The Low Anthem – Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
This album came to my attention via a couple of routes: firstly, their release of the Charlie Darwin single on End of the Road Records earlier in the year; and secondly, the near-rabid frothing of one of my regular readers. He’s a reader I take the piss out of quite a bit, but he’s definitely right about this record.
The End of the Road site describes them as being a combination of balladry and rock, which is accurate enough, but I find myself almost entirely preferring the more downbeat numbers. That’s no surprise, given my general taste, but oddly enough even though I am less keen on the more up-tempo songs I am still glad that they are there because they break the album up really nicely.
There’s something of a bar band Tom Waits air to their rockier numbers, although I may simply be projecting that from their cover of a song the man himself does so well: Home I’ll Never Be. It’s a good version, to be sure, but the real attraction of this album for me remains the warm sadness of their quiet songs. They aren’t quite as archetypal as the rock numbers, leaving a little more room for Jocie Adams’ arrangements to come to the fore and lift the album into a more unique place than it might otherwise find itself.
The title track, To the Ghosts Who Write History Books, Ticket Taker, To Ohio – there are some cracking songs on this record. To think that this is a self-release as well. Honestly, for fuck’s sake record labels. What are you thinking?
The Low Anthem – Charlie Darwin
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The Low Anthem – Home I’ll Never Be
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Well cheers to the Chuttster on this one. I’ve heard a tune by them called Champion Angel that just blows my mind. So good.
I don’t often give him the satisfaction of my praise. But Tom’s got this one spot on. Great recommendation. Great find Mr Chutney.
They’re rubbish. Tom must be deaf.
Yes, good aren’t they. They’re playing End of the Road Festival, so I reckon I’ll definitely be popping along to check them out.
They sound really good, actually.
This one was sent to me by the Rough Trade Album Club. I’m underwhelmed so far. There’s one chorus saying something about Ohio which is quite nice though. Will have another couple of listens.
I’d really recommened Ticket Taker and Ghosts Who Write Books, if you’re looking for the easiest way in.
blushing
We signed them up at Bella Union. The contrast between the soft and more raucous ones can take a bit of getting used to but they have some special tunes. Think they’ll do well at SXSW.
for me the Low Anthem are as jaw dropping good as the first time i heard the Felice Brothers or Fleet Foxes….the reason i pick those 2 are that they are both as derivative as fuck but bring whole wedges of freshness to their respected genres, and this is what the Low Anthem do…..and if i had to pick some fave tracks…
Champion Angel
To Ohio
Ticket Taker
when i hear stuff like this…it makes me want to run a record label of sorts
I was never blown away by Felice Brothers or Fleet Foxes at first. it took time for them to grow on me.
as a good friend once told me…..it’s not all about you tho is it?
joke!
I thought perhaps I was the rabid regular reader you were referring to until you typed “he”. ;p After seeing The Low Anthem perform at Mountain Stage, I reviewed their two albums (I prefer What The Crow Brings, but OMGCD is obviously great, too) back in January. “Home I’ll Never Be” was even better live, and the way the three ran around trading instruments on stage was impressive.
Muruch – Of course, you’re a big fan as well, aren’t you. I take it that comment is an unveiled nudge to go and listen to their first album, then.
Ramshackle – That’s excellent news. It’s nice to see a band get a good deal after self-releasing their first two records. Good luck to ‘em (and by extension you, of course).
Love Sholi. Bunch of nice guys to boot. And if you can catch them live, DO IT. Def an experience.
No f’n kidding. And these guys have been around for years (their previous album has a few good jams as well), but the slower/newer stuff is just what this band needed.
While the whole album isn’t my cup o’tea, the numerous stand out tracks almost pushed the album on to my best of ’08…