Daily Jam - Little Drummer Boy

While Darlene Love's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" is my favorite Christmas song, Low's take on "Little Drummer Boy" has got to be my second favorite.  Let's listen.  Check it out below, our Daily Jam.  Merry Christmas.

Daily Jam - July

I was working until a few minutes ago.  And my wife to our youngest to soccer practice.  And my oldest is playing with his friends.  The house is empty except for me and the dog right now.  Think i might spend a little bit of time with my eyes closed listening to Low.  Here's "July," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Walk into the Sea

This column was originally published in August of 2017, right after the fascist "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia that left activist Heather Heyer dead. Almost seven years later, and things are actually worse. We live in a fascist state that is currently aiding and abetting a genocide, and it doesn't seem to matter whether there's a Democrat or a Republican in office. And while I am proud of the students and faculty currently holding protests at college campuses across the country, they are going to have to get bigger and reach beyond academia. I think we can do it. There's a sea change coming.

I’ve been writing this column for a while now, and after over 100 entries, some weeks are more difficult than others to say something interesting or insightful…even about the music I love. And damn, if current events don’t make it even harder to come up with something…anything to write about, either as escapism or criticism, devotion or aplomb. I love all of these songs so much, and I want others to as well, but it’s incredibly hard to whip up excitement, all of the ballyhoo seeming trite or conspicuously vacant when our current culture war is taking a decidedly violent turn. Nazis abound evidently, and that’s about as abhorrent a phrase as I’ve ever had to write before. And while it’d be easy (and certainly cathartic) to gather and listen to “Nazi Punks Fuck Off” all day, it’s just something I can’t do right now. (I am at work after all.)

Anyway, here’s a song about dying by the classic Minnesota band Low (RIP Mimi), from their 2005 album The Great Destroyer. “Walk into the Sea” closes the record out, a wistful desire to meet again after time washes everything away. It’s a wonderful, if melancholy sentiment, and maybe something to cling onto every now and again to let the anger subside.

Hopefully someday, time will wash these fuckers away too.

Have A Nice Life Covers Low

The Flenser just dropped another track from their upcoming Low tribute album "Your Voice Is Not Enough."  I seriously cannot wait for this thing to come out.  Anyway, in the meantime, listen to Have A Nice Life's take on "When I Go Deaf" below and download it here.

drowse & Lula Asplund Cover Low

The Flenser continues to drop songs from their upcoming Low tribute album, "Your Voice Is Not Enough," and the latest tease comes from drowse and Lula Asplund, with the duo covering "Hey Chicago."  Check it out below and download the track here.

Planning for Burial Covers Low

As we anxiously await "Your Voice Is Not Enough," The Flenser's upcoming tribute album to Low, we get another taste to hold us over.  We've already heard Allison Lorenzen's wonderful take on "Words," and now we get a staticky, scratchy, aching version of "Murderer" from droney, slowcore, doomgaze artist Planning for Burial.  Check it out below and get it here.

Daily Jam - Silent Night

Happy Christmas Eve to everyone out there.  Here's a classic hymn/carol as performed by Low.  Listen to "Silent Night" below, our Daily Jam.

Allison Lorenzen Covers Low

The good folks at The Flenser have apparently been compiling a tribute album to Low called "Your Voice Is Not Enough" which should be out in the very near future.  As a taste, here's Allison Lorenzen's take on "Words."  It's wonderful.  Listen below and download it here.  RIP Mimi.

RIP Mimi Parker

I just saw the news that Low's Mimi Parker passed away last night from ovarian cancer.  I've been listening to and loving her haunting vocals for 25 years.  I don't really have more to say.  Go and hug a loved one.  And listen to "Stars Gone Out" below.  RIP Mimi Parker.

Low

I know it just came out yesterday, but i feel like i slept on "Hey What," the 13th album from the long running band Low.  And honestly, if there's anything i've picked up over the last 30 years, it's that you don't sleep on a new Low album.  Check out the noisy, jarring, and beautiful "White Horses" below and order the album here from Sub Pop.

Daily Jam - Murderer

I love the long-running, indie rock slowcore band Low, and had completely forgotten about their song "Murderer" from the 2007 album "Drums and Guns," until the song played during the final scene of last year's "The Night Comes For Us" to wonderful effect.  So here's "Murderer," our Daily Jam.

Low

The long running and influential band Low just announced a new album headed our way in September on Sub Pop.  And they've released three new videos for the first three tracks on the record, hearkening some new sounds for the group.  The moody, slowcore stuff is still evident, but judging from these three new songs, they're incorporating some droney tones and abrasive textures into the mix as well.  And it sounds pretty damn good.  Watch and listen to "Quorum," "Dancing and Blood," and "Fly" below.

Sonic Advent Calendar: Day 24 - Silent Night

We are just hours away from Christmas morning and my wife and i still have SO MUCH to wrap.  The 4-year old is already bouncing off the walls with giddiness, and his younger brother is just following his lead.  Anyway, there's a lot going on here today, so let's calm it down a tad with Low's stripped down and beautiful rendition of "Silent Night."  Hang in there.  We're going to get through this.

Sonic Advent Calendar: Day 8 - Little Drummer Boy

As far as modern takes on traditional Christmas songs go, Low's take on "Little Drummer Boy," from their 1999 holiday album "Christmas," is easily my favorite.  It drones and lulls and soothes, the sound of snow falling heavily over the countryside.  Listen below.

Low - Lies

I'm busy today.  Here's a new one from Low, from their new LP, "Ones and Sixes."  Listen to "Lies" below and grab the album from Sub Pop.

Low - Little Drummer Boy

It's always a hit or miss bag when some indie band decides to record a Christmas record.  In 1999, Low absolutely killed it.  Their take on "Little Drummer Boy" is still one of my favorite things ever.  Listen below.