the dharma blog

Last night at about 9:30, after enjoying a delicious dinner at Cosetta’s, Katie and I were sitting around listening to the new public radio station The Current and writing thank you notes. Suddenly, it occurred to me that it was Jan. 25. For weeks I had been looking forward to Wednesday (today), because it was the day Low’s new album The Great Destroyer was scheduled for release. But no, it was yesterday. Yesterday, Tuesday, was Jan. 25.

Silly, new albums are almost always released on Tuesdays. Couldn’t I remember working those midnight sales at CD Warehouse on Monday nights for the latest Korn album? Remember? The 93X girls and all the fun times that came along with that?

Thank God we only live two blocks from Cheapo Discs. I leapt into action and walked my ass over there immediately. They still had several copies on the shelf (whew!) and I was in and out the door in less than a minute. Back home, I popped it in the stereo and we resumed with our wedding thank yous.

By the time we finished (and I mean finished) the thank you notes, we had listened to the album through 1 1/2 times. Two word, inarticulate summary: Very good.

Not surprising, because those people are geniuses.

But, my other initial impressions: It is a short album, coming in at under 53 minutes. But, partly for that reason, it feels like their most cohesive album since maybe The Curtain Hits the Cast. The songs are a little more traditionally constructed, with more emphasis on harmony, melody and repitition. It seems that Things We Lost in the Fire and Trust may have been difficult transition albums for Low (though as of this writing, I think Trust may still be my favorite album), and The Great Destroyer is at least closer to the next real stage in their life as a band, while maybe not entirely there yet.

I disagree that this album has potential that Low’s previous few have not had to broaden their fan base (Chris Godsey in The Rake: “California,” a melancholy pop song with painfully catchy hooks and harmonies that could make it a legitimate hit.”). While more upbeat overall, I don’t see any of the songs connecting with listeners in new ways. Their music has always had the potential to connect with the listener, the listener just has to work a little harder. That much has not changed.

I could go on with lots of other highly-opinionated thoughts about the album. But, music (and by music I mean music created for art and/or entertainment and not purely for money) is and always will be 90% taste. And, like I said, I’ve only listened to it through 1 1/2 times.

We had heard at least a couple of the songs before, it must have been at shows last year. Overall, it’s a solid addition to the Low catalog.
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The title are lyrics from “La La La Song” off Trust. I don’t know why, but that was that line that was stuck in my head last night and this morning.

update: Once I’ve really digested the album, I’ll try to post a full review.