Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The self-deprecating title speaks volumes about the American indie/sadcore trio's unassuming approach to music, which is diffident to the point of abject timidity in places. Such is Low's reluctance to impose their own value judgements on their output that they've swept their entire cupboard of off-cuts into this three-CD-and-one-DVD box, which features a decade's worth of B-sides, rarities and sundry loose ends recorded for small labels such as Sub Pop, Kranky, Touch & Go, and Tugboat. Hence the tone of the band's annotations: "Admittedly not our favourite recording," they say of one piece; of another they "did a better version of this at the BBC, but it was accidentally erased"; while another is shrugged off with, "Mimi wrote this in five minutes while washing the dishes". Don't blow your own trumpet too hard, guys! As always, the tempi are slow, the arrangements sparse and Alan Sparhawk's vocals undemonstrative, burnished by Mimi Parker's angelic harmonies. Only occasionally do they approach the harsher textures explored on 2001's Things We Lost in the Fire; but the gentleness and solemnity that worked on Christmas can prove rather soporific at this length. Still, a likeable enough set, in small doses.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments