Well, here's Pitchfork's review, for what it's worth. The author hits upon pretty much everything that I don't like about the album, but neglects to acknowledge that the transparency of this release is sometimes what actually makes it endearing, in my opinion. Trust took forever to grow on me. This is not necessarily growing on me. I alternately enjoy it without restraint (especially some of the Crazy Horse moments) or am embarassed by it.

And you?

I listened to it some last night and this morning and while I don't find it to be that horrible, I just don't generally like the change in their sound on Trust and The Great Destroyer. I still might buy it, though, and keep trying for it to come around on me.

While Trust was a grower for me too. This album was immediate. I'm fascinated by the sonic bursts and the selective pushing of sounds to the forefront. Plus some of the songs are great.

While the Pitchfork review was somewhat accurate and surprisingly specific in its criticism... some of those moments that it decries - are my favorites.

It should be noted that I've only heard it three times, But it seems like the next step in a process of evolution. Very different than even Trust - but still very much Low. Just Low with some serious juice. The pitchfork review left me feeling as if the reviewer didn't want them to change. I wonder if they hadn't moved to Sub-Pop and still made the same record, if the reviewer's tone would've been as harsh.

Bingo! I like the juice.

You're echoing my sentiments before I ever really voiced them. I think very much that Trust and The Great Destroyer are partners in a transitional period for the band that has not yet ended. (I expect that maybe their next work will seem a little less forced.) The jumpy inconsistency of the former is balanced by the (albeit shaky) uniformity of the latter. They've phased out the darker, sweeter songs (leaving mainly "On the Edge" to play that role) for more bombast. It'll settle soon, I bet.

Once again Pitchfork bored-me-the-fuck-off-their-site in three lines of review.

completely.

I still believe that Dan Bejar is "The Great Destroyer"...
Sparhawk is just alright with me...

The PFM guy is just a fan who wants the same-old Low and is disappointed.
Personally, I've heard about 3 Low songs in my life before hearing The Great Destroyer and they bored the fuck out of me (much like the PFM review), so I consider this a good record. I like distorted guitars and Fridmann production. I liked it the 1st time I heard it.
It's going to get bad reviews from Low die-hards.

I love the new Low album.

I think it is great that they have branched out into a slightly different sound. The songs keep getting stuck in my head. I'm actually quite surprized by the Pitchfork review (and the Ish review).

Pitchfork seems to simply be saying that because the band has previsouly described their sound a certain way they should never stary from it. Stoopid.

You don't want to know what I think of the new Molina and Oldham releases.

I like the new Low, but I love everything up to Things ... substantially more. I listen to this a lot. It's good.

Actually... I read your review of the Molina.
I actually avoided it at work for awhile based on your description of it. Finally decided to take a listen yesterday... and I totally agree with you. Very sad.

Have you heard the new M Ward? It's very very nice.

Our shipment of Low got delayed till next week so I'll have to be satisfied with the store's play copy for now.

Hey, itsjrwalsh.... is your avatar a picture of Anna Karina? I have a pic of her on my desktop right now.

After a few light listens, I like it. Only 2 or 3 songs I am not warm to as of now. I mostly disagree with the review; for the fact that Low really remains the same like Trust but crunchier in your face with sparse moments intact. The reviewer compares a bit too much "Everybody's Song" as if it is the standard against the album's set. Not at all to me, and "Broadway" is one of my first "diggit"(epa bold) songs. So, mind the critic, PFM that is. I am not so sure he/she was a Low fan to begin with.

It might not be the new Low or the old Low, but maybe a little more different Low. If a little different is new, sorry they scribbled outside your lines.

Molina: I mean, yeah, can you believe what he's done here to "Ring the Bell"? Wooooonk. There's a lot of flubby, very awkward moments on this release that make me cringe like a baaaad Phish show.

I have not heard the new M. Ward, but will check it out on your rec.

Saw Crispian last night at le Salon Vert playing out with luv. He played well.

I love the new Low. I hope it keeps growing on me.

If the song Monkey is any indication of what the rest of the album is like this is good stuff.


Balls to Pitchfork.

Man, this keeps getting better and better and better

np: "Broadway (So Many People)"

Gave it a listen this morning...
"Just OK" in my opinion - I'll try and give it a spin or 2 over the weekend...

We listened to it in the office today, and I couldn't wait for it to finish (this time around: my 20th-ish). "On the Edge" is easily the best song, in my opinion. There are a few other strong ones, but this is without question Low's weakest release. Without question.

I was gonna say, "On The Edge Of" proves that they must have really enjoyed covering "Down By The River" with the Dirty Three on the In The Fishtank EP.

Nothing wrong with serious juice, but what's the deal with the non-stop overly-distorted low end? I like the songs, but it's kind of hard to really enjoy them when it sounds like I'm listening through a set of blown Soundesign speakers. Am I the only one who feels this way???

I think "lordy", off of that album, is one of the few overtly-religious tunes I absolutely love...

Absolutely not. This record sounds really not-so-good.

I think "When I Go Deaf" is thee most Crazy Horse-referencing tune on the album. It's good, but it's not fresh, no no. Why couldn't this be more like In The Fishtank? Or Bombscare, fuck? I mean, if you want boldness and bombast ...

They encored with "Lordy" when I saw Low with my dad a couple years ago. That was hot.

i mean, good album. seriously.