Customer Reviews

Drums & Guns

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

Disturbing and powerfully hypnotic. Guns and Drums finds Low with its notable harmonies intact but burdened by a troubled conscience. this is stark lyrical imagery married with music that is often sparse but never less than intensely captivating. While I enjoyed Low's music in the past, this is their first album that rises to the level of classic. One of the best releases of 2007.

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.

"Drums & Guns" is their 8th or so release, and the follow up to 05's "The Great Destroyer". Once again, Alan Sparhawk again shows that he's one of the best (and underrated) songwriters of his generation, and he and Mimi's vocal harmonies sound as sweet as ever. 05's "Destroyer" showed the band pushing the sonic envelope with producer Dave Friedman, adopting a more rough and tumble "rock" sound as opposed to some of their older, slower, hushed material. Friedman's presence is much less evident this time around than on "Destroyer"--but the album is still impressively, and idiosyncratically, produced and mixed.

Also, as you may know, this record has the band experimenting with drum loops and drum machines. At first, it can be a little disconcerting, but don't worry, this isn't Low going all "Kid A" on us. It perfectly complements their style, and the beats just enhance and never overwhelm or define the great songs. Standouts include "Always Fade", "Breaker", the charming pop of "Hatchet" and the mind-blowing "Murderer" (listen to that one on headphones).

I seem to never get sick of their style, and I could see them producing several more records of this quality.

A sad thing the world is in the state it is, but this album captures that tension and anxiety near perfectly & very affectingly. Drums and Guns is unsettling, not particularly "fun" to listen to. Even so, it is captivating as hell and deserves to be heard. I think so, anyway.

Well, I used to be quite the devotee to Low until Trust came along. I was profoundly disappointed with the unevenness of the album, because until then I thought that all their albums were brilliant, and I loved how they were evolving with each album. I admit that there were some tracks I really didn't care for on each of their albums but as a whole I never doubted the integrity, the sheer beauty that is Low. So after Trust (and also attending their concert tour of Trust which probably dealt me the lowest blow because that was the first time I didn't feel mesmerized by their performance), I thought my infatuation with Low was over. I thought at least they left a great legacy behind. But then The Great Destroyer came out, and I was brought back into the fold. Maybe not as fanatically as before, but they made me believe that Low wasn't losing it, that in fact maybe they are one of the greatest bands around? I didn't know about the release of Drums and Guns until about a few days ago and got to sample some the songs and my heart sorta sunk. But with Low, I felt like I had to give them a chance. Besides, I used to have minimalist, industrial roots so what the heck. I doubt I could hate it that much. So I downloaded the album and was prepared to be disappointed, but if you have come to appreciate Low the way I have, you won't be. It's stark, it's uplifting, it can rock at times, but best of all it's LOW.

If you haven't heard Low's music... well they play real low and real slow. And that's not a bad thing. If you have heard 2006's "The Great Destroyer" ---then you will probably be suprised when listening to 2007's "Drums and Guns." It's mellow (like most of Low's music) but still has the ambition to experiment with different sounds.

On this album, the little trio from Duluth, Minnesota returns to form. This is easily Low's best album (that's saying alot considering it's their 8th studio album). The harmony of the multiple vocals is haunting with a constant background of minimalist beats. This is a folk band, with a lot more punch. Low knows how to play their kind of music. They don't pretend. This could be easily one of the best records in 2007. And certainly it is the band's most complete release.

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.

Low has been around since the mid 90s and the trio mostly brings minimalist music, although their previous (2005) album "The Great Destroyer" was as sunny and open as they had ever been. Now comes the band's 8th studio album.

"Drums and Guns" (13 tracks, 42 min.) is a return to the minimalist sound of earlier albums. This is a mood album, and not for anyone in a hurry. There are no upbeat or fast tracks, simply the band's take on the world today in understated, and hush, tones, such as on "Dragonfly". " Always Fade" provides a rare departure, with some underlying harder-charging drums, but still in the same vein. My favorite track is "Hatchet", which provides more melody than any other track on here. The closr "Violent Past" summarizes the album perfectly... slow pace, yet epic estimations.

I saw Low open up for Wilco not long ago, and was simply mesmorized, even as it was clear that the audience was not really into it. This is clearly not for everyone, and certainly not for anyone in a hurry. But "Drums and Guns" is a great album, if you can make the time for it.