty crazy for low! long song.
5. strings, overdriven guitar
6. straight rhythmic keyboard (?), distorted slow guitar solo over Mimi’s background vocals
7. dissonant guitar, echoed vocals. probably one of their more “experimental” sounding tracks. distortion abounds in the last minute of the song
8. facetious lyrics, nice melody. typical low sound. short for a low song
9. short for a low song. straight bass, accordion (or chord organ, more likely), Mimi vocals.
10. religious song from these Mormons—also one of the best on this disc. reverby guitar, sparse drums, really great harmonies from Mimi to Alan’s lead. another Mimi harmony with reverb added later. distortion solo and ending (perhaps an early fade-out)